So, when he was approached about an opportunity to run for vice president of the Seattle Education Association (SEA) in 2024, he felt like he had enough first-hand experience to be an effective representative for the district’s 6,500 educators and support staff.

“I used to attend the representative assemblies when I was a teacher, and I was told by the previous union leaders that the things I was saying stood out,” said Montejo-Thompson, a 2013 CWU School of Education graduate. “I joined a couple committees and, eventually, they encouraged me to run for office. I was flattered, but I was also really excited about the opportunity to effect change in our district at the leadership level.”

Montejo-Thompson was elected as SEA vice president in June 2024 and, just a few months later, he became president after the former union head stepped down. The biggest challenge he faced during his first few months on the job was that he didn’t have a VP.

“The president is usually the one who goes out in public and handles all of the messaging for the union, while the vice president is the lead bargainer, doing all of the behind-the-scenes work,” he said. “I was having to do both jobs for a while, but I survived.”

The SEA elected former union treasurer Davina Diaz as vice president in June, allowing Montejo-Thompson to focus more of his attention on leading the organization.

“I’ve been surprised at how well I’ve settled into the role,” he said. “I’m really proud of what we have been able to accomplish so far, and I’ve been getting a lot of good feedback from the membership.”

Before joining SEA leadership, Montejo-Thompson taught in a wide variety of classroom settings, from kindergarten through middle school, both as a full-time teacher and substitute.

In his first nine years with the Seattle School District, he taught seven grades at five different schools. And while he never was able to get too comfortable in any of those roles, Montejo-Thompson feels like his varied experiences helped him grow as an educator and as a person.

“I got pinballed around, but it ended up being a blessing in disguise,” he said. “I got to see how things worked at a lot of different schools in the district, and I was able to identify the unique needs that some of our schools have. That has helped me a lot in my current position.”

Looking back on his time in Ellensburg, Montejo-Thompson feels grateful that he came across the School of Education after spending his first couple of years unsure of which direction he would go with his studies.

At his family’s urging, he chose to pursue teaching, which turned out to be an ideal direction for his career.

“I feel like teaching is one of the best ways to make a positive change in the world,” Montejo-Thompson said. “Teachers are investing in our future by helping their students become more informed, how to work with one another, how to manage their emotions, and so much more. The work we do helps build communities, and it helps create a more successful workforce. We truly are making a difference, and that gives me a lot of pride.”