1 00:00:00,033 --> 00:00:05,038 ♪♪ 2 00:00:05,071 --> 00:00:10,176 ♪♪ 3 00:00:11,344 --> 00:00:12,612 -Hi. My name is Molly Mitchell, 4 00:00:12,612 --> 00:00:13,713 and I'm running for 5 00:00:13,747 --> 00:00:15,382 Seattle school board director 6 00:00:15,415 --> 00:00:16,449 to ensure that every student 7 00:00:16,449 --> 00:00:18,118 has a pathway to success. 8 00:00:18,184 --> 00:00:19,552 I want to ensure all voices 9 00:00:19,586 --> 00:00:21,187 in our school district are heard, 10 00:00:21,221 --> 00:00:22,722 that you have a seat at the table, 11 00:00:22,756 --> 00:00:23,790 and that your concerns 12 00:00:23,790 --> 00:00:24,924 and needs are addressed. 13 00:00:24,958 --> 00:00:26,459 Our schools can do more to serve 14 00:00:26,459 --> 00:00:27,894 the needs of diverse students 15 00:00:27,927 --> 00:00:29,362 and families in our city. 16 00:00:29,396 --> 00:00:31,131 In my 20-year career in education, 17 00:00:31,131 --> 00:00:32,132 the core of my work 18 00:00:32,132 --> 00:00:33,366 has been centering equity 19 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:34,801 and social justice. 20 00:00:34,801 --> 00:00:35,969 This year, I was honored 21 00:00:35,969 --> 00:00:36,970 to be recognized 22 00:00:36,970 --> 00:00:38,471 for my commitment to equity 23 00:00:38,471 --> 00:00:40,306 when I received the Equity Award 24 00:00:40,373 --> 00:00:42,042 from the Washington State 25 00:00:42,075 --> 00:00:43,943 Association of College Trustees. 26 00:00:43,977 --> 00:00:44,944 As the Director 27 00:00:44,978 --> 00:00:45,945 of Student Support Programs 28 00:00:45,979 --> 00:00:47,480 at Seattle Central College, 29 00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:49,215 I am focused on serving students 30 00:00:49,249 --> 00:00:50,283 with the highest barriers 31 00:00:50,316 --> 00:00:51,317 to completion 32 00:00:51,317 --> 00:00:52,752 and students furthest from justice 33 00:00:52,786 --> 00:00:54,454 throughout their entire education, 34 00:00:54,487 --> 00:00:56,556 including their lived experiences 35 00:00:56,589 --> 00:00:58,291 outside the classroom. 36 00:00:58,324 --> 00:00:59,426 I am passionate about 37 00:00:59,459 --> 00:01:01,094 expanding educational opportunities 38 00:01:01,127 --> 00:01:03,163 inside Washington state prisons. 39 00:01:03,229 --> 00:01:04,998 Additionally, I oversee support 40 00:01:04,998 --> 00:01:06,332 for student parents, 41 00:01:06,332 --> 00:01:07,500 student veterans, 42 00:01:07,567 --> 00:01:10,003 and those facing food insecurity. 43 00:01:10,003 --> 00:01:11,104 For all students to succeed, 44 00:01:11,137 --> 00:01:12,605 we must create learning environments 45 00:01:12,639 --> 00:01:13,840 that are safe, welcoming, 46 00:01:13,907 --> 00:01:15,008 and inclusive for all. 47 00:01:15,008 --> 00:01:16,109 When every student 48 00:01:16,142 --> 00:01:17,110 is included and engaged 49 00:01:17,143 --> 00:01:18,278 in their learning environment, 50 00:01:18,311 --> 00:01:20,180 all students benefit. 