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♪♪

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♪♪

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-Hi.

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My name is
Christie Robertson.

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I'm running for election
to the Seattle School Board

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in District 3.

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And I'd like to share with you
why I'm in this fight,

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and what I hope
to achieve.

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I've called Seattle "home" ever
since I started my Ph.D. program

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in neurobiology and behavior
at the UW in 1996.

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Over the years since,
I've worked in software,

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had two children, and grown more
and more deeply involved

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as an advocate
in our educational community.

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Currently, I'm serving on
the executive board

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of the Seattle
Special Education PTSA,

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and I've had the opportunity
to meet

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and collaborate with
so many others

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who believe that we can
do better by our kids.

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What I think makes
our public schools special

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is the sense of collective
effort and community.

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We all come together -- parents,
teachers, and neighbors --

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to shape a vision
for our children's education.

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We entrust this vision to our
schools and to our school board.

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However, right now,
it's clear to me

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that our schools are struggling
to reach that vision.

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Despite the tireless work
of our teachers,

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and the advocacy
of our community,

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our schools
are losing enrollment,

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facing a budget crisis,

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and failing
our most vulnerable kids.

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This is why I'm running for
the school board.

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As a parent
and a community member

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deeply involved
in special education,

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I bring a passion for inclusion,
justice, and equity.

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I'm committed to ensuring that
every child,

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regardless of their background
or their abilities,

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has access to
a welcoming

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and supportive
educational experience.

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I'm excited about
the opportunity

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to serve you
on the school board,

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and I look forward
to working alongside you

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to create a brighter future
for our public schools --

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a future where
every child in Seattle

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gets the great education
they deserve.

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-Hi.

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My name is
Evan Briggs,

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and I'm running to be your next
school board representative.

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At its best, education opens
doors and unlocks potential.

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Yet, in a city
of abundant resources,

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we face persistent
opportunity gaps

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that are among the worst
in our nation.

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As the parent
of three SPS students,

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one of my core beliefs
is that we advocate

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most effectively
for our own children

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when we advocate
for all children.

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We must align our district
to focus on student outcomes

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such that every child
in the city

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receives the education
they deserve.

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From running
a summer program

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for children
of East African refugees,

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to teaching
at the college level,

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and everything
in between,

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I have spent time
in the classroom,

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and understand the unique
challenges our educators face.

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From a parent
perspective,

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my efforts to secure the support
necessary for my children

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to thrive at school

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have been met with
frustrating roadblocks.

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As a board member,
I will advocate for policies

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that support and empower
our educators

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to help our kids
reach their full potential.

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Children are facing
an unprecedented

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mental health crisis.

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Our schools are facing
a budget crisis.

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And data show that too many
students in our district

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are profoundly
underserved.

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Addressing these issues
requires big-picture thinking

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and a systems approach
to enacting meaningful change.

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In my years of advocacy,
having served on PTAs

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and the Magnuson Park
Advisory Committee,

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I understand that systemic
change doesn't happen overnight.

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I also understand that
successful movements

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are grounded in
relationship-building,

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which is why I will advocate for
inclusive engagement policies,

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proactive transparent
communication,

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and strong partnerships.

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I chose a career
in documentary filmmaking

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because I believe stories
have the power to transform.

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Together,
let's create a new story

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about education
in Seattle.

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My name is
Evan Briggs,

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and I would be honored
to have your vote.

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-Seattle is a progressive,
educated, and innovative city,

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but our public schools
are failing too many kids,

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teachers,
and families.

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There is a real, but quiet,
crisis in our schools --

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pandemic disruptions,
declining enrollment,

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budget instability, and widening
gaps in equity and outcomes.

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I am running for
school board

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because I believe
we can meet this challenge,

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and build great schools
for all families.

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I've called Seattle "home"
for 20 years.

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I fought for
housing affordability

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as the executive director
of the Washington Low

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Income Housing Alliance.

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I've worked at leading
technology companies.

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I've been a proud SPS parent,
volunteering for school plays,

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chess clubs,
and fundraising events.

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Our kids have had dedicated,
talented,

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and committed teachers.

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But we need systemic change
to address urgent needs.

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After a student died
from gun violence

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at Ingraham High School,

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there was little
to no response.

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The board and district intend to
close neighborhood schools,

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and have ended
vital enrichment programs.

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Students furthest
from educational justice are,

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using the district's
own measures,

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worse off than they were
in 2019.

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The constant budget panic
is a result of

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a fundamentally unsound
financial footing,

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with no plans
to make real changes.

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As a result, many parents
who can are leaving

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for private schools.

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We deserve
a school board

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that takes gun violence
seriously.

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We deserve a board that fights
to keep neighborhood schools

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open, and offer programs
that draw students in.

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We deserve a board
that does more than talk about

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improving the education
of the kids most in need

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of our help,
but insists on results.

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I don't have
all the answers,

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but I believe that bringing in
new voices

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is the first step to getting
back on the right track.

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I would appreciate
your vote.