1. Name as it will appear on the ballot
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First Name |
Middle Initial or Nick Name |
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2. Office sought (include office, jurisdiction, position/district number):
3. Are you the incumbent? No
4. How long have you resided in this district/city?
5. How long have you
resided in
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20 years |
6. Is the office sought partisan or nonpartisan? Nonpartisan
CAMPAIGN CONTACTS
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1. Beginning with the most recent position, please list public offices which you have held. Include positions on appointive Boards or Commissions.
Public Office |
Elective or Appointive? |
Dates Held |
Leadership Role (if any) |
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2. If you ran for public office but were not elected, please list those races below:
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Year of Run |
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In this section, we are seeking responses that reflect the four ratings criteria: involvement, effectiveness, character, and knowledge. These are defined as follows:
1. In a page or less, why are you running for this office? (Note: the interview committee will be given a copy of this statement before your interview; at the beginning of your interview you will have the opportunity to expand on this statement in any way you wish.)
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It is time for the Seattle School Board to establish policies that are responsive to and reflect the broad base of racially and culturally diverse students, special education students, and the gay, lesbian students that it serves. I am running for the Seatle School Board because I have a vision for the future. The Seattle School District has many good programs and options, most of which have long waiting lists. Many of thse innovative programs, such as Nathan Hale Academies and the John Stanford International School, are wideley recognized for their ability to meet the needs of diverse populations. Other programs, such as experiential schools, have a demonstrated record of integrating special education students in beneficial ways.
I would establish policies that support and expand these programs to all communities based upon the wishes of each community. By expanding Seattle's successful programs and introducing nationally successful programs, especially in South Seattle, the achievment gap can be significantly reduced. With more options, many more students will get their first or second choice of schools. Quality educational options will encourage families to return their children to the public school system.
I would establish policies that best serve the special education students. This includes policies that discourage placing students in pigeon-holes. It includes policies that encourage teaching self-advocay. I would enforce the policies that are in place to create safe schools for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender students.
It is imperative that the Seatle School Board regain the public's trust. The Board should be accountable for its actions, including the policies and budget it adopts, and its responsibility for the maintenance and construction of school facilities. I will advocate for a transparent budget, one that can be easily read and understood. The most recent budget for the 2003-2004 school year is nearly impossible to read. This does not help regain trust. As an attorney who has relied on the assistance of accounting experts in the dissolution of divorces and the disposition of assets, I have high expectations of those who work with me in financial capacities. I will expect the same high level of integrity and resourcefulness in those who work for the Seattle School District as I expect from my current professional colleagues |
2. Describe your most important personal characteristics or traits as they relate to the office you seek.
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I like hearing the ideas and opinions of others, especially the opinions of unusual, creative individuals. I value their ideas and think that many of them will prove to be the ideas of the future.
I am willing to learn from people from all walks of life, especially seniors, with whom I have worked for many years as an art teacher and elder law attorney.
I have the ability to learn the accounting principles behind the school budget and to learn about new educational programs and testing principles.
I am able to commit the time that is necessary to do the job. I work part-time. Both of my children have finished their education in the Seattle School District. Having been both a teacher and a parent, I feel very comfortable in schools and enjoy going to school events and meeting the staff and families of the District.
I understand and appreciate the needs of special education students. I will stand up for their rights.
I will stand up for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. |
3. Please describe in sufficient detail, one to three accomplishments or contributions of which you are most proud. These examples should illustrate effective skills and capabilities you think apply to the office you are seeking. These accomplishments may have occurred at any time in your personal, professional, or public life.
4. Please list or describe your current and past activities in the community in which you have acquired skills that relate to the office you seek. Include your role in the activity and the year(s) in which you were involved. Involvement consists of many areas such as family, neighborhood, community, employment, or public life.
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FAMILY: I was an involved parent at my children's K-8 school. I assisted in the classroom and on field trips, paticipated as a member on the five-year plan committee and the teacher hiring committee. I served as Site Council (PTSA) president and secretary, and president of the Sir Herbert Reed Consortuim, a 501c(3) fundraising organization affiliated with the Site Council (1987-1999). I served as president and treasurerof the Snoqualmie Nordic Club (1999-2003.)
NEIGHBORHOOD: I organized a neighborhood block party that started in my front yard, which now draws as many as 75 people each year (see question 3, above, 1988 - present.)
CAREER: I taught at a school where districts "bought" seats for children with multiple handicaps (1976). I taught in a traditional school as a special education teacher in a resource room, (1977-1980) and I have experience teaching homeless children. As a family law and elder law attorney I have worked closely with families (1990-present). I have also done legal work with school districts on large construction projects (1988-1989).
PUBLIC LIFE: I have volunteeed as a teacher's assistant at Headstart (1970), and at a mental hospital for adolescents (1972-1973). I have been a volunteer attorney for the Northwest Women's Law Center, the King County Bar Association Neighborhood Clinics, and for Volunteer Attorney for Persons With AIDS (VAPWA), where I assisted AIDS patients with estate planning and other difficult family law matters (mid to late 1990's.)
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Establish vision for the District through policy-making.
Work within a balanced budget that reflects the policies of the Board.
Hire and be responsible for the actions of the superintendent and other administrators.
Provide that the the work of the Board and the budget are transparent.
Maintain and construct school facilities. |
EDUCATION BACKGROUND SUMMARY
The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report is distributed to voters in print and/or on our website. It includes a summary of the candidate’s education. Please summarize your education in 120 characters (letters, punctuation, and space all combined). The League will delete material that exceeds the space limit by beginning with the last entry. Suggested order is (degree) (subject) (school) (year, if desired).
Note: If this question is left blank the League will not include education information in your candidate profile.
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BA, Philosophy, Colorado State University MA, Language & Learning Disabilities, (Speech & language Dept.), Univeristy of Colorado JD, Law, University of Colorado |
FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT
The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report also includes a summary of each candidate’s civic involvement. Please summarize your civic involvement in the space below. We will make every attempt to include the information in the Candidate Evaluation Report as submitted. Due to space restrictions in the Report, your response is limited to 500 characters (letters, punctuation, and spaces all combined). It is important that you list your involvement beginning with the most important and ending with the least important. If you exceed the length of response permitted, or if the League should find it necessary to shorten responses for publication purposes, deletions will be made beginning with the last item listed.
Note: This information will appear verbatim on the League’s Candidate Evaluation Report. If this question is left blank, the Municipal League will not include information on your civic involvement in the Report.
Check here if you would like the Municipal League to copy the first 500 characters from Question 4 to paste into this section.
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Special education teacher, family and elder law attorney, and art teacher for seniors. Involved parent at children's Seattle school in the classroom, on field trips, on the site council and the associated fundraising 501(c)(3). Volunteer at Headstart and Cupars Mental Hospital. Volunteer for Northwest Women's Law Center, King County Bar Association Neighborhood Clinics and VAPWA (Volunteer Attorneys for Persons With AIDS). |
Finished!
If at all possible, send your response to the Municipal League electronically as an attachment, or insert it into an e-mail message (rebecca@munileague.org). Mail and fax numbers are listed below. If the League has not contacted you to schedule an interview, please call the League office at your earliest convenience.
Don’t forget to send the following to the Municipal League: a resume, a photo, campaign literature, and, if you are an incumbent, constituent newsletters and other materials. Please use the check-off list on the cover sheet of this packet to indicate which items you have sent.
Candidate Evaluation Coordinator: Rebecca Cooper
Seattle, WA 98104-1614 Fax: 425-671-0506 Website: www.munileague.org