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Patti Hearn is passionate about education and believes in working to help individuals, families, and schools forge authentic paths. As a queer femme woman, dismantling assumptions and combating the erasure of marginalized people has become second nature to Patti. Her work focuses on helping people see what's possible.
Patti was the Founding Head of Lake Washington Girls Middle School in Seattle, where, for over two decades, she offered girls and gender non-conforming kids the opportunity to become competent risk takers and courageous mistake makers. She then brought her knowledge and passion for innovative middle school programs to Seattle School for Boys, and she launched Verge to provide consulting to educators, school leaders, and founders of new schools as well as school placement support for families.
As an educational leader, Patti has shared her expertise in feminist and anti-racist education, social-emotional learning, startup culture in education, creative confidence, STEAM, executive functioning, and inclusive leadership at conferences that include the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools, and the Seattle Interactive Conference. She has served on boards including the Bush School, Northwest Girls Coalition, the Northwest Association of Independent Schools, the Professional Education Advisory Board, Martial Arts in the Public Interest, and Three Dollar Bill Cinema.
She has a Master’s degree in Education from Antioch, a Bachelor’s from Rutgers University, a black belt from Quantum Martial Arts, and a certificate from DONA International doula training.
Other accomplishments include that she has broken a concrete block with her elbow, married her wife during a pandemic snow storm, and successfully driven four children to four schools in one day.
She is grateful for every minute with her family, and she is always learning that big changes can be as beautiful as they are scary.