Since Seattle is overwhelmingly a city of the childless, why vote for anyone?
In a city where we have become increasingly all white (the most white city in the US!) , these jobs seem to go to activists who have no kids of their own but are all too willing to tell others how THEIR kids should be educated. The candidates tend to be retired or unemployed people who are political activists with enough money or some source of outside support that allows them to take on a full time but unpaid job.
The worst impact of this is on kids too poor to opt out for the hugely successful private schools. Despite lots of words about addressing the problems of segregated schools in the less expensive south part of Seattle, the result is a board that represents interest groups rather than the kids.
Steve Sundquist is an exception. I admire Mr. Sundquist’s courage and willingness to fix a broken system. His credentials are outstanding, starting with his election to Phi Beta Kappa while getting his degree from WSU in Computer Science. He has a long career, besides his highly successful job life, in advocating for school reforms.
Parent & Seattle Public School Advocate |
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| • | Elected to the Seattle School Board, District 6, in November 2007 | 2007 |
| Representing Alki, Arbor Heights, Concord, Cooper, Denny, Gatewood, Highland Park, Lafayette, Madison, Middle College @SSCC, Pathfinder, Roxhill, Sanislo, Schmitz Park, Sealth, Southwest Interagency, West Seattle Elementary, West Seattle High School. Serve as Finance Committee Chair on the Board. | ||
| • | International Baccalaureate (I.B.) Program, Chief Sealth H.S. | 2005-Present |
| Worked with team of parents, teachers and administrators to develop curriculum and gain I.B. accreditation to establish the program at Chief Sealth High School. Program offers students a rigorous international curriculum that encourages engaged world citizens; entering class reflects the rich diversity of the school and our community. | ||
| • | Parent Volunteer and School Supporter | 1995-Present |
| Little League Coach for daughters’ softball teams. Involved in daughters’ schools — currently at Chief Sealth High School. Supporter of Simple Majority (4204), Seattle school levy and bond measures (Props. 1&2), Alliance for Education, League of Education Voters. Chaperone leader for youth — Oaxaca, Mexico trip to rebuild teachers’ quarters and church following earthquake damage. | ||
| • | Chairman of the Board, Climate Solutions | 2007-present |
| Volunteer Board Chair of Washington’s leading global warming research and advocacy organization. Also serve on the Board of Directors for ONE/Northwest, a non-profit that helps environmental organizations use IT for communicating and building relationships. | ||
| • | Lead Partner, Social Venture Partners | 2005-present |
| Volunteer Lead Partner with Seattle-based non-profit organization dedicated to addressing educational, social and environmental issues in the Puget Sound region. | ||
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Professional Experience |
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| • | Managing Director, Chief Information Officer, Director of Systems Development, Russell Investment Group |
1984-2005 |
| Twenty-two years of successful finance, IT, and management experience, leading large operations and systems, oversight of multi-million dollar budgets and direction of hundreds of staff. Received Leadership Award, Russell’s highest recognition for leadership achievement. | ||
Education |
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| • | M.B.A., Computers & Information Systems and Finance | 1981 |
| University of Chicago, Dean’s Honor List | ||
| • | B.S. Computer Science Washington State University, summa cum laude |
1979 |
| S. Town Stephenson Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi | ||
Too many folks see this job as a chance to tell other people how their kids should be educated or protect the teachers union from reforms. Usually the focus is on kids in bad schools because their parents can not afford to live in Laurelhurst.
The typical board member of the School District is a retired (aka unemployed?) , a political enthusiast with some ax to grind, a partisan of some interest group, or, at best, a parent who has risen through the ranks of the PTSA.
If Sundquist is elected, I would hope he start an effort to replace the elected board with something more like the UW regents … a board of experts and partisans, chosen by the Mayor and the City Council for expertise and committeemen, who work with the District rather than trying to run it.
Why do we elect a school board? Almost no one wants to run because the job is unpaid, nearly full time, and the District has an illustrious history of decades of scandal and failure. This year there was a painful effort to find anyone wiling to run. Occasionally, someone like Mr. Sundquist runs.