Two newcomers face off for vacant seat on Mukilteo School Board
Published 12:01 am Wednesday, October 19, 2011
MUKILTEO — Two Mukilteo dads are running for the Mukilteo School Board seat vacated by board President Kevin Laverty.
Bruce Jackson decided to throw his name in the hat partly to give voters a choice in a race where candidates too often run unopposed.
He said the most important task before school board members is to make sure every decision enhances student experience.
“Kids are our most valuable asset, and I want to make sure we give them the opportunities and tools they need to be successful,” he said.
He’s running against Mike Simmons, a Boeing manager whose passion for education stems from growing up with a family of educators including a mom who taught special ed.
If elected, Simmons said he would work to make sure teachers have the best tools for educating students and for professional development. That includes maintaining budgets for in-service days and training.
He would work to get parents to realize the role they need to play, for example, by reaching out to families that need help fulfilling that role.
“We do well, but we can always do better when it comes to education,” he said.
Jackson’s grown daughters attended Mukilteo schools and private schools in the area. The younger, Becky, is a teacher, and the elder, Elisha, is a doctor.
If elected, Jackson said he would be committed to changing what doesn’t work and try to get parents more involved. For example, by holding an evening class in each school to teach parents to support their children’s education.
Simmons’ elder daughter, Lauren, now a junior at Western Washington University, went through Mukilteo schools. His younger daughter, Rachael, is a freshman at Kamiak high School.
In director district 3, Ron Johnson is running unopposed.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
Mukilteo School Board
Bruce Jackson
Age: 58
Occupation: Data architect at Seattle Children’s Hospital
Website: http://schoolboard.brucejackson.info
Priorities: Ensure kids have the best possible education experience; make sure the school district spends money wisely; look for creative ways to solve problems in the district.
Mike Simmons
Age: 48
Occupation: Senior human resource manager for the 767 program at Boeing
Website: none
Priorities: Build a partnership among parents, teachers, students and the community; maintain fiscal responsibility with the students’ best interest in mind; help teachers grow and develop.
