The Snoqualmie Education Association has interviewed all school board candidates, attended the PTA candidate forum and interviewed individuals who have worked with all candidates. We enthusiastically endorse Craig Husa, Dan Popp and Caroline Loudenback.

Teachers support Dan Popp as a school board member because he represents our community as a whole. Dan wants our students to be prepared for the future. He has demonstrated a strong ability to collaborate with district administrators, teachers, students and community members.

Craig Husa has earned district teacher support as a school board candidate because he sees the big picture and listens to the views of all community members. Craig continues to demonstrate a team-player attitude and depth of compassion.

In her position on the school board, Caroline Loudenback has proven to be an effective listener and is thoughtfully able to look at all sides of an issue. Caroline bases her decisions on what is best for all students. She has proven her commitment to the district by working collaboratively with teachers toward a continuous improvement plan in teaching and learning.

What these three candidates bring to the school board is a positive view of the work we have accomplished to better improve teaching and learning along with the commitment for continued improvements. Their challengers are focusing on what is “wrong” with our school district and have offered uninformed, easy answers to very complex challenges such as continued funding cuts from the state and unfunded mandates. There are no easy answers!

I have been a teacher in the Snoqualmie Valley for 32 years, I have encountered many school board members during this time and the present school board clearly are the most professional during my career. All three have proven track records of effective leadership as school board members. We have much to be proud of with recent school achievement awards, greatly expanded Advanced Placement classes, high school classes with college credit, technology innovation, high number of National Board-certified teachers and very successful co-curricular activities. We need to celebrate these successes while collaborating on our continuing work to improve teaching and learning.

Art Galloway

President, Snoqualmie Valley Education Association