Seattle School Board.
The Seattle School Board
adopts the policies that govern Seattle Public Schools.
The board provides direction for the educational program.
The seven directors represent different areas of the city.
Directors are nonpartisan and serve four-year terms.
Just three of the seven district seats are up
for election this year.
In the primary,
only those who live in the school board district
that was on the ballot were eligible
to vote for candidates in that district.
The top two vote-getters in each of those districts
advance to the general election.
At the general election, all voters in Seattle
will have the opportunity to vote
for one candidate from each district.
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Public education transformed my life.
That is why I want to be
your next school board director.
As a child of working-class immigrants,
I started school
as an English as a second language student.
It was a public school teacher
who identified my hearing disability
and got me the support I needed
to fulfill my potential.
My family takes great pride
that I am the first woman in my family
to graduate from college.
Seattle Public Schools can do better.
The talents and commitments of our teachers,
principal, and staff are there.
I see it every day
as a mother of four current
and future students,
PTA president, and member
of the Superintendent's Parent Advisory Council.
We must support them with a budget
and board that reflects our values.
We can simultaneously tackle equity,
academic quality, and operational efficiency
so that our students are thoroughly prepared
be it career, college,
or community.
I bring a diverse background
and professional skills
in finance and operations
that are needed
to better support our district.
As director, I commit
to establishing mental health
as an essential service to reengage students
who are falling behind,
especially after the COVID-19 pandemic,
making tangible progress
on inclusion and academic outcomes,
securing needed transportation assistance
for families,
hiring a superintendent with a strong vision
for our district's future,
and diving into capital and operating budgets
to ensure equity
and spending accountability.
I'm honored to have the endorsements
of The Stranger,
the 36th, 43rd and 46th district Democrats,
National Women's Political Caucus,
OneAmerica Votes,
Alliance for Gun Responsibility,
Fuse Progressive Voters Guide,
state Sens.
Reuven Carlyle and Jamie Pedersen,
Rep. Gerry Pollet,
King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles,
former School Board Directors
Betty Patu, Eden Mack,
Sue Peters, Michael DeBell,
Rick Burke, Kay Smith-Blum and others.
And I'd be honored to have your vote.
Hi, my name is Laura Marie Rivera,
R-i-v-e-r-a.
In this challenging year,
I have decided to lean in.
I'm the mother of four
Seattle Public School students.
I am a nonprofit professional,
a former Broadway performer,
and I'm an educator.
I'm running for school board
because I want to create a safe
and welcoming environment
for all Seattle students,
regardless of race, gender, economics,
abilities, religion,
first language, you name it.
And I want to give each of them
the very best public education.
We owe this to them
and to our society as a whole.
Now, there won't be any dancing in this video.
I'll leave that
to my Broadway performing days of the past.
But did you know
that the future stars, captains of industry,
influential scientists, community builders,
and essential workers of tomorrow
are in our schools today?
A quality public education
is the greatest gift we can give them.
It opens the door for a brighter future
and gives our students
the skills they need to succeed.
All services must be delivered equitably
and effectively, 100% inclusive,
and center
on each individual student's needs.
I intend to build
on the district's commitment to equity
and open up the possibilities
for all of our students.
It is paramount that we are keeping up
with the highest safety standards
and respecting the needs
of our educators and staff.
As a family with learning disabilities,
we know how difficult it can be
to navigate the system
and advocate for our child.
I would like to use my experiences
as a parent, teacher,
and member of our community
to advocate for all of our children.
This attention to our students
means graduation and success.
Seattle is a leader in technology,
innovation, and the arts.
We need to make sure
that our students have access
to the skills and opportunities
that those industries can provide.
If I'm elected
as a Seattle School Board director,
I pledge to listen and to learn
and to make the best possible choices
for our students.
I'm Laura Marie Rivera,
and I would be proud to win your vote.