Election: Pasco School Board candidates answer your questions

As both a Kennewick teacher and Pasco School Board member, I know how important it is to keep the focus on student learning. That’s why one of the most significant changes we made as a board was updating the superintendent’s evaluation to put greater emphasis on student outcomes. For the first time, our superintendent is directly accountable for student growth and achievement.

This year, we asked the superintendent to strengthen how the district identifies students who need extra academic support and to make sure those supports are in place sooner. We also directed the district to improve how we track students who may not be on track to graduate, so we can step in earlier with the help they need.

My goal is simple: every student should have the tools and support to succeed, and I will continue working closely with the superintendent to make that a reality.

Like many districts across Washington, Pasco faces a tough reality: the state does not fully fund education. To continue providing the programs and resources our students depend on, passing the levy next year is absolutely critical. The levy not only funds important services directly, but it also unlocks matching dollars from the state that we would lose without it.

In addition, the board has approved a four-year plan to rebuild our financial reserves responsibly. By using employee attrition — reductions that happen naturally through retirements or resignations — we can reduce costs without cutting the programs students rely on. Choosing this path avoids the disruption and damage that layoffs would cause for both staff morale and student learning.

As a teacher and board president, my focus is on protecting high-quality student services while being transparent and responsible with taxpayer dollars.

I was the only board member to vote against the current high school boundary plan because I believe it creates long-term challenges for Pasco High School. Under the new lines, the school will serve a significantly higher percentage of students of color and students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. Research shows that when schools face large disparities in demographics and socioeconomic factors, teacher turnover increases and student achievement can decline.

I felt the board should have taken more time to explore additional boundary options before narrowing the discussion to just two. While the majority chose to move forward, I continue to believe we need broader conversations around equity and balance in our schools.

Looking ahead, my priority is making sure Pasco High has the resources, staffing, and programs necessary so that every student there has the same opportunities for success as students at any of our high schools. As a teacher, I see every day how much of a difference strong support and the right resources make in whether a student thrives — and I will keep that front and center in my work on the board.

Over the last three years, I have worked hard to be a balanced voice on the board. As president, I’ve kept our focus on student achievement, district priorities, and what is best for kids — not partisan politics. I have never campaigned on a party label because I believe our schools belong to the whole community and not one political group.

Three years ago, Pasco voters placed their trust in me to bring that balanced approach to the board, choosing me over my current opponent. Since then, I have worked every day to honor that trust by listening, asking questions and putting students first.

What sets me apart is that I lead with transparency and collaboration, and I keep students at the center of every decision. As a teacher and as board president, I know firsthand that our kids deserve solutions, not politics.

Improving student outcomes requires collaboration and clear priorities. The board’s role is to work with the superintendent to set measurable goals, provide oversight, and ensure that resources are directed toward effective strategies. This includes focusing on core academic areas like reading and math, supporting teachers with proven instructional tools, and holding the system accountable for results.

As a board member, I will maintain a strong partnership with the superintendent and regularly review progress to ensure our students are achieving at higher levels.

The board must work closely with the superintendent to restore financial balance while protecting educational quality. This means thoroughly reviewing all programs for effectiveness and identifying opportunities to reduce expenses without harming core student services. We need a realistic, sustainable budget that doesn’t spend more than the district receives.

By setting clear priorities, making tough decisions, and engaging the community throughout the process, we can stabilize finances and continue delivering a strong education for Pasco students. As a board member, I will make financial stability my top priority.

Having worked through boundary changes before, I know firsthand that it’s a challenging process, and not everyone will be satisfied with the outcome. The board sought community input, and the community prioritized proximity over diversity.

I believe it makes sense for students to attend schools closest to their homes — it strengthens community ties and reduces transportation time and costs. While diversity is valuable, proximity was the community’s clear priority and the process and resulting boundaries reflected that.

There are clear differences between my opponent and me. The most significant difference is I am a Republican, and my opponent is a Democrat.

Another major difference is I have received just under $7,000 in campaign contributions — all from individual voters within the Pasco School District. My opponent has received nearly $16,000, including $2,500 from the Democratic Party, $5,000 from political action committees, $2,400 from unions, $1,700 in miscellaneous contributions, and roughly $4,300 from individuals, most of whom live outside the district.

These differences reflect different values and loyalties. My support comes from and my commitment is to serving Pasco’s families, not outside interests.

I have partnered with the superintendent and other board members in the past to drive student outcomes during my previous 10 years on the school board. During that time, I was part of a board that grappled with the same questions. We initiated the “Outrageous Outcomes” that are still focused on today, including reading by 3rd grade, success in algebra, and being on track for graduation by 9th grade, graduating with a career path, and students having meaningful connections and hope.

