Heather Tow-Yick

Heather Tow-Yick is superintendent of the Issaquah School District, a role she has held since July 2022. With more than 25 years of experience in education and leadership, she began her career as a middle school English teacher in the South Bronx. She has held leadership roles in Mukilteo School District, Providence Public Schools and the New York City Department of Education. Tow-Yick also served as a consultant at The Bridgespan Group and as an executive at Teach For America, where she helped launch the work in Rhode Island. She is a recent NSPRA Superintendent to Watch. In Issaquah, Tow-Yick has led several transformative initiatives. She guided the district’s first comprehensive strategic plan, establishing a clear framework focused on student well-being, academic excellence, a strong talent pipeline, authentic engagement and organizational effectiveness. She oversaw development of the Portrait of a Graduate, providing a foundation for students to build durable skills across elementary, middle and high school that support lifelong personal and professional growth. Her leadership has advanced a project-based high school, innovative school design, universal design for learning, multi-tiered systems of support, inclusive practices, new curriculum adoption, and responsible use of artificial intelligence by educators. Tow-Yick has also strengthened district operations by reinforcing fiscal systems and controls, advancing sustainability in facilities and operations, and leading efforts that resulted in passage of the 2026 renewal levies. Her focus on equity, mental health and student well-being has contributed to Issaquah’s recognition for educational excellence and the district maintaining one of Washington’s highest graduation rates. Known for emphasizing equity, collaboration and measurable outcomes, Tow-Yick uses data to inform decisions while recognizing empathy as essential to building trust and driving meaningful change. She actively engages students, families, staff and community partners to shape learning experiences that help students thrive. Her work aligns strategic planning, operational excellence and instructional innovation to advance the district’s mission and long-term goals. Tow-Yick holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, a master’s degree in secondary English education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.