Our Team
Sarah Okun, Executive Director
Sarah has supported special educators in her roles as Program Specialist and Director of the TMC since September of 2017. Prior to moving to Washington, Sarah served as the Special Education Director at a charter school in Los Angeles. She began her career in public education in northern Virginia, where she taught K-2 Special Education and led pre-referral intervention teams. Sarah has also worked as an academic coach for college students and a director of afterschool education programs in San Francisco. When not at work, Sarah can be found running, hiking, swimming, and exploring the Puget Sound region with her husband and three children.
Contact Sarah at sokun@thetruemeasure.org
Amanda Pharis, Associate Director
Amanda leads the TMC team’s school-facing coaching, technical assistance, and professional development work. She brings to our team 20+ years of experience with charter and district schools and special education, as well as proven skills in behavior analysis, coaching, and program management. Amanda’s career started in California as a mentor teacher for San Francisco State University, a program director for the Down Syndrome Connection, and an inclusion specialist for the Berkeley School District. In Washington she has served as a consultant for school districts across the greater Seattle area and as a BCBA at an interdisciplinary clinic for clients with autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Amanda is a passionate advocate for equitable treatment of individuals with disabilities and applies practices to promote inclusion in all aspects of life. Amanda enjoys spontaneous weekend trips, trying out new cuisines, and attending shows by local musicians.
Contact Amanda at apharis@thetruemeasure.org
Cassie Watkins, Program Manager
Cassie has long been an advocate of equity in education. During her time as an undergraduate at Whitworth University, she was part of the Students for Education Reform (SFER) group. Her affiliation with SFER opened up many opportunities to advocate for change in education in Washington State. Shortly after graduating, Cassie was immersed in the work of teaching at PRIDE Prep charter public school. As the Director of Special Education at PRIDE, she was directly responsible for coordinating student services, overseeing the delivery of specially designed instruction, and ensuring that students of all abilities received the accommodations and modifications necessary for accessing their education. In her downtime you can find Cassie entertaining her two fur babies, traveling around the world, and most importantly spending quality time with friends and family.
Contact Cassie at cwatkins@thetruemeasure.org
We’re Hiring!
Associate Director – Resource Development
Program Manager