August 13, 2026
For more than three decades, LaCretiah Claytor has been advocating for Rainier Beach High School and community — first as a student, later as a parent, and now as a Port of Seattle employee helping connect students with career opportunities.
Claytor has worked at the Port for the past 25 years, currently as a financial analyst. In recent years, she has worked with the Port of Seattle Police Department to donate decommissioned bikes to students. And during the 2025-26 school year, she helped connect the Port and Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS) to Rainier Beach High School to help freshmen and sophomores explore careers across the Port — from skilled trades to signage and wayfinding to harbor operations. With support from Port staff, students participated in career panels, mock interviews, resume coaching, and behind-the-scenes tours of SEA Airport and the Fire Department. The airport and seaport support some of the region’s largest job sites, and port-related businesses and occupations remain a good source of quality, family-wage jobs, offering stability and growth opportunities.
A legacy of advocacy
As a Rainier Beach High School student (and 1991 graduate), Claytor helped stage a walk out after the school made budgetary cuts that would result in the removal of the theater teacher and community resource officer.
Years later, when her son attended Rainier Beach High School, she became an active Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) member, advocating for students and expanding opportunities at the school. “We weren’t your mother’s PTSA; we weren’t baking cookies,” Claytor said. “We were literally out there saving the lives of young people. The funding went toward things like feeding kids or hotel stays for families staying in their cars.”
While Rainier Beach High School was well known for athletics, Claytor and other parents wanted to strengthen its academic offerings. Their successful campaign helped bring the International Baccalaureate program to the school, offering a globally recognized college preparatory curriculum. In response to their efforts, the PTSA president and officers were recognized as a White House Champion for Change in 2012, resulting in additional funding for the school.
Creating connections
Those long-standing relationships helped set the stage for the Port and Rainier Beach High School’s successful partnership. Once at the school, Port staff were greeted with open arms and plenty of questions from engaged students. “I don’t know if that level of accessibility would have happened without someone with close ties and care with the community,” Claytor said.
When recruiting colleagues to participate in the career exploration events, Claytor reached out to Port peers she thought could engage with young people, who represented the demographics of the high school, or who held lesser-known positions at the organization that students would be interested in.
During the interview workshop, Port staff helped provide tips on how students’ life experiences could translate into job experience and introduced students to the Port’s high school internship program.
In an email to Claytor, Rainier Beach High School College Prep instructor Daniel Humkey said the career panel and interview sessions were invaluable to his students.
“Students left feeling great about themselves. In class yesterday I passed along many of the compliments that (Port staff) gave (the students) and they absolutely lit up! This was such a cool opportunity for students, and I hope that your staff also got something out of this, too.”
Students wrote letters thanking Port staff for taking the time to interview them and provide feedback and information about the internship program.
A rewarding experience
Employees from aviation maintenance, marine maintenance, fire protection, fishing and commercial vessel services, and wayfinding and signage shared how rewarding it was to help students explore careers they may never have considered.
“Ranging from craft workers to office workers, the students were surprised by the variety of pathways available. They were also surprised to learn that we are more than just an airport operator. I left the outreach event feeling great about helping the youth and will always jump at the opportunity to participate again,” said DJ Lewis, Plumbing Crew Chief in Marine Maintenance.
“I am proud to work for an organization that truly puts its actions and money where it matters. Being allowed to bring a positive outlook to these students, with a message delivered by folks who look like them and walked in their shoes is an amazing opportunity,” said Roberto Arellano, Automation Specialist in Aviation Maintenance.
“It was inspiring to see and learn how the students were preparing to build their career skills. Being part of this program gave me the opportunity to coach the students, answer their questions, and share my professional experiences. At the same time, their curiosity and perspectives encouraged me to reflect on how I can better prepare myself and my team to support the next generation of the workforce. This meaningful exchange of knowledge and experiences is what makes programs like this so valuable. It not only benefits the students but also helps me continue growing as a leader and a committed member of my community,” said Rut Perez-Studer, Senior Manager of Fishing and Commercial Vessel Services.
“I’ve always enjoyed art and making things, even back in grade school. I was also drawn to math and science, though I didn’t yet realize there were careers that blended all of those interests. Participating in events like the one at Rainier Beach High School gives me the opportunity to highlight jobs that combine creativity with technical knowledge. I was able to share my own path to my current role, including the different jobs and lessons that guided me along the way. Hopefully, our efforts at the event encouraged students to think about their interests and how those interests might translate into future career opportunities,” said Marc Lawrence, Technical Designer for Signage and Wayfinding.
The Port plans to continue the Rainier Beach High School partnership into the next school year and help students see possibilities that once felt out of reach and show them they belong in careers that keep the region moving.
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