Director Smith-Blum Will Not Be Running to Retain Her Post
Update 5: I wrote in the comments but wanted to update here. The third candidate for Kay's seat is Stephan Blanford. He has been a lecturer
at the Evans School of Public Affairs, Executive Director at White
Center Early Learning Initiative, currently owns Lighthouse Consulting
which provides services to school districts and community-based
non-profits. He did work for the Alliance for 4 years.
Update 4: Another candidate has filed for Michael DeBell's seat. Dean McColgan who is the Director of Development for the Museum of Flight and is a current board member at the Belltown Community Council. He also has worked for the Downtown Seattle Association and was a former mayor and city council member in Federal Way. This is getting interesting. He did apply to be a Port Commissioner recently.
Update 3: Two more people have filed to run in Kay Smith-Blum's district. One is LaCrese Green who has run previously. The other is Olu Thomas who I don't know. The only info I find is that he served on the board for the Denise Louie Educational Center.
Still waiting to see if anyone files to run against Betty Patu.
Update 2: Parent and public education activist Sue Peters has now entered the race for Michael DeBell's seat against Suzanne Estey.
Update 1: What is that saying about a door closing and another opening? I was disappointed to hear that President Smith-Blum has chosen not to run but I do feel better - for our school district - that Councilman Burgess has dropped out.
End of update.
Citing personal and work considerations, President Smith-Blum has made the decision not to run again.
I am deeply saddened by this news because I think she has been a great director. But, given the stresses of the work and the volume of the work, I certainly understand her position.
Update 4: Another candidate has filed for Michael DeBell's seat. Dean McColgan who is the Director of Development for the Museum of Flight and is a current board member at the Belltown Community Council. He also has worked for the Downtown Seattle Association and was a former mayor and city council member in Federal Way. This is getting interesting. He did apply to be a Port Commissioner recently.
Update 3: Two more people have filed to run in Kay Smith-Blum's district. One is LaCrese Green who has run previously. The other is Olu Thomas who I don't know. The only info I find is that he served on the board for the Denise Louie Educational Center.
Still waiting to see if anyone files to run against Betty Patu.
Update 2: Parent and public education activist Sue Peters has now entered the race for Michael DeBell's seat against Suzanne Estey.
Update 1: What is that saying about a door closing and another opening? I was disappointed to hear that President Smith-Blum has chosen not to run but I do feel better - for our school district - that Councilman Burgess has dropped out.
End of update.
Citing personal and work considerations, President Smith-Blum has made the decision not to run again.
I am deeply saddened by this news because I think she has been a great director. But, given the stresses of the work and the volume of the work, I certainly understand her position.
Comments
-HS parent
--wondering
que sera-sera
Disappointing. For the most part, I think she did good work and earned trust. Only hacks like Sundquist and Maier (who am I missing?) are staying in the game.
Mr. White
DistrictWatcher
He has a doctorate in education leadership and policy studies.
He has children in SPS. His wife works for SPS.
Interesting. I believe he and I have crossed paths at education events. I look forward to talking with him.
I'm in too.
Melissa, if you think this merits a new thread, here's my note to your readers. Thanks! Sue
Dear Readers of the Seattle Schools Community Forum,
I have decided to run for School Board Director in District IV and would value your support.
I am the parent of two in SPS and have nine years of direct experience with the school district. I have been both a local and national advocate and activist for public education and I believe that I can serve the Seattle schools community even better as your elected representative on the school board.
I hope you will give me that opportunity and your vote.
Please let me know what you think the district’s priorities should be and I will share these with the board and superintendent.
As a longtime contributor myself and co-founding editor of the Seattle Education Blog, I value blogs. At their best, they inform in ways that newspapers used to do, and they serve as a community bulletin board.
Thank you for your support.
If you would like to help with my campaign or contribute, please contact us at: suepeters4SPS@yahoo.com
Sincerely,
Sue Peters
On Stephan Blanford, my impression of A4E was that it changed substantially in the last few years, from being a support organization to being an advocacy organization. Do we know when Blanford was associated with A4E? I would look a lot more favorably on that experience if it was before the shift.
Blanford was a Community and Governmental Relations person for the Alliance between 2003-2007. What was going on with the Alliance during this time period.
Blanford has a lot of theory, but seems to lack hands on classroom experience.
I will outline my priorities on my web site:
suepeters4schoolboard.org
Sue Peters
I will outline my priorities on my web site:
suepeters4schoolboard.org
Sue Peters