Specifically I have eight years of experience voting on board actions, making informed decisions, meeting with constituents. I have served as Board President, chaired the Operations Committees, was a member of the Audit and Finance Committee for 4 years, and served on the Special Ed Committee. I also served as the Board’s liaison to the Head Start Committee.

I have demonstrated the ability to withstand great challenges both bureaucratic and political. I have remained an independent critical thinker. I have attended an average of 12 school-related or community meetings per month over the past 8 years. I have shown an ability to assess and analyze complex policies while bringing these issues to numerous community members across the city — not just in District 5. I continuously offer alternative solutions and creative policies to my colleagues and District staff. I have taken strong stands on: the Assignment Plan for the past 8 years, supported transportation and yellow bus drivers, worked to get Historically Under-utilized Businesses (HUBs) and Small Works Programs in Seattle Public Schools, and I have provided strong fiscal oversight of our public dollars, demanding accountability. Math Adoption, water pipe remediation, mitigating negative impact of the WASL are all examples of controversial issues that distinguish me from other candidates. The institutional knowledge I hold will be key as we move forward.

My husband, Butch Blum and I, are Capitol Hill residents, with 3 sons, Case (college, practicing architect), Kyle (entering college senior, summer intern, Wa. Budget and Policy Center) and Bryce (entering college senior, summer intern, Center for Children and Youth Justice). When my sons were growing up on the hill, we strolled past the richest and the poorest, the heavily pierced and dyed and the most conservative. They have an appreciation for diversity that only comes from living in the heart of our city. They have a sense of community that only comes from being a part of a public system. They have a value system that is predicated on honesty and tolerance. Without question, being a successful parent is my biggest accomplishment. I believe I can translate my parenting strategies to the board level on behalf of all children.

I am a doer. I am someone who listens first, proposes a plan, creates consensus, then executes. I would provide substantive policy proposals to move us quickly into a customer-oriented district with intensified community engagement. I know how to connect with folks. I know how to create enthusiastic support for a cause. People want to be inspired. I know how to do that, but also have the ability to create strategic plans with the “how to pay for it” piece. This is why I received the Municipal League’s endorsement for our race, with the best rating of all 4 candidates. It is also why I received an unheard of 63% of the first ballot endorsement at the 43rd Dem’s caucus, with NO former relationship with the caucus. They were inspired by my can do attitude and knew I have the knowledge to be immediately affective at the board level.

I have changed many organizations' community building and fundraising strategies. I conceived and served as executive director of The Perfect Solution (a coalition board modeled on PONCHO) for medical research and health services organizations (see resume). I personally brought in corporate sponsorships of more than $200,000 in value in 1990-91. I redesigned the Seattle Symphony’s largest fundraiser, Symphoneve, doubling their net revenues in 1985, some of which was designated for educational outreach. I have written and/or helped coordinate 2 different Dept. of Neighborhood grants, creating a horticultural program at Montlake Elementary school, extending the Central Trail past WMS and various improvements to the Central Area that benefit the broader community. I have used Butch Blum Inc.’s anniversary celebrations to bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to vital non-profits, specifically bridging a budget gap for Elementary Instrumental Music (EIM) in the 2004-05 budget crisis of over $180,000 raised by our 30th anniversary event. This money was distributed to all 68 elementary schools district wide to provide music teachers for 4th/5th grade instrumental music.

I am an astute businesswoman. I have balanced multi-million dollar budgets since I was in my 20's and became the youngest buyer in the history of Neiman Marcus, the first woman in their Men's division. I have convinced folks twice my age to follow my plan because it was based on solid research and the numbers.

Finally and most importantly, as a business owner of 28 years, I predicted the economic downturn 10 months prior to the “breakdown” in Fall of 2008. Consequently, Butch Blum Inc. had trimmed our expenses and to continue to be a profitable business despite sales decreases prior to 2009. Most businesses continue to struggle in this difficult economy. While we are by no means “out of the woods,” our business has very little debt and we are one of a very few specialty stores across the U.S. that still has excellent credit and are paying our invoices in a timely manner. Had the previous school board enacted the CACIEE (the committee that worked for Superintendent Manjas) plan 4 years ago, we would not be in the fiscal crisis we are today. I believe my fiscal insights would help to prevent such situations from occurring in the future.

I am completely focused on customer service, with the students being our clients. I believe I could work with the board to achieve the common goal of creating a client centric district. I am a trained communications expert, and know that I can help create communication strategies that will strengthen our district.

