Mr. Crook is the Executive Director of Summit Sierra. Originally from Davis, California, he went to school in San Antonio, before getting his master’s from UCLA, and school leadership master’s from Columbia University. Mr. Crook was inspired to become a principal like his grandfather, who grew up in Seattle’s Japanese-American community, where Sierra is now located. Entering his 7th year at Summit Sierra, Mr. Crook is motivated to lead a school where a diverse community of young people are prepared with the skills, knowledge, and habits to lead a fulfilled life.

My name is Troy Mix, and I am honored and excited to serve as the new Dean of Culture and Instruction at Summit Sierra. I have been in education, working in various capacities; as a student, parent, educator, administrator, athletic director, coach, teacher, mental health professional etc., for over 20+ years. I have worked with all ages; I love what I do, I absolutely adore those that I service, and I expect that to continue in my new role as DCI.

I am a dad of one son, Troy Jr., but a caregiver in the lives of many. I am joining the staff here at Summit from my hometown of New Orleans, LA, where my life’s work has been devoted to nurturing the mental, physical and social development of the people I have had the pleasure of supporting and am ecstatic to bring this same energy to you, the community leaders, students, staff and parents of Sierra.

Aubree Guyton is our Dean of Operations. She is a diehard Coug, earning her undergrad from Washington State University in Mathematics Education and has her Master’s in Educational Leadership. She has been at Summit Sierra since its opening in 2015, originally hired as the Founding Math Teacher. When beginning her work at Summit, she was, and still is, so excited to work in a community that so closely aligns with her vision and values and is committed to ensuring we are living our mission to serve all students through our work to be an anti-biased, antiracist organization. She knows that there is a lot of work to be done to disrupt and change the inequitable systems in education, but believes that this work done in community with one another makes it all the more powerful. In her free time, she spends it outdoors with her husband and her dogs, camping their way through Washington!

Leah Gooden was born in New York to a long line of educators. She graduated from Wesleyan University with an undergraduate degree in Mathematics, and went on to complete her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a certification in school leadership at the University of Washington. Leah began her career teaching in Federal Way, before moving to Seattle to teach and lead at Summit Sierra High School. When she is not at school, Leah loves coaching and playing ultimate frisbee and hanging out with her dog — an exceptionally cute pitbull.