Renton School District announced on Monday, June 12, that Avanti Bergquist has been appointed by the Renton School Board to fill the vacant District No. 2 seat.

She will fill the vacancy left by Albert Talley who died March 29. She is running unopposed for the District No. 2 seat in the November general elections. She will begin serving on the board July 1.

A Renton native, Bergquist attended Highlands and Kennydale Elementary Schools, McKnight Middle School, then graduated Hazen High School before she went to Duke University for undergraduate degree and later Oregon Graduate Institute for her masters and doctorate degree, according to a district press release. She also completed a psychiatry residency and a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of Washington.

She serves as a board member of Friends of Renton Schools and Renton Area Youth and Family Services (RAYS), and is the current president of the Washington State Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

“Although deeply sadden by the loss of Mr. Talley, I know he would want us to move forward and carry on for the students of the district,” said Todd Franceschina, board president, in an email. “I think Avanti will be a great addition to the Board and look forward to her starting July 1st.”

“I am thrilled to be able to serve our Renton Schools students and community,” said Bergquist in an email. “I am most looking forward to helping all of our students and families feel supported and achieve success in our public schools, and this is also the reason that I decided to run. Renton Schools provided me a great start, and I hope every one of our students can feel the same way.”

Bergquist is married to Washington state Representative Steve Bergquist, who also graduated from Hazen High School. The couple have two children who will soon attend Renton schools.