Board Elections 2023 - Puget Sound Educational Service District 121

2023 PSESD Board Landing Banner

Raise Your Voice for local education. Join Our Board

Puget Sound Educational Service District is seeking a diverse group of representatives who are committed to racial equity, to consider becoming members of the PSESD Board of Directors.

About PSESD

Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) is one of nine regional educational agencies serving school districts, as well as state approved private, tribal compact and charter schools, in Washington state. Educational Service Districts improve the quality, equity, and efficiency of educational programs through partnerships with K-12 education, early learning, higher education, and public and private organizations. Puget Sound Educational Service District is committed to becoming an Anti-Racist Multicultural Organization in order to eliminate the Opportunity Gap. We share our work in equity and inclusion with our partners, educators and advocates throughout the state and nation to ensure all students reach their full potential. Together, we:

Save schools money through regional efficiencies, centralized services, pooled resources
Improve the effectiveness of educational programs
Deliver specialized services otherwise unavailable
Provide leadership for innovative and effective educational practices
Build networks and partnerships among districts and other agencies
Link schools with regional, state and national educational resources

Puget Sound Educational Service District is committed to supporting all with whom we share transformational relationships in reaching personal and organizational success. The agency is an innovative and responsive partner providing essential local services to leverage resources and strengths to make sure students are ready to enter school, achieve at high levels in the K-12 system, and succeed in postsecondary endeavors.

About the PSESD Board of Directors

The Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) Board of Directors is comprised of nine elected members from various areas in our region. PSESD board members are elected by board members of the 35 school districts in our region. Four of the nine positions are open for election this year. Filing for candidacy begins in September, and new board members will be sworn in this coming January, 2024.

We are seeking community members who are committed to eliminating opportunity gaps and leading with racial equity, participating in monthly board meetings to approve financials and policies regarding the operations of the agency, connecting PSESD with educational leaders and community members, and ultimately ensuring the PSESD achieves its End: Success for Each Child and Eliminate the Opportunity Gap by Leading With Racial Equity. Please also see the Board job description. Board members should embody the PSESD Antiracist Leadership Competencies of cultural proficiency, racial equity advocacy, racial equity mindset and living into transformational values.

See Antiracist Leadership Competencies

See Antiracist Leadership Competencies

Cultural proficiency: Articulates and applies historical context of racism and understands the current reality of students and communities of color in order to support racial equity. Actively demonstrates a commitment to supporting equity and inclusion, and serves as an advocate with colleagues, partners, and communities to meet the Agency's End and goal of becoming an antiracist multicultural organization in support of eliminating the opportunity gap. (Reference: Cultural Proficiency: A Manual for School Leaders)
Racial equity advocate: Recognizes, supports, and engages in dismantling institutional racism. Partners with, and is accountable to stakeholders, including children, families, and communities of color. (Reference: Cultural Proficiency: A Manual for School Leaders)
Racial equity mindset: Demonstrates awareness of biases, internalized racial superiority and oppression. Leads with a racial equity lens and actively uses the racial equity tool in meaningful ways. (Reference: Cultural Proficiency: A Manual for School Leaders)
Transformational values: Contributes to valuable and positive, antiracist transformation in individuals, organizations, and social systems in an effort to actively progress across the antiracist multicultural institution continuum. Is able to foster a sense of community and shared purpose via collaboration and cooperation with others inside and outside PSESD. Embodies the principles and practices that form the Agency’s culture. Operates from an abundance mentality that recognizes opportunities, and is optimistic and realistic about the future. As stated by the document Transforming Institutional Values: Revisited (Crossroads Antiracism and Organizing and Training), “Transforming values create an institutional environment that makes accountability to people of color and other socially oppressed groups possible.”

First page of the PDF file: AntiracistLeadershipCompetencies

This is a volunteer (unpaid) position. There is no financial expectation from you as a board member. Board members will participate in monthly board meetings and periodic committee meetings and work sessions.

Board members are reimbursed travel expenses for attending board meetings and other official meetings of the board
Board members can be reimbursed for child care expenses in order to attend meetings of the board
Board members are provided professional development opportunities per policy GP 10.
We recommend interested candidates review board policies (GP series, BMD series, EL series and 1005 and 1005P all found at: PSESD Policies - Puget Sound Educational Service District 121

Please review the full Board job description

PSESD Districts Positions Up for Election

District 2 - Seattle (part), Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, and North, Central, West Seattle Census Tracts/Neighborhoods as follows:

