The upcoming election has some important races to pay attention to, and the Kent School Board is one of them. I urge people to take the time to get to know the two candidates, and I think you will come to the same conclusion I have.
It is important to note that this position is not paid, yet this board sets policy and makes critical decisions regarding our children. It is imperative that we elect people who are qualified and dedicated to supporting our schools, teachers and most importantly our children.
I have done my homework and I am voting for Maya Vengadasalam. I met Maya last spring when she decided to run for office. I was impressed by her. Not only was I impressed by her resume, but I was impressed by her. Maya has been playing an active role in our schools and our community for years. Her resume includes the following:
classroom volunteer, reading tutor, delegate for Community Center for Education Results, Mayor’s Advisory Team (City of Kent), Human Services Commissioner (City of Kent) and trainer of Kent School District employees.
But like I said, my support for her is based on things beyond her resume. In our few conversations she was asking a lot of questions and listening to what I had to say. Maya has a story that is similar to many families in Kent. She came to our country at age 11 and has embraced the American Dream through education. She and her husband have raised their son in this community.
Through her work and volunteer experiences Maya understands the needs of our kids and will be able to use her extensive professional and personal experiences and connections to serve our kids as a School Board Member.
For me, the most important thing is that Maya is a parent who reaches out into the community and she listens. She has a genuine desire to work to make our schools great institutions for all students. She has experience working with students and staff and has modeled collaboration in her work. All of these things are critical for someone serving our children.
But above all, I have found Maya to very accessible – so if you have questions, reach out to her, ask her to come speak to your group.
If you do your homework, you will vote for Maya too.
– Dee Klem
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