Seattle School Board Candidate Updates
Readers: I am getting comments and some info I have may be wrong (it appears that Nadia GoForth is not running) but some that readers have wrong (KC Dems and KC Young Dems have not put forth endorsements yet).
Please provide a link for any info you put up for this thread; otherwise I cannot print your comment.
End of update
I am listing how to contact candidates plus their websites (if they have one).
Now is endorsement season so I'll try to keep this current as I see them happen. My opinion is that candidates who are insiders in Seattle politics are certainly going to do better than those who are not connected. I'm not sure a legislative district endorsement means that those members know anything about Seattle Schools and/or the candidate who is running. Take those endorsements with a grain of salt. Likewise, those of other electeds.
I'm not repeating any information I wrote in my earlier post on who is running. You can read about candidates there.
Also, if any candidates are reading this post, please send me any information I may have missed. I'm at sss.westbrook@gmail.com.
I will not be doing endorsement interviews until after the primary on August 5th. However, I may try to reach out to the candidates in D7 given there are now only two of them so both will advance to the general election.
D2
hello@sarah4schoolboard.org
Clark's website is very good. Her "vision" page lays out her ideas - safety for students, "real equity," and transparency. Read those - she is refreshingly honest about what she has seen in her short time on the Board.
Notable quote
The district needs to be held accountable to providing comprehensive plans that address the specifics before expecting family buy-in.
Endorsements
Vivian Song and Joe Mizrahi
Eric Feeney
publicoffice@feenys.net
Kathleen Smith
D4
Joe Mizrahi
joe@joe4schools.com
Mizrahi's website is quite good and his logo of him with his glasses and tousled hair is quite memorable (it's his signature look). His priorities are "strong fiscal future," "defending our values (i.e. Trump)," and "putting community voices first."
Notable quote
Ensuring our decisions are shaped by the people most affected, especially working families who are too often left out of the conversation but deeply impacted by our choices.
Endorsements (numerous elected)
Rep Pramila Jayapal, Governor Bob Ferguson, Gina Topp, Sarah Clark, Brandon Hersey
SEIU 775, UFCW3000, 46th Dems, 43rd, Dems, 36th Dems (shared endorsement with Laura Marie Rivera)
Gloria Suella Menchaca
gsmenchacapublic@gmail.com
Laura Marie Rivera
drlauramarie@gmail.com
Rivera points out that the Seattle Times gave her their endorsement the last time she ran.
"Laura Marie Rivera is a practical, student-focused candidate who would bring needed perspective to (the SPS School) Board."
She shares the endorsement of the 36th Dems with Joe Mizrahi.
Nadia Goforth
willbill@billforseattle.com
An unfinished, confusing website.
Harsimran Kaur
royaltyharsimrankaur@gmail.com
D5
Vivian Song
vivian@songforseattleschools.com
Vivian Van Gelder
vivforfive@icloud.com
No website but she recently authored/co-authored a report called Left to Chance: Student Outcomes in Seattle Public Schools, A forensic history. I read it and have mixed feelings about it. I'll have a separate post on it soon.
landonlabosky@gmail.com
A good website with a lot to read. His priorities are balancing the budget, Washington state funding, transparency in communications, collaboration with schools, city and county, and high-quality education for all students.
Notable quote
For me, governance is not a spectator sport; I believe we need to take an active role in improving the lives of our neighbors.
Allycea Weil
allyceab@gmail.com
Julissa Sanchez
comunidad@julissaparaeducacion.com
hi@janisforseattleschools.com
Another good website with lots to read. Her issues are fighting for "high achievement programs," transparent/responsible budgeting, supporting students with disabilities, student mental health, and equity and inclusion. One interesting thing she has done is point out the "current challenge" and then state "Janis' Commitment."
Also, she includes a link to a document that she created with other parents, "A comprehensive guide for families, caregivers, and educators to better support students with disabilities and understand their rights."
Notable quote
Our schools must be places where every child is seen, valued, and empowered to succeed. I will listen, learn, and lead with integrity to ensure Seattle Schools reflect the diverse needs of our students.I note that for D7, the 37th Dems will not have their endorsement meeting until June 9th.
D7
Carol Rava
carolrava4seattleschools@gmail.com
VoteLaVallee@gmail.com
She has a good website. Her "vision" is "building trust through authentic engagement" and "data-driven decision-making." She also has a couple of sentences each for pressing issues in the district.