There were significant improvements in these areas, but we need to focus on continuous improvement and it is time for a refresh. This includes setting superintendent annual goals focused on improving standardized test scores, as they have been stagnant in recent years. Use of revenues and tax dollars should always focus on improving student outcomes.

During my previous service on the School Board, we never ran a budget negative or in the red. It was also during a time of continuous growth in the number of families and students entering the district. Now, enrollment is stagnant and the challenges are different. As a board member, we need to set a budget where expenditures do not exceed revenues (incoming money) year after year.

I have a record of asking hard questions and do not rubber-stamp district recommendations. This requires the board to ask questions, make difficult decisions, and the superintendent and staff to work to limit impact on staff and students.

Yes. During my time on the Pasco School Board, from 2013 to 2023, we heard repeatedly from students and families that busing was not efficient and that most students and families prioritize “neighborhood” schools.

As a school board and district, we should focus on providing quality education, opportunities and activities that help a student feel a sense of belonging at ALL schools. Reducing busing increases time and opportunity for students to pursue opportunities and growth.

My PASSION for the district is driven by having four kids who have attended the district (one graduate and one each currently in elementary, middle, and high school) and my enjoyment of working to improve opportunities for ALL students.

My EDUCATION, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering, along with a career as an engineering manager, have sharpened my skills in evaluating options, budgets, capital projects, and data analysis.

My EXPERIENCE of serving 10 years on the Pasco School Board, and five years as president of the board, is needed to lead during this time of budgetary constraints and to drive continuous student performance improvements.

My VOLUNTEER service includes connections made with many families over the years coaching local youth sports, and connections with state leaders as I serve on the State Commission for Asian and Pacific American Affairs.

My past service record proves that I focus on LISTENING to students, staff, and community members before making decisions and driving continuous improvement. I believe that I bring experienced leadership that the district and school board need, and I humbly ask for your vote and support.

School board directors must both oversee the superintendent and work collaboratively with her and fellow board members to achieve the district’s goals. One key focus for the 2025–2026 school year is improving reading and math outcomes, specifically increasing the percentage of 3rd graders reading at grade level and 9th graders passing algebra. Superintendent Michelle Whitney will provide updates on progress and strategies, and I fully support these goals and targets.

As a director, my role would be to monitor the implementations, ensure accountability, and collaborate as part of a unified board to achieve success. I also believe our educators are essential to this work. They must have the resources, support and professional development needed to effectively teach reading and math.

By giving our educators the tools to use data for progress monitoring and tailored instruction, we can help all students reach grade-level proficiency and prepare for future academic success.

I support the decision the school board took earlier this year to utilize 2.5% of our board-mandated 5% reserve account and right size our staffing through attrition over the next 3-5 years. It is important to note that the 5% reserve account are funds that are set aside automatically every fiscal year. These funds are not used in the budget unless directed by the board.

This approach will enable us to have sustainable budgeting over the long term without implementing an unnecessary and harmful involuntary reduction-in-force that would result in undermining student instructional services and programs and devastate families in our district and weaken our local economy. I support continuing that approach over the next few years.

This strategy offers a realistic way to provide a high quality level of student instruction and keep the necessary staffing levels to provide that high quality education.

If I had been on the board during the high school boundary vote, I would have supported the diversity boundary. The proximity map increases the number of students with free and reduced lunch at Pasco High School, therefore asking our educators and staff to serve a student population with greater needs compared to our other high schools. This imbalance isn’t fair to our students or our educators.

Now that the proximity boundary has been adopted, it is critical that the board and district leadership ensure Pasco High and other East and Central Pasco schools receive the additional resources, staff and support they need to help every student succeed. Even with tight budgets, we must not allow any school to fall behind. Every student in our District — no matter where they live or which school they attend — deserves equitable access to high quality instruction and the preparation necessary to thrive after high school.

I bring a unique perspective as a Pasco School District graduate, manager of a family-owned small business and a community advocate. I was born and raised in Pasco and attended Pasco schools. I attended Tri-Tech Skills Center and graduated from Chiawana High School.

I went to work as an assistant manager and instructor at a local daycare before becoming the office and finance manager at a small business in downtown Pasco. As the manager of Lewis Street Tire, I balance the books and prioritize customer service every day.

My interest in community advocacy began when I led a movement with downtown businesses. We successfully lobbied the city to create a grant program to help small businesses negatively impacted by a construction project. This experience and perspective will make me an effective voice on the board to ensure our schools not only strive for excellence in education, but also are equitable, safe, and well managed.