Forge Pathways for All Talents

One-size-fits-all education fails both the gifted and the struggling. As a college instructor, I saw many students who were only attending college because it was expected of them and the only way they were told they could be successful. Too many of these students accomplished little more than accruing decades of debt and dropping out. At the same time, students more academically inclined are not given the resources they need to excel and find the heights of their abilities. Instead, let’s:

• Introduce students early and often to vocational career paths and the skilled trades with programs like Marysville’s RAP. Every graduate not intending to go to college should be placed in an apprenticeship or internship program before they graduate. Staff shadowing—including IT personnel, nurses, and finance officers—should be encouraged for any student. When the district funds construction projects, students interested in trades should get hands-on experience in the building process.
• For students with high academic interests, allow for more course flexibility and encourage acceleration opportunities from elementary school. Ideally, EPS students headed to college should be able to earn enough college credits to cover an Associate’s Degree before graduation. This can happen through Running Start, AP courses, College in the High School, or other dual credit programs. 
• Expand EPS choice programs, such as the Lighthouse Elementary Cooperative at Jefferson Elementary or the STEAM Program, to all parts of the district, especially north Everett. Parents should be given more tailored options in their children’s education. Additional options specializing in the trades should be considered.

Invest in Competence

Nothing builds student confidence like competence. Current teaching and evaluation techniques, however, incentivize cramming and regurgitating information for tests without any real understanding. By far, the number one question I received as an instructor was, “Is this going to be on the exam?” Material easily crammed is even more easily forgotten. Instead, let’s:

• Emphasize understanding systems and building self-sufficiency rather than rote memorization. Studies show phonics, for example, beats rote memorization in improving reading abilities and allows students to figure out new words for themselves. Although I disliked diagramming sentences as a student, it gave me the tools to figure out why different verb tenses follow different clause types.
• Focus on application as a measure of evaluation over standardized testing. While test scores and graduation rates matter, they are easily manipulated and incentivize lowering standards. True understanding of material comes when you can explain why something works and use it in hands-on situations. These can range from games and simulations to competitions and contests to apprenticeships and staff shadowing. Teacher evaluation should rely on value-added models and peer evaluation.
• Ensure funding flows to classrooms rather than administrators and activists.
• Investigate personalized AI tutoring advances which can be tailored to the needs and progress of each student. These programs complement traditional teaching and tutoring at low cost.

Thrive in Safety and Health

It’s difficult for anyone to learn and thrive in an unsafe environment or with unmet mental health and disability needs. To promote safety:

• Bullying, classroom disruption, and drug abuse must be met with swift discipline, including suspensions and expulsions, when necessary. It is unacceptable when rampant drug use shuts down the only restroom on the floor of a school, as recently occurred in north Everett. Lawsuit aversion is not a good reason to allow students to suffer.
• Physical security, including access control systems and school resource officers, should be prioritized to prevent unauthorized entry.
• When possible, pay teachers for summer training sessions teaching methods for dealing with behavioral issues.

Mental health holds a special place in my heart as someone who has lost a close family member to suicide. I believe mental health services, counseling which deals with trauma and the root causes of ailments, and emergency outreach should be readily available to all students. Further, I support:

• Limiting student access to smartphones while on school property. Smartphones not only create avenues to engage in cyberbullying and text-based bullying, but they interfere with learning and shorten attention spans.
• Dedicating ample time to recess and physical activity, which promotes mental fitness, behavioral improvement, and socialization while combatting rising childhood obesity.

New special education funding from the state legislature presents a tremendous opportunity to ensure adequate services, accommodations, and tools reach students needing additional help. We must ensure this funding is not sapped by others.