Notable quote
“The district said they would provide a tool kit for well-resourced schools, but the only tool they chose to use was a jackhammer.”She has the endorsement of Emily Wicks, rep for the 38th LD and Olgy Diaz, Tacoma City Council.
Comments
Dr. Jones has begun temporary medical leave to address a personal health matter. While the nature of his condition is private, we fully support his decision to prioritize his well-being and wish him a smooth and speedy recovery.
Dr. Jones is expected to return by the end of June and will continue to serve through his planned departure on Sept. 3. During his absence, Chief Operations Officer Fred Podesta will assume day-to-day responsibilities and decision-making authority on behalf of the superintendent. Mr. Podesta is a trusted and experienced leader who will ensure continuity and stability across the district.
We understand this news may raise questions, especially as we navigate critical work including finalizing the 2025–26 budget and addressing key areas of community concern—such as enrollment processes, services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and support for advanced learners.
Please be assured our leadership team remains fully committed to supporting students, families, and staff during this time. Our focus on equity, excellence, and student success remains unwavering.
Citations: https://www.mlklabor.org/endorsements/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DYpg1KxMc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Star Student
Citation: https://36th.org/2025-primary-endorsements/
-Star Student
Buckle Up
Meanwhile Tacoma schools announced staffing cuts that are supposed to close $20 million of a $30 million budget gap: https://www.tacomaschools.org/about/newsroom/story-detail/~board/2024-2025-school-year/post/program-cuts-and-staff-displacements-for-the-2025-26-school-year
They mention non-renewing 105 "provisional certificated staff" but overall the statement is a bit vague on what is being cut. In some cases, it seems that support positions like "Secondary Instructional Coach" and "peer inclusion teachers" are being eliminated, and the staff who held them are being moved into the positions formerly held by lower-seniority staff who were non-renewed.
Clark and Mizrahi ARE ON THE BOARD. They have vote yes to “well resourced schools” crap. They voted to extend a contract and raise Jones’ salary. They have chosen to remain silent when community needed them the most. Highly Capable debacle, DHH struggles, enrollment disaster, community engagement complaints. SILENCE.
But they like turning around and getting on their high horse writing op-Ed’s denouncing lack of accountability when they are the personification of what’s wrong with this district.
I have written a number of emails to them directly and have never, ever received a response. This pretending to have all the solutions IF ELECTED is such fallacy, it’s offensive.
The same can be said about Vivian Song. Wasn’t she literally on the board when we got into deep financial trouble? Wasn’t HCC dismantled on her watch? Wasn’t she on the board when the Ingraham student was killed on campus?
Not her fault but how is she now going to solve all our problems? And please no excuses. If you are on the board and believe in something and represent your constituents well, if you are not in the majority you go down kicking and screaming. I have not seen Song, Clark or Mizrahi do that. It’s a no from me.
American Idol
One thing I have consistently told candidates is that they certainly need to get the lay of the land, get to know fellow directors, etc. BUT they are fully elected members of the Board. They should NOT allow themselves to be bullied by any other director.
Song did not commit "fraud" per se. I still to this day do not understand why she and Rivera left but again, there was bullying and some of it public. Song did move out of her district. Apparently there is no Board policy on notification to constituents or other directors. (That may have changed.)
However, there is policy that says if a Board director moves out of their region, they may stay on the Board but, of course, if they want to run again, they must run in the district they now live in.
Will echo what Melissa responded with.
Note you are also factually incorrect on the HCC bit. That was removed in BAR 2190 on April 6, 2021. Vivian Song assumed office on Nov 30 2021 (according to Ballotpedia). So no, it happened before her time.
Full-disclosure: I endorsed Vivian Song... not that I ever thought I'd be giving political endorsements in my life but for years now she has been a consistent resource on what questions the board can't get clarity about as well as helping make sense of the financials and other hard data on the district when stuff could be dug up.
I will say similar things for Clark and Mizrahi in that they have actually responded to me at points (I don't expect responses each time) for clarification. And they are asking real questions. So I actually rather like Sarah's "high horse" as you said. Cause frankly, she was right. We should all go join her on that high horse and tell the rest to STOP IT WITH THE NOT ASKING QUESTIONS AND FOLLOWING STUPID OUTCOMES FOCUSED GOVERNANCE.
If Albert Wong has to endorse one of the candidates, anyone else can. I endorse Landon Labosky!
Rivera Smith and Song asked questions and gained political footing in their own ways but went along with the board majority in the most egregious decisions affecting the district finance and the entire city.
When Song had the chance to expose the district’s misuse of funds, she did not.
Fresh Breath