51 00:01:20,180 --> 00:01:22,348 As a mom and a community organizer, 52 00:01:22,348 --> 00:01:23,516 I believe solutions 53 00:01:23,516 --> 00:01:24,617 are most effective 54 00:01:24,651 --> 00:01:26,419 when they engage all stakeholders 55 00:01:26,453 --> 00:01:28,121 and are accountable to the community, 56 00:01:28,154 --> 00:01:29,522 which is why current school board director 57 00:01:29,589 --> 00:01:32,592 Jill Geary has endorsed my campaign. 58 00:01:32,625 --> 00:01:34,160 The school board can do better 59 00:01:34,194 --> 00:01:35,695 to collaborate with families, 60 00:01:35,695 --> 00:01:36,696 educators, 61 00:01:36,696 --> 00:01:37,797 community organizations, 62 00:01:37,831 --> 00:01:38,932 and local agencies 63 00:01:38,965 --> 00:01:40,934 to generate policies that support 64 00:01:40,967 --> 00:01:41,801 every student's 65 00:01:41,835 --> 00:01:43,036 educational success. 66 00:01:43,103 --> 00:01:44,704 I pledge to represent your voice 67 00:01:44,704 --> 00:01:46,506 and to work for high-quality 68 00:01:46,539 --> 00:01:48,208 education for all students. 69 00:01:48,274 --> 00:01:49,309 My name is Molly Mitchell, 70 00:01:49,342 --> 00:01:50,376 and I would be honored 71 00:01:50,443 --> 00:01:51,377 to earn your vote 72 00:01:51,444 --> 00:01:52,879 for Seattle school board. 73 00:01:53,880 --> 00:02:03,857 ♪♪ 74 00:02:05,892 --> 00:02:06,860 -Hello. 75 00:02:06,893 --> 00:02:07,994 My name is Crystal Liston. 76 00:02:08,027 --> 00:02:09,229 I'm a gay, disabled parent 77 00:02:09,229 --> 00:02:10,563 of two stepsons 78 00:02:10,563 --> 00:02:12,165 who attend West Seattle schools 79 00:02:12,198 --> 00:02:13,700 and a member of your community 80 00:02:13,733 --> 00:02:14,968 who is very passionate 81 00:02:15,001 --> 00:02:15,902 about our schools. 82 00:02:15,969 --> 00:02:17,170 I'm so passionate, in fact, 83 00:02:17,203 --> 00:02:18,538 that I have made it my mission 84 00:02:18,571 --> 00:02:19,873 to volunteer in every school 85 00:02:19,906 --> 00:02:20,874 in our district 86 00:02:20,907 --> 00:02:22,242 as I do not understand 87 00:02:22,308 --> 00:02:23,309 how a board member 88 00:02:23,343 --> 00:02:24,744 can govern a body of people 89 00:02:24,811 --> 00:02:26,079 they know nothing about. 90 00:02:26,146 --> 00:02:27,547 As of 2018-2019 91 00:02:27,580 --> 00:02:28,848 school year, 92 00:02:28,882 --> 00:02:29,749 I have volunteered 93 00:02:29,749 --> 00:02:32,218 in 20 of our 103 schools, 94 00:02:32,252 --> 00:02:33,153 and as a volunteer, 95 00:02:33,186 --> 00:02:34,554 I have noticed a disconnect 96 00:02:34,587 --> 00:02:36,222 in our school community as a whole. 97 00:02:36,256 --> 00:02:37,524 The reason I am running 98 00:02:37,557 --> 00:02:38,558 for school board 99 00:02:38,591 --> 00:02:39,926 is to lead a paradigm shift 100 00:02:39,993 --> 00:02:41,027 where schools interact 101 00:02:41,060 --> 00:02:42,028 and communicate 102 00:02:42,061 --> 00:02:43,163 with one another, 103 00:02:43,196 --> 00:02:45,064 a shift where the Seattle community 104 00:02:45,098 --> 00:02:46,099 is held accountable 105 00:02:46,099 --> 00:02:47,000 to participate 106 00:02:47,033 --> 00:02:48,334 in each of our schools, 107 00:02:48,368 --> 00:02:49,769 and a shift where school board members 108 00:02:49,836 --> 00:02:51,437 are active in the various schools 109 00:02:51,504 --> 00:02:52,505 and communicate 110 00:02:52,539 --> 00:02:53,573 to their students, parents, 111 00:02:53,606 --> 00:02:54,607 and teachers. 