The Tahoma School Board on Tuesday, May 14 approved the hire of Jameson Moore, Ed.D. as the next Director of Special Services for the Tahoma School District, effective July 1. Dr. Moore is currently the Director of Special Services-Elementary and Early Childhood at Issaquah School District. He will replace retiring Director Annette Whittlesey, whose retirement was announced in April.
“Tahoma is both a place that is supportive of all students and is also eager to move forward,” Moore said. “This is a great fit for me because this is a school community that takes a collaborative approach to supporting students. I’ve seen very clearly from the people of Tahoma that they’re ready to do some really great things.”
Moore began his journey as an educator in 2008 in his home state of Virginia. After volunteering for school and athletic programs, Moore was drawn to serving students as a career, and went back to school to earn Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Virginia. In 2016, Moore and his wife moved to Washington state, where he accepted a position as a special education teacher in the Kent School District. He has held a variety of school roles, including paraeducator, general education teacher and special education teacher, in addition to his time as a district administrator since 2018 in both the Snoqualmie Valley (2018-21) and Issaquah School Districts (since 2021). Moore completed his Doctorate in Ed Leadership at Gonzaga University in 2021.
“We are excited to bring Jameson to Tahoma because our students deserve school leaders who are continuously focused on meeting their needs, and on ensuring staff members have the support they need to meet those needs. Jameson is a tremendous student advocate,” said incoming superintendent Ginger Callison. “Jameson brings a wealth of experience to Tahoma as a successful educator and leader, but the most important trait he brings to our district is a passion for supporting children and families, and an unwavering commitment to the success and well-being of each and every student.”
Moore has seen firsthand how people in his personal life benefited from special education and caring special educators. He hopes families of students receiving special education services in Tahoma can be valued partners in providing their students the tools they need to be successful.
“It’s important for families to know they have a partner in us to find what their student needs,” Moore said. “Parents and guardians are the most crucial team members in supporting students, so I want them to know we’re here to help them.”