Why I’m Running…

• To continue to represent YOU

Despite the flack I have received from fellow Board Members. No other LWSD Board Member or candidate has my record for responsiveness to parent, student or staff concerns. My experience managing Crisis Communications has taught me to monitor media reports and address issues before they grow into catastrophes. At times, you might hear me at the height of my passion, as when I said that the Emerson High School daycare program would close “over my dead body”. On some occasions, such as recent objections about the reduction and elimination of music classes in our schools, I have reached out directly to parents to see how I might be of assistance. At other times, I have contacted our Superintendent directly when reports of bullying, suspicious persons or safety threats reach me. You may not always hear what I’m doing, but you’ve seen the results such as the inclusion of religious and cultural holidays on the district calendar. Respect for all community members has to be more than just district policy. Those policies must be put into action. We must prioritize combating antisemitism and Islamophobia.

YOUR ISSUES deserve my attention and consideration. I appreciate the trust you have shown by electing me to this position and will continue to give a voice to those issues in the most strategic ways possible.

• To extend LWSD efforts to INCLUDE all students in the most effective ways possible. 

I first ran for the Board to help students and staff facing a wide variety of learning challenges. LWSD joined with OSPI, the University of Washington’s Haring Center for Inclusive Education and the University of Minnesota’s TIES Center, pioneering our state’s Inclusive Practices Project in our preschools and elementary schools.  While these principles have been extended to our middle schools there is still work to be done as we follow the science toward optimal practices across our high schools, too.

I’ve seen the benefits up close.  Those students who struggle with appropriate behavior learn from typical peers; others reluctant to attend school because of social or emotional issues thrive with the opportunity to mentor others who benefit from their guidance; quick learners sharpen their skills and deepen their insights as they collaborate with others.

• To continue to push for reading curricula that serves all students. 

Evidence-based strategies for remediating dyslexia have been used elsewhere for over seventy-five years. As a component of a structured literacy program these techniques are appropriate for all students learning to read. Managing dyslexia can be addressed within the general education classroom. 
There is no reason to stigmatize these students by pulling them out of class for safety net services.

• To further our practices in addressing BULLYING. LWSD has guidelines in place and a robust approach to Social Emotional learning, but the problem persists. I’m proposing a multi-faceted approach to identify and address where and how we are failing our kids. What role do we as parents have in identifying, preventing and confronting bullying? Do we need to better identify safe people and places for our students?  Do staff feel adequately prepared to recognize and empowered to defuse bullies and their supporters, and encourage healing among their victims? Are student bystanders adequately prepared when they see bullying occur?

Clearly “it takes a village” to move toward safe schools and social media for all our kids.  Let’s work together to make this happen.

• To restore opportunities lost when we abandoned the seven-period high school day and eliminated elementary school instrumental music programs. Funding issues left our district (and many others) with a Hobson’s choice. Minding our budget meant making hard choices. Looking to the guidance provided by community surveys where participants ranked district services in order of importance led to cutting these programs. I have been working with community members to see how we might restore these opportunities. Perhaps with a choice school for the Performing Arts and another for the Health Sciences?
  
  Please let me know your ideas for broadening the Performing Arts and CTE offerings within our schools.

• To continue to encourage our district and local government agencies to work together plan housing that serves our community. 

Although some demographers are projecting lower student populations and our current kindergarten and elementary are currently experiencing lower enrollments, recent observational “street data” suggests this may be a post-pandemic lull and once again LWSD will defy growth expectations. Recently, our Superintendent told me that student-generation ratios for multi-family dwellings have nearly doubled. Are cities and/or the county demanding that land and/or funds be set aside for schools to accommodate the increased number of family-sized units with LWSD students? Are there any plans for affordable housing, partnering the cities, the county, the unions and the school district to accommodate public employees?

Over the years we’ve lost too many wonderful teachers and first responders who moved away because they couldn't afford to live nearby.