112 00:02:54,674 --> 00:02:55,775 Instead of telling schools 113 00:02:55,775 --> 00:02:57,177 what they should be doing, 114 00:02:57,210 --> 00:02:58,945 we ask, "We have resources. 115 00:02:58,945 --> 00:03:00,180 What do you need?" 116 00:03:00,213 --> 00:03:01,114 Another aspect 117 00:03:01,181 --> 00:03:02,081 to our school district 118 00:03:02,115 --> 00:03:03,716 that has become clear to me 119 00:03:03,750 --> 00:03:05,084 is a lack of equity. 120 00:03:05,118 --> 00:03:06,352 Why do some schools have 121 00:03:06,386 --> 00:03:07,520 band instruments for students 122 00:03:07,554 --> 00:03:09,122 but other schools do not? 123 00:03:09,122 --> 00:03:10,190 Why are social workers 124 00:03:10,223 --> 00:03:11,357 not in all of our schools 125 00:03:11,391 --> 00:03:13,126 to support our students with trauma 126 00:03:13,193 --> 00:03:14,961 and our faculty who need support 127 00:03:15,028 --> 00:03:16,462 from their administration? 128 00:03:16,462 --> 00:03:17,630 Why has the current school board 129 00:03:17,630 --> 00:03:18,731 chosen to lay off 130 00:03:18,765 --> 00:03:20,400 school librarians? 131 00:03:20,433 --> 00:03:21,935 Why, as a progressive city, 132 00:03:21,968 --> 00:03:23,203 are we teaching a white-controlled 133 00:03:23,236 --> 00:03:24,470 curriculum? 134 00:03:24,537 --> 00:03:25,638 I am a firm believer that 135 00:03:25,705 --> 00:03:26,940 our values are in our budget, 136 00:03:26,973 --> 00:03:28,741 and our current school board 137 00:03:28,775 --> 00:03:29,909 is failing to represent 138 00:03:29,943 --> 00:03:31,744 our community's values. 139 00:03:31,778 --> 00:03:32,979 Maybe you're asking yourself, 140 00:03:32,979 --> 00:03:33,980 "What qualifies you 141 00:03:34,047 --> 00:03:35,281 to be on the school board?" 142 00:03:35,315 --> 00:03:36,482 My response is this. 143 00:03:36,549 --> 00:03:37,817 I can sit here and give you 144 00:03:37,884 --> 00:03:39,118 a list of my degrees -- 145 00:03:39,152 --> 00:03:40,820 I have two -- and a list of my 146 00:03:40,887 --> 00:03:41,988 trade-school certificates -- 147 00:03:41,988 --> 00:03:44,324 I have one -- but what qualifies me 148 00:03:44,324 --> 00:03:45,825 to be on the Seattle school board 149 00:03:45,892 --> 00:03:47,160 is that I am a parent 150 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:48,161 and that I am 151 00:03:48,161 --> 00:03:49,796 a professional volunteer. 152 00:03:49,829 --> 00:03:50,930 And what is 153 00:03:50,964 --> 00:03:51,998 a Seattle school board member? 154 00:03:52,065 --> 00:03:53,800 An unpaid volunteer. 155 00:03:53,833 --> 00:03:55,101 So in conclusion, 156 00:03:55,134 --> 00:03:56,135 if you are truly part 157 00:03:56,169 --> 00:03:57,270 of the movement for change, 158 00:03:57,303 --> 00:03:59,138 then be vulnerable and courageous 159 00:03:59,172 --> 00:04:00,673 and vote for someone different. 160 00:04:00,740 --> 00:04:02,675 Vote for me -- Crystal S. Liston. 161 00:04:02,675 --> 00:04:03,743 "Be bold. 162 00:04:03,776 --> 00:04:04,811 The mighty forces 163 00:04:04,844 --> 00:04:05,845 will come to your aid." 164 00:04:05,912 --> 00:04:07,614 Goethe said that.