Being on the Sequim School Board is not trivial.
A qualified member should be well educated, have professional experience in education, preferably teaching, and be involved in the Sequim schools and community.
A good candidate will be familiar with Sequim school system, its funding processes and curriculum.
A good relationship with the school administrator, some of the teaching staff and some students themselves will be helpful.
The ideal candidate will be objective and not approach matters from a single-issue point of view.
Larry Jeffryes has the required education: a Bachelor of Science in education and a Master of Science from University of New Mexico.
He was a middle school teacher for 35 years, coached and developed curriculum.
He is deeply involved in the Sequim community: four years on the Sequim School Board; served on the Sequim Education Foundation, the Community Truancy Board and the Boys & Girls Clubs.
Maren Halvorsen has excellent qualifications: a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon and Ph.D. from the University of Washington.
Maren is an experienced educator: principal and director of Saturday and Summer programs; University of Washington instructor and lecturer; college prep school instructor and principal and curriculum writer.
She serves in the community: two years on the Sequim School Board, served on a parent advisory group and a civics education committee and volunteered at the Boys and Girls club.
These two candidates are unquestionably the best qualified candidates on the ballot, and I urge my fellow voters to return them to the Sequim School Board.
Lowell Rathbun
Sequim