I set high standards for myself, and those around me. I am the ONLY candidate in this race that has a proven track record of creating change. I see a need and fill it. In the hundreds of conversations I have had with ALL stakeholder’s, the most often asked question is “Why aren’t we holding ALL children in our schools to higher academic expectations?” I would come to the board table with that echoing in my head, knowing that we need to give the support necessary to both students and teachers to hit the highest mark. Community leaders have recognized how this differs from my opponents which is why I have had early-on the endorsements of James Kelly, President of the Urban League, Tina Podolowski, Exec. Director of Big Bros. Big Sisters, Trish Millines Dziko, co-founder of TAF and Debbi Brainerd, founder of Islandwood. These are folks who are ON the ground with our kids at risk. They recognize I am a change agent with an ear to the ground.

My family has a long history of commitment to public education. My brothers, sisters, and I are graduates of Seattle Public Schools. My wife is an educator at Seattle Central Community College. We have four Seattle public school kids and would bring the perspective of sixteen cumulative parent years at Kimball Elementary, Mercer and Hamilton Middle School, and Franklin High. Supporting member of Schools First, which led the successful passage of the 2007 Seattle Schools operating levy and capital bond.

Working intensively at the elementary school level has given me a fundamental understanding of how a Seattle Public school operates. I’ve been a member of the Kimball Elementary Building Leadership Team and past Kimball Site Councils. Served on principal, head teacher and grade level teacher interview teams. Parent volunteer at Kimball with over 500 hours. I’ve provided data reports and analysis addressing achievement gap issues at Kimball.

Currently, I coach Seattle Parks Department basketball teams and have been a past coach at the Seattle Chinese Athletic Association, which teach leadership skills and sportsmanship for youth. Coached with the Beacon Hill Youth Soccer Club. Refereed soccer games, UW intramural basketball leagues and playoffs. Coaching and refereeing are endeavors that train oneself in leadership, collaboration, and decisiveness.

By profession as a research scientist, I am completely comfortable in analyzing data and complex issues with a critical eye. The science curriculum has yet to be adopted and I would bring a unique perspective from my career involvement in the sciences.

A lifetime of service as an Educator for the Seattle Public Schools for 32 years, a legacy of effectiveness, a commitment to community and a willingness to tackle the tough challenges head on with a wise head and an open heart. My educational background includes a B.A. in Educational Leadership and M.A. in Education Administration from Antioch University. It takes the “we” as in our communities for the “I” as in myself to serve as an advocate to address and create resolutions for the core issues we face in our public education system. I have the proven ability to engage and include every diverse voice needed to make equitable decisions for all our children and families. As a parent of 5 whom have all graduated from the Seattle Public Schools and received their college degrees, I am an advocate of rigorous curriculum in our classrooms, smaller classroom sizes, additional academic support for struggling students and a safe environment for our children. As an educator, I am very well informed from State to City Representatives of Educational Policies that affect our schools. I am a true believer of seeking wise counsel. It is vital to be knowledgeable and updated of Seattle Public School policies and having the ability to communicate the complexity of these policies to our parents, students, and community. As a leader, I have rallied students, parents, staff and the community from diverse socio-economic backgrounds to fight the good fight against biased decisions negatively impacting our parents, teachers, and communities and to focus on student needs and meeting those needs with programs and policies that support parent and community partnerships. As a Community Activist, I understand the need for creativity and extensive networks/partnerships needed to sustain funding for academic programs that enhance the various learning styles of our students. I have successfully pioneered award-winning educational programs that have directly impacted graduation rates, grow the number of college-bound students, reduce gang violence, and closing the achievement gap. I could not succeed without the help of our parents/students, communities, businesses, and collegiate partnerships. I can bring a unique perspective to the Seattle School Board as a woman, parent, academic/cultural educator, community activist, and humanitarian who has dedicated my life to enhance the lives of others.

I presently serve as President of the Board and am completing the four year term I was elected to in 2005. The last four years have been a very busy time in school district governance which has provided a broad and challenging body of experience. This includes hiring our present Superintendent, developing and adopting a Strategic Plan, developing and adopting major reform policies in School Assignment, Facilities Management and Resource Conservation among others. Controversy surrounded closing and surplusing schools to align capacity and enrollment, balancing the last budget and the board-superintendent relationship. I have worked with a variety of Directors, community leaders and political and educational philosophies. School governance is complicated; Experience is valuable. Prior to my Board service, I served as PTSA President at three different schools. I volunteered in many different roles supporting public education and improved funding for education in Washington. My three children have attended Seattle Public Schools, (youngest still in HS) and my wife has been a school nurse in SPS for eleven years. I taught Political Science and History, at university level for five years. I have managed a family investment business for the last twenty years. I have a B.A. degree in Economics and significant experience in finance, budget and management as well as a Masters in Social Sciences and PhD work in Political Science.