-Hi, I'm Carol Rava
and I'm running for Seattle School Board District 7,
which covers the southeast part of the city.
I have a lifelong commitment to improving education.
I started volunteer tutoring in high school,
went on to get my master's in education policy,
and have spent more than 25 years working on issues
of educational quality, access and equity,
both in K-12 and higher education nonprofits.
Improving education for those furthest
from educational justice is my life's work.
This is not just about my own kids,
but I am a parent of three and stepparent to two,
all five of whom attend or attended Seattle Public Schools.
I am running for Seattle School Board
because Seattle schools are not working for too many,
and I know we can do better.
Enrollment has declined by about 10% in the last 5 years,
and worse, the percent of 5-year-olds enrolling
in Seattle public schools has dropped 25%
over the past decade.
The district's own research shows why.
Parents are dissatisfied with academics and safety.
Only 44% of 10th graders are on track for college-level math,
and student safety remains a top concern.
At my son's Garfield High School graduation this spring,
we mourned two classmates who were killed in the past year,
one on the steps of the campus.
I know we can do better.
Every student deserves access to academic excellence,
and every student deserves to feel safe
in and around their schools.
To restore confidence in this city's schools,
we need school board members
who understand the issues of large school districts,
who have overseen large budgets,
who have both leadership and senior management experience.
This is what I bring -- the professional expertise
and decades-long commitment to the issues that matter most.
I will work to create the excellent,
safe schools that this city deserves.
I hope I can earn your vote.
Please find more out about me at electcarolrava.com.