J. Riley Sweeney is challenging incumbent director Craig Mitchell for the District 5 seat on the Meridian School District board. Sweeney currently works as the City of Ferndale’s Communication/Recreation Coordinator, but his work experience also includes nonprofit work and small business support. Additionally, he chairs the County Food System Committee and serves on the Irene Reither Elementary PTA board.
If elected, Sweeney wants to prevent partisan influence on public curriculums and instead focus on accuracy, fact, and science so that Meridian students are best prepared for their futures. Another priority for him is to make sweeping investments in the district to support educators with higher salaries, help continued recovery from the pandemic, and uplift enrichment programs and the arts.
Incumbent Craig Mitchell first joined the school board in 2017. He is a boilermaker and welder who has volunteered in some youth sports coaching. Mitchell is not yet running a strong re-election campaign. He has no website as of mid-July and his county voters guide statement is sparse, solely listing the vague ideas of “education” and “preparation” as his campaign priorities.
Also in this race is Michelle Simmons, who works for a restoration franchise business. She is a first-time candidate involved in a number of community groups, including the Meridian Boosters, the Meridian Strategic Planning Committee, and a PTA, where she serves as a chair. Simmons’ campaign platform does not include any progressive solutions or specific policy suggestions. She does not have a campaign website as of mid-July.
Nursing professor Malia Pickett is also vying for this seat. Pickett teaches at Skagit Valley College where she chairs the Nursing Department and serves on the college’s Federation of Teachers Executive Council. She served on the task force to implement a comprehensive sexual health curriculum in Meridian schools. In this race, she wants to bring rational leadership to the school board to focus on belonging and inclusion while attending to the physical, social, emotional, and academic needs of students.
As a parent to students in the Meridian School District with strong progressive values, J. Riley Sweeney is the best choice in this race for Director, District 5 on the Meridian School District board.
J. Riley Sweeney is challenging incumbent director Craig Mitchell for the District 5 seat on the Meridian School District board. Sweeney currently works as the City of Ferndale’s Communication/Recreation Coordinator, but his work experience also includes nonprofit work and small business support. Additionally, he chairs the County Food System Committee and serves on the Irene Reither Elementary PTA board.
If elected, Sweeney wants to prevent partisan influence on public curriculums and instead focus on accuracy, fact, and science so that Meridian students are best prepared for their futures. Another priority for him is to make sweeping investments in the district to support educators with higher salaries, help continued recovery from the pandemic, and uplift enrichment programs and the arts.
Incumbent Craig Mitchell first joined the school board in 2017. He is a boilermaker and welder who has volunteered in some youth sports coaching. Mitchell is not yet running a strong re-election campaign. He has no website as of mid-July and his county voters guide statement is sparse, solely listing the vague ideas of “education” and “preparation” as his campaign priorities.
Also in this race is Michelle Simmons, who works for a restoration franchise business. She is a first-time candidate involved in a number of community groups, including the Meridian Boosters, the Meridian Strategic Planning Committee, and a PTA, where she serves as a chair. Simmons’ campaign platform does not include any progressive solutions or specific policy suggestions. She does not have a campaign website as of mid-July.
Nursing professor Malia Pickett is also vying for this seat. Pickett teaches at Skagit Valley College where she chairs the Nursing Department and serves on the college’s Federation of Teachers Executive Council. She served on the task force to implement a comprehensive sexual health curriculum in Meridian schools. In this race, she wants to bring rational leadership to the school board to focus on belonging and inclusion while attending to the physical, social, emotional, and academic needs of students.
As a parent to students in the Meridian School District with strong progressive values, J. Riley Sweeney is the best choice in this race for Director, District 5 on the Meridian School District board.