Editor,

Coupeville Education Association (CEA) and Coupeville Educational Support Association (CESA) are the unions whose members make up the majority of the educators that serve our students and their families in the Coupeville School District as teachers, counselors, nurses, paraeducators, secretaries, and several additional categories of critical support staff members.

Given our on-the-ground daily roles in our local public schools, we understand the importance of the School Board, the individuals who serve on it, and how their decisions affect the district, staff, students, and our community. As such, we have decided to jointly endorse school board candidates during this election season. This process included candidates completing a questionnaire on their beliefs about public education as well as an in-person interview with representatives of CEA and CESA.

While we appreciate the impressive background of service each candidate we interviewed has provided our community, after putting in the necessary effort to properly examine the candidates in greater detail, we chose to endorse the candidates that were best able to articulate a clear understanding of issues facing the Coupeville School District. As a result of this thoughtful collaborative endorsement process between the two unions, we are pleased to announce our endorsement of David Ford and Leann Leavitt. In addition to the endorsements of CEA and CESA, David and Leann have received the official endorsement of the Washington Education Association Political Action Committee.

Who is David Ford?

David is a Coupeville High School graduate, his wife is a Coupeville High School graduate, he has a child who is a Coupeville High School graduate, and he has two grandchildren who are students in the Coupeville School District. He has served for over 28 years in the Naval Service and has served the school district as a member of the district’s Budget Committee. David shows an acute knowledge of the current struggles the district is facing with regards to safety, equity, and accountability.

Who is Leann Leavitt?

Leann is a Coupeville High School graduate and parent; she has one child who recently graduated from Coupeville High School and has two still in the district. She has several years of experience as a leader within the Coupeville Booster Club and as a former Coupeville Elementary PTA President. Leann brings a unique perspective with a very strong understanding of the mental health challenges, as well as the physical and emotional safety issues, our students are facing in the district.

Please join us in encouraging voters to support David Ford and Leann Leavitt. We look forward to working with them as school board directors.

Marc DeArmond

Coupeville Education Association co-president and Endorsement Committee member

Jennifer Mostafavinassab

Coupeville Education

Association co-president

Shelly LaRue

Coupeville Educational Support Association president, Endorsement Committee member and WEA Fourth Corner ESP/ACT Representative

Annalisa Hiroyasu

Coupeville Education Association Endorsement Committee Member and WEA Fourth Corner Equity Representative

Cassandra Light

Coupeville Educational Support Association Endorsement Committee Member