PDF of District Boundaries

Whole School Districts
Bainbridge and Vashon Island

Parts of Seattle
Starting at the intersection of 15th Ave NW and NW 50th St.
East on NW, N, and NE 50th St to Roosevelt Way NE.
South on Roosevelt Way NE to 10th Ave NE.
Southerly on 10th Ave NE to the University Bridge.
Southerly on the University Bridge to the center channel of Portage Bay Ship Canal.
Southeasterly through the Portage Bay Ship Canal into Portage Bay.
Easterly through Portage Bay to the Montlake Cut.
Easter through the Montlake Cut to Lake Washington and the school district boundary.
Clockwise on the school district boundary to the extension of E Mercer St.
West through Lake Washington and southwest on extension and E Mercer St to 39th Ave E.
North on 39th Ave E to McGilvra Blvd.
Northeast on McGilvra Blvd to 39th Ave E.
Northerly on 39th Ave E to Hillside Dr E.
Southerly on Hillside Dr E to Lake Washington Blvd.
West and northwest on Lake Washington Blvd to 36th Ave E.
North on 36th Ave E to E Ford Pl.
West on E Ford Pl to Lake Washington Blvd.
Northwest on Lake Washington Blvd to 32nd Ave E.
South on 32nd Ave E to E Republican St.
South in E Republican St , including the jog at E Thomas St to E Union St.
West on East Union St to 23rd Ave.
South on 23rd Ave to East Yesler Way.
West on East Yesler Way to I 5.
Southerly on I 5 to the extension of S industrial Way,
Northwest on the extension of S Industrial Way to Airport Way S.
North on Airport Way S to S Adams St.
East on S Adams St to 9th Ave S.
North on East Ave S to S Charlestown St.
West on S Charlestown St to Airport Way S.
North on Airport Way S to West Seattle Freeway.
West on West Seattle Freeway to the eastern fork of the Duwamish River.
South on the eastern fork of the Duwamish River and the Duwamish River to 1st Ave S.
South on 1st Ave S to W Magnolia Way.
West on W Magnolia Way to Highland Park Way SW.
West and south on Highland Park Way SW to SW Kenyon St.
West on SW Kenyon St to 14th Ave S.
South on 14th Ave SW to SW Elmgrove St.
West on extension and SW Elmgrove St to 18th Ave SW.
South on 18th Ave SW to SW Thistle St.
West on SW Thistle St to 35th Ave SW.
South on 35th Ave SW to Southwest Barton St.
Westerly on SW Barton St to California Ave SW.
South on California Ave SW to SW Brace Point Dr.
Meandering westerly on SW Brace Point Dr and extension into Puget Sound and the school district boundary.
Clockwise on the school district boundary to Puget Sound and Shilshole Bay
Southeasterly through Shilshole Bay into Salmon Bay.
Southeasterly and easterly though Salmon Bay to 15th Ave NW and also known as the Ballard Bridge.
North on 15th Ave NE to the point of the beginning.

District 4: Lake Washington, Northshore, Riverview, Skykomish Census Tracts/Neighborhoods as follows:

PDF of District Boundaries

Whole School Districts
Lake Washington, Riverview, Skykomish

Parts of Northshore
Starting at the intersection of western school district boundary and NE Bothell Way.
Easterly on Bothell Way to 80th Ave NE.
North on 80th Ave NE to 231st St SE.
East on 231st St SE to 2nd Ave SE.
North on 2nd Ave SE to 220th St SE.
East on 220th St SE to the Bothell Everett Hwy.
Northerly on the Bothell Everett Hwy to I 405.
Northwesterly on I 405 to the school district boundary.
Clockwise on the school district boundary to the point of the beginning.

District 6: Auburn, Dieringer, Enumclaw, Puyallup, Snoqualmie Valley, Sumner-Bonney Lake, Tahoma

PDF of District Boundaries

Whole School Districts
Auburn, Dieringer, Enumclaw, Snoqualmie Valley, Sumner-Bonney Lake, Tahoma

Parts of Puyallup
Starting the intersection of the school district boundary the southern 2020 Census city limits for Edgewood.
Clockwise following the 2020 Census city limits for Edgewood to the Union Pacific Railroad in Section 22, Township 20, Range 04E.
Northwest on the Union Pacific Railroad to N Meridian Ave.
South on N Meridian Ave to the Puyallup River.
Southeasterly through the Puyallup River to State Route 512.
Southerly and westerly on State Route 512 to the 2020 Census city limits for Puyallup in Section 05, Township 19, range 04E.
South and east on the 2020 Census city limits for Puyallup to 86th Ave E.
South on 86th Ave E to 152nd St E.
West on 152nd St E to 78th Ave E.
South on 78th Ave E to 157th St E.
Meandering easterly on 157th St E to 82nd Ave E.
South on 82nd Ave E to the school district boundary.
Counter-clockwise on the school district boundary to the point of beginning.

District 8: Penninsula, Tacoma, University Place

PDF of District Boundaries

Whole School Districts
Peninsula, Tacoma, University Place

Parts of Puyallup
Starting at the intersection of the Puyallup River and State Route 512.
Southerly and westerly on State Route 512 to the school district boundary.
Clockwise on the school district boundary to the Puyallup River.
Easterly through the Puyallup River to the point of beginning.

How to Apply

Elections for Educational Service Districts are run by the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA). To run for an ESD Board of Director position, candidates must file a Declaration of Candidacy form online with WSSDA between September 1-16. Forms will be available online through the Washington State School Directors Association beginning September 1, 2023. For more information about filing, please visit https://wssda.org/about-us/elections/educational-service-district-elections/. For more information about serving on the PSESD board, contact Superintendent, John Welch at jwelch@psesd.org.

Download Application Checklist

Before filing your application with WSSDA, please fill out the form below with your home address. Our team will verify which district your address represents.

Required