Laura Riley, Co-President
I’m Laura Riley (she/her) and am the parent of an 8th grader at JAMS and an 11th grader at Ingraham High School. Originally from western New York (Go Bills!), I’ve called Seattle home since 2004. I’m an independent market researcher and consultant and have been active in PTA/PTSA work for nearly a decade.
I’m excited to serve on the JAMS PTSA executive board this year, especially during a time of transition and opportunity. With recent leadership changes at JAMS, I’m committed to helping the PTSA build strong relationships and partnerships with the school. I am known for my responsiveness and clear communication, and am dedicated to fostering a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all students, families, and staff.
Looking forward to a great year!
Karen Murphy, Co-President
I’m Karen Murphy (she/ her) and I am a parent of a sixth grader at JAMS and a tenth grader at Hale. Originally from the East Coast, I have been out west for many years and really feel the most at home here in our corner of Seattle. I have been active in PTA/ PTSA for many years- in supporting roles, leadership and event planning. I am a cooperative preschool teacher and I also work in family support at a local elementary school.
Building supportive communities is a priority for me. I believe there is a place for everyone in PTSA and that every bit of volunteering makes a difference- from field trip volunteers, to lunch duty coverage, to helping to set up tables at a event, to bringing a new idea to a meeting- your participation matters. When we can show the students that we value their school, they feel a greater pride in it.
I look forward to working with the new JAMS leadership and PTSA board to build our community, foster our values and have a great year!
Quincy Lam, Co-Treasurer
Hello! My name is Quincy Lam, and I’m excited to return as a co-treasurer with Ellen this year. I’m a proud parent of an 8th grader at JAMS and a 4th grader. I’ve lived in the Seattle area over 30 years and am an alumni of Hale.
Over the years, I’ve loved volunteering in classrooms and supporting field trips, and last year I learned so much through serving on the PTSA board as co-treasurer. Most importantly, I’ve seen many school’s activities—especially after-school opportunities—are only possible thanks to the creativity, dedication, and teamwork of parents/teachers/school staff/students working together to support our school community.
I’m looking forward to another year of collaboration and making sure our kids continue to have fun, meaningful, and enriching experiences at JAMS!
Yiming (Ellen) Chai, Co-Treasurer
I’m Ellen Chai and am the parent of an 8th grader at JAMS. I’ve called Seattle home since 2006. I served on the JAMS PTSA board for the first time last year, and this coming year is my 2nd. I joined the JAMS PTSA because a parent friend reached out to me that there was a strong need for more parental and volunteer involvement, and although a busy parent myself like many folks, I wanted to contribute and help with my math background and the analytical skills acquired through my day job. I’ve learned so much serving as co-treasurer over the past year and understanding how the PTSA functions to serve our students and the community. To me, the best part of serving is getting to work with so many wonderful fellow volunteers and teachers, who all have the same loving and serving heart, and the strong camaraderie we share to help and support each other and our students. I look forward to another wonderful year at JAMS!