I am asked from time to time why I choose to do this work. It is not a paying job, it takes quite a bit of time, and there are times when it can be pretty stressful (COVID pandemic, anyone?).
The truth is that public education, and my love for it is literally in my DNA. I am the daughter of two public school teachers. My father taught English at Ferris High School in Spokane for almost 40 years. My mother was a long-time substitute teacher in the district, working many long term positions over her 20 years of substitute teaching at the secondary level.
Ironically, I attended private school for the first 8 years of my educational career. My parents, though strong public education advocates, wanted a traditional Catholic school for their children. It was a decision made because they wanted us to have the religious teaching that a Catholic school provided, not because they felt that the public elementary schools in Spokane were lacking in some way.
Even as a young student, I became aware that my private school could not provide for every student, regardless of his or her needs. There were a few families who had some of their children attend the Catholic school, while other children in the same family attended public school in order to be able to access special education classes or other programs not offered at a private school.
When I chose to attend a public high school in Spokane instead of the Catholic high school, I was stunned at the variety of programs available to all students. I loved being exposed to a more diverse student body and was excited by the wide array of classes and extra-curricular activities available to all students. Admittedly, it was all a bit overwhelming at first, and there was an intense and often uncomfortable period of transition for me. But I firmly believe that my 4 years of public high school prepared me to face the world far more than my 8 years of private education.
When it came time for my own children to attend school, there was no question that public school was the route we were going to go. One of my children struggled with reading early on. Another of my children is very academically talented. Yet another of my children falls smack in the middle. In addition, through the miracle of adoption, I am the mother of one black child, one white child, and one mixed race child. All three of my children received an excellent education in the Riverview School District. Each of them was given what he or she needed to be successful—with absolutely no thought to sex, race, color, religion, national origin or financial resources. THAT is what our public schools, and specifically the Riverview School District provide for ALL students. Two of my children are currently attending college, and I am proud to say that my daughter will graduate next spring with a degree in special education. One of my children is still looking for his next challenge in life, but I know that whatever he chooses to do, he is prepared to face it head on.
So, when the opportunity arose to help guide the district into the future, I jumped at the chance. I have enjoyed every minute. Sometimes the administrative aspects of the role–approving budgets, setting policy, working on strategic planning—can be a bit demanding. But the board meetings where excited students come to talk to us about the amazing things they are learning in school, or where enthusiastic teachers share something new they are trying in their classroom, those are the meetings that remind me why I do this. Because I love public education, and because I believe a good public education that prepares students for the future is a right, not a privilege.
And also, I do it because I get to share moments like this with students:
Sabrina 4 School Board 