OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Inslee has appointed lifelong educator Bill S. Kallappa II to the State Board of Education (SBE). Kallappa will fill the appointed Position 3 on the SBE effective immediately, and will serve through January 2023.

Since 2010, he has worked for the Nisqually Tribe, most recently as the Education Director for the tribe. Kallappa has served in various K-12 education roles for twenty-five years, including for the Squaxin Island Tribe, Skokomish Tribe, and Tumwater School District.

“Bill is committed to educational opportunities for all students,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “I am confident that his extensive experience in different educational settings as well as his community leadership will make him a great addition to the Washington State Board of Education.”

Kallappa is an enrolled Makah tribal member and serves in many public service roles, including as a member of the National and the Washington State Indian Education Associations, and the Tribal Leaders Congress on Education. Additionally, he is a Commissioner on the City of Tumwater Parks Board and is the tribal representative from the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs on the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee.

On his appointment, Kallappa said, “As a Native American with experience in our public education system, I will provide a fresh perspective to the State Board and focus on closing the opportunity gap that exists for our students of color, students with special needs and our foster care and homeless students. I will work with the Board and collaborate with other existing education bodies to ensure students from systemically underserved communities are supported and celebrated in their schools.”

Kallappa received a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from The Evergreen State College. He lives in Tumwater with his wife Maia Bellon and teenage daughter Talia.