Longtime business and community leader and K-12 graduate of Seattle Public Schools, Suzanne Dale Estey?will run for the Seattle School Board in Position 4 (the position currently held by Michael DeBell, who announced that he will retire at the end of this year).? Dale Estey lives in Magnolia with her husband and two young sons- one currently at Blaine, one joining Blaine in September.
A public affairs and economic development consultant, Dale Estey has worked on some of the largest economic challenges in recent decades, including aerospace job retention and expansion, small business development through a historic economic recession, and expanding career training and STEM education.? As economic development director for the City of Renton and an advisor to former County Executive Ron Sims, she helped lead efforts to bring jobs and investment to King County. Suzanne has also worked for a nonpartisan civics education non-profit, the City of Seattle, a large financial institution, Washington State Governor Gary Locke and she was Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at The White House under President Bill Clinton:
?I?m excited to apply my hands-on skills building partnerships that improve outcomes?for students, families, and communities,? said Dale Estey. ?We have so much work to do to improve what is already great about our schools, and fix the things that aren’t working.? We can do that through smart planning and leveraging the incredible opportunities in our region. We owe our kids nothing less than our best efforts.?
She’s been endorsed?by?some of the biggies: including former HUD Deputy Secretary and County Executive Ron Sims, City Council President Sally Clark and Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw and Richard Conlin, King County Councilmembers Joe McDermott and Rod Dembowski, former Mayor Greg Nickels and former School Board President Barbara Schaad-Lamphere.? Suzanne is also supported by Schools First officers and education leaders Greg Wong, Kerry Cooley-Stroum, and former School Board Member Peter Maier.? A diverse range of community leaders including private developer and education leader Matt Griffin, business leader George Griffin and Democratic party activist Javier Valdez have endorsed Suzanne?s campaign, with more endorsements coming in:
?I am so grateful to launch the campaign with such strong, diverse support,? said Dale Estey. ?I intend to meet with and seek endorsements and support throughout the city as we build a great team committed to success in our schools.?
Dale Estey attending public schools in Northeast Seattle and graduated from Roosevelt High School.? While in high school, she served as chair of the Inter-High Council, which represented students citywide in a non-voting role on the Seattle School Board:
?As a product of Seattle Public Schools this is a personal issue for me,? said Dale Estey. ?We are a unique, diverse, and dynamic schools community with committed teachers and the energy and passion of an innovative, educated city behind us.? I look forward to working on behalf of all kids and families of Seattle as a School Board Director.?
All are invited to her Campaign Kickoff party Saturday, June 15th.? Suzanne says:
“I couldn’t be more excited about the possibility of representing Magnolia, as well as Queen Anne and parts of Ballard, on the School Board.? I’m committed to addressing critical needs citywide, from overcrowding in the Northeast and West Seattle to addressing the very serious achievement/opportunity gaps, while also helping shape solutions to challenges we are facing here in our communities of District 4. We need to make sure every child has the opportunity to achieve.? While there are great things happening in our schools, we have a tremendous amount of work to do.”
For more information, please take a look at her website: www.suzanne4schools.com.