By Jordan Duncan 

Joe Van has three kids of his own. But as the new president of the Highline School District Board of Directors, he wants to be a fatherly figure to all of the students of the district.

Van was appointed by his fellow board members to the president position earlier this year after serving on the board since 2015.

Education is not in Van’s background -- he has a degree in criminal justice from Highline College and attended the Des Moines Police Academy. His interest in education began when one of his kids was playing recreational league soccer.

“I admired all of the parents and families that came to support and cheer them on,” Van said. “But when I attended school functions, I would see very few families there, and not very many dads.”

While volunteering at McMicken Heights Elementary School, Van and his wife were approached by the then-PTA president and asked to run a program called “Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students)”.

“It’s a male role model program where dads, grandparents, and male role models come to school to help,” Van said. “A lot of our kids didn’t have that figure in their lives, and these dads came in to be there for them.”

He was hesitant initially, but after reading about the program and getting firsthand experience, he was hooked.

“I saw kids’ faces light up when they got a high-five from a dad,” Van said. “From that point on, I knew that I had to make sure that all of my kids were taken care of.”

A Denver native, Van and his family relocated to SeaTac in 1991 where he attended Tyee High School. 

“I started as a freshman and knew no one,” Van said. 

As a former student of the district, he has a level of familiarity with its culture.

“When I was attending Tyee High School, I felt that we had a lot of school spirit,” Van said. “The student body was cohesive and the teachers knew us.” 

In 2005, Tyee was split into three separate small schools -- Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment (ACE), Global Connections High School, and Odyssey High School. During the 2017-18 year the school again became one. 

“The students and staff are currently rebuilding their campus identity and culture,” Van said. “The kids are getting to know each other, even though they have been on the same campus for years. It is very inspiring.”

Former board president and current VP Bernie Dorsey says he spent time last year working with Van to help him learn the roles and responsibilities of the position. 

“Joe has spent his time on the board working hard to learn the district, its policies, and personnel,” Dorsey said. “I respect the fact that he has taken the time to fully understand how the board and the district function.”

As president, part of Van’s duties are to set the goals and vision for the district. This involves working closely with Superintendent Susan Enfield and her cabinet to craft policies that help accomplish those goals.

“Joe is a wonderful person. He is a joy to work with -- he truly models service above self and works hard to ensure that our district is serving our students equitably,” Enfield said in an email. Van said he has a great network of support. 

“I am able to manage my job, raising three wonderful kids and being on the school board because of my beautiful and talented wife. She is my rock and my biggest supporter in my endeavors,” he said.

With his new role as president, Van now has the opportunity to oversee the personal growth of thousands of students.

“My goal is to have all of our kids graduate ready for the real world,” Van said. “We have so many opportunities within our schools and community that would help them excel.”

Highline’s graduation rate has consistently risen in the past five years, including a jump of nearly eight percentage points during Van’s first year on the school board (2015). Superintendent Susan Enfield credits the increases to more advanced coursework and lower discipline rates.

(Data from highlineschools.org)

About Jordan Duncan –

Jordan Duncan is a 20-year old junior majoring in journalism at the University of Washington’s department of communication. He grew up in the Highline School District, after moving to Des Moines from northern California with his family at age 7. He graduated from Mt. Rainier Hihg School. Duncan hopes to pursue a career in sports journalism and enjoys playing basketball in his time off. He is working his way through college by delivering pizzas when not in the classroom.