RAFAEL del CASTILLO

​Rafael's family came to the United States from Cuba when he was five years old. He accomplished a first for his family—a university degree from the University of Florida in Aerospace Engineering. 
 
Instead of rockets, his path led him into the classroom, where he earned a master's degree in Science Education from Florida International University and pursued postgraduate studies in Educational Research and Psychology.
 
Rafael has decades of educational leadership experience, including two international assignments in Madrid and Prague. He served as Head of Seattle Girls' School and Bertschi School. Most recently, he served as the Executive Director of Rainier Scholars and the Interim Executive Director of the Kids Discovery Museum (KiDiMu) on Bainbridge Island, WA. Rafael is a graduate of Third Sector's Interim Executives Academy. Currently, Rafael is serving as the Executive Director of CPM Educational Program, a grades 6-12 classroom solution for mathematics education.
 
Rafael believes a leader must also be a learner. His learning has included ongoing exploration of his own "servant leadership," serving the greater community on eight boards, and serving as a member and leader of five school accreditation teams. Throughout, he has maintained a connection to the classroom and the many iterations of teaching and learning—now including both brick-and-mortar and virtual models. During the 2024-2025 academic year, he served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Pacific Lutheran University, teaching graduate courses in science teaching methodology and integration of technology into the classroom. 
 
Rafael and his spouse, John, live on lovely Bainbridge Island with their dog, Lola. Yes, she is a showgirl! They love to read, explore the Pacific Northwest, and travel internationally. Their favorite destination is Italy!