Announcer: 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.
Now, just for the primary,
only those who live
in each school board district
are eligible to vote
for candidates in that district.
The top two vote-getters
in each district will 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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Hello. My name is Crystal S. Liston.
I'm a gay, disabled parent of two stepsons
who attend West Seattle schools and a member of your community
who's very passionate about our public schools.
I'm so passionate, in fact, that I've made it my mission
to volunteer in every school in our district,
as I do not understand how a board member
can govern a body of people they know nothing about.
As of the 2018-2020 school year,
I volunteered in 20 of our 102 schools,
and as a volunteer, I have noticed a disconnect
in our school community as a whole.
The reason I'm running for school board
is to lead a paradigm shift
where schools interact and communicate with one another,
a shift where the Seattle community
is held accountable to participate
and nurture our schools,
a shift where school board members
are active in the various schools
and communicate to their students, parents, and teachers.
Instead of telling schools what they should be doing,
we need to ask,
"We have resources. What do you need?"
Another aspect of our school district
that has become clear to me is the lack of equity.
Why do some schools have band instruments for students
but others don't?
Why are social workers not in all of our schools
to support our students with trauma
and our faculty who need support from their administration?
Why has the current school board
chosen to lay off school librarians?
Why, as a progressive city,
are we still teaching a white-controlled curriculum?
I'm a firm believer that our values
are in our budget, and our current school board
is failing to represent our community's values.
Maybe you're asking yourself, "What qualifies you
to be on the board?" My response is this.
I can give you a list of my college degrees.
I have two. I have one trade school certificate.
But what qualifies me to be on the board is that I'm a parent,
and I'm also a professional volunteer.
And what is a Seattle School Board member?
An unpaid volunteer.
So, in conclusion, if you're part of the movement for change,
then be vulnerable and courageous and vote for me,
Crystal S. Liston.
"Be bold, and the mighty forces will come to your aid."
Goethe said that.
Hi.
I would like to do a descriptive introduction
for people who may have access needs.
My name is Michelle Sarju,
I'm African American, and I'm wearing all black.
I'm a 34-year Central District resident,
and I'm running for school board director for the children
and youth of Seattle Public Schools District 5.
As a former foster parent and the mom of three former
Seattle Public School students,
I'm running because I believe every student --
and I do mean every student -- should have access
to a high-quality, public school education.
Far too often, variables like race,
zip code, and socioeconomic status determine
who has access to a high-quality and equitable education.
We are now presented with an opportunity
to make the necessary changes that can result
in all SPS students being able to thrive.
Some of my high-level priorities are creating policies
that will support the emotional and mental health
of our next generation of leaders,
our students, ensuring that effective policies and programs
are established and in place to support the return
of all SPS students in the fall,
creating and installing evidence-based
assessment strategies that demonstrate
what our students have actually learned and retained.
It is time to move away from standardized testing
to strength-based assessments.
I'm excited about what SPS can be for all of our students,
and I'm looking forward to partnering with you all
to make that happen.
Thank you for supporting my candidacy
for Seattle Public Schools
School Board Director, District 5.