Alicen Gaytley

Alicen Gaytley, Director of Teaching & Learning at Quincy School District, leads the district’s efforts in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning for the rural community of Quincy, Washington.

Before stepping into district leadership, Alicen was an elementary school teacher and instructional coach who earned a National Board Certification in English as a New Language, a regional Excellence Award, and served on the Washington State ASCD Board of Directors.

Her journey into education, however, was far from conventional. Growing up, Alicen wanted to be a teacher but went on to earn a bachelor’s degree with a double major in History and East Asian Studies. She began her early career in the staffing and recruitment industry, working as a Business Development Manager in Seattle, San Diego, and Tokyo, while earning her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. This experience gave her valuable insights into training, development, and organizational change management.

While living in Japan as part of the JET Program, Alicen rediscovered her passion for education. Teaching English in a rural Japanese high school reignited her commitment to the field, giving her firsthand experience with the challenges and rewards of learning and teaching a new language. Her time abroad broadened her global perspective, which now enriches her approach to educational leadership.

Alicen is a lead learner with a vision of building hope by creating equitable systems that empower students and educators with the agency to navigate pathways toward meaningful goals. She has published articles in statewide educational journals and has presented at many Washington statewide convenings on topics of school improvement, educational research, and curriculum development.

Alicen earned a master’s degree in elementary education alongside her husband, who is a fourth-grade teacher and the head chef in their home. Today, she continues to balance her leadership role with family life, as her two children continue their own educational journeys in middle and high school.