CVEA Officers

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CVEA Officers

Steve Lalonde - President

Steve earned his BA in Ed from Eastern Washington State College in 1972 and his MA in Ed from Eastern Washington University in 1988. He taught for three years in Glenwood, Washington and started teaching in 1984 at University High School.

Scott Knowles - Vice-President

Scott has taught in the Central Valley School district since 1995 at South Pines in the SPACE program and now at Opportunity in the Able Learner Program. He has been involved in the association as a building rep, a delegate to the WEA and NEA Representative Assemblies, on the CVEA bargaining team and as a WEA lobbyist in Olympia where he has made several trips on behalf of the CVEA.

Mariann Torretta - Secretary / Treasurer

I was born in Walla Walla and raised in College Place. I grew up in the best place: farm country! My mom's folks were primarily wheat farmers and my dad's parents immigrated from Italy and had a truck garden, which meant they raised onions, asparagus, etc. My brothers and I enjoyed the times we spent with our grandparents and cousins on the farms. They taught us the meaning of digging in, getting hands dirty and good honest work. In 1973 I left Walla Walla for the booming town of Cheney to attend Eastern Washington State College. Then on to another big town: Pullman to graduate from Washington State University with an elementary education degree with an endorsement in special education. After completing student teaching, Central Valley School District hired me to teach at Greenacres Junior High School where I spent 6 years. Then to South Pines for 3 years, Adams for 16 years, and currently at University Elementary since 2004. My career has been spent with working with special needs students. It's been a challenge and an honor to do so.

Keith Hokema - Elementary Board Member At Large

Keith Hoekema has been a teacher at Broadway since 2003 and has been involved with bargaining since 2005. He was also a member of the delegation during the 2004 RA that was held in Spokane. Keith was on the evaluation committee that met with the district in 2006 and drafted the updated evaluations and also served on the TPEP committee that developed the newest evaluation.

Prior to moving to Spokane, Keith was the Political Action Committee Chair for the island of Molokai for two years, which involved lobbying the legislature, interviewing candidates for Governor and Congress as well as providing political information to his fellow teachers. He was also a picket captain during a three-week strike in 2000, which provided the impetus for him to get involved in the union. Keith is married to another CVSD teacher, Mary, and they have 3 children.

Monica Larson - Middle School Board Member At Large

My name is Monica Larson and I've been teaching in Central Valley at Evergreen M.S since 2002. I began my teaching career in Grandview, Washington in 1999 where I taught fifth grade for three years. I made my way back to the Spokane area where I was born and raised and wished to raise my own kids. I live in the Four Lakes area with my husband Floyd and two kids, Tom and Erica. I also have four dogs and you guessed it... I love animals. I've been a part of the education association of Washington State since my first year of teaching back in 1999 and am now proud to serve as your Middle School Rep. on the executive board for Central Valley EA. I'll give as much to working for CVEA and all educators as I give in every other aspect of my life...110%! My favorite quote regarding education is a quote that came from Mohammad Ali, but twisted just a bit to fit educators and that is:

"If you ever dreamt you could bring an educator down, you'd better wake up and apologize." Reg Weaver, President of NEA.

Vicky Jensen - High School Board Member At Large

NBCT, Art Specialist at University High School. University of Idaho, Masters in Education. Fourteen years of teaching, 10th in CV District. She facilitates NBPTS candidates for Gonzaga University. PEAB - Gonzaga University. She is married with two sons.

Heather Graham - Special Services Board Member at Large

Heather has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Brigham Young University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Washington State University, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Regis University. Apparently she really enjoys going to school.

Heather began her career as a school nurse during the Fall of 2001. She started at Central Valley School District and has been assigned to the same three schools since her hire date. She is the nurse for Greenacres Elementary, Greenacres Middle School, and Liberty Lake Elementary.

Heather’s union involvement began after she had been employed with the district for about 7 years. She decided to get involved because she wanted to know how her money was being spent. She served as a building rep for Greenacres Elementary for a couple of years and in September of 2011, she joined the Executive Board as Special Services Board Member at Large. Heather is excited to represent this group of people and make sure that their ideas and concerns are heard by the union and the administration.

Heather and her husband, Dave, live in the valley. They have two children, Katelyn and Carson. In her free time, Heather enjoys running, hiking, reading, blogging, and travelling.

Jeff Brown - Office Manager

Jeff taught English at University High School in the Spokane Valley for thirty one years and is currently retired.