Hi. My name is Laura Marie Rivera.
As a mother and a lifelong learner and an educator myself,
I can tell you that I truly believe
in the power of education.
A quality public education
is the greatest gift we can give our children.
It opens up the door for a brighter future
and gives our students the skills they need to succeed.
We owe this to them and to our society as a whole.
As an educator, it is always my goal
to get my students to success.
Now, I know that success may look different for each student,
but they all have so much potential.
Whether I'm teaching a kindergartner
how to write the number five
or a teenager how to do a time step,
it's all about breaking it down
into manageable pieces.
"Down, around, across,"
or, "Stamp, hop, step, flap ball change."
See? And you can't help but smile when you get it right.
This is the success that I want all of our students to have --
a quality education
and the best prospects for their future.
This includes opening up the options
for more technical schools and opportunities
with our local businesses, innovators, and the arts.
All services must be delivered equitably
and effectively, 100 percent inclusive, and center
on each individual student's needs.
Educational justice may be the most important
issue of our time.
Without solving this public crisis,
we cannot give our students their best shot
at the American dream.
Just like teaching in the classroom,
we need to break down these systems into manageable pieces
and create a structure that can work for all.
As a family with special challenges,
we have learned how difficult it can be to navigate the system
and advocate for your child.
I would like to use my experiences as a parent,
a teacher, and a member of our community
to advocate for all of our children.
This attention to our students means graduation and success.
If I'm elected as a Seattle School Board Director,
I pledge to listen and to learn
and to make the best possible choices for our students.
I'm Laura Marie Rivera,
and I would be proud to have your vote.