When it comes to education, the leaders we elect matter. They are the ones who will set both priorities for and funding of public schools in Seattle and throughout Washington. That’s why the Seattle-based Southeast Seattle Education Coalition will hold a free, community-led gathering on Oct. 15 to bring families, students, and neighbors together for face-to-face conversations with candidates for Seattle.
The Seattle Education Candidate Forum will include candidates for the Seattle School Board, the Seattle City Council, and King County offices on the Nov. 4 general election.
The forum will focus on those most impacted by education policy, but often left out of decision-making. Over a shared meal, parents, teachers, students, and community members will have the chance to ask their own questions, raise issues that matter most to them or their children’s futures, and engage directly with candidates.
The Alliance for Education describes the event as ” a space to uplift underrepresented voices, foster civic dialogue, and strengthen connections between community and leadership.”
Which candidates will attend
The candidate line-up includes numerous positions, including:
- Seattle Mayor: Katie Wilson, Bruce Harrell
- King County Executive: Claudia Balducci, campaign representative of Girmay Zahilay
- City Council District 2: Adonis Ducksworth, Eddie Lin
- City Council Position 8: Alexis Mercedes Rinck
- City Council Position 9: Dionne Foster, Sara Nelson
- School Board District 2: Kathleen Smith
- School Board District 4: Laura Marie Rivera
- School Board District 5: Vivian Song, Janis White
- School Board District 7: Carol Rava, Jen LaVallee
Schedule
Over a shared meal, candidates and community participants will meet, talk, and lay out their hopes for education moving forward. The schedule;
- 5:30-6 p.m. – Doors open, dinner is served
- 6 p.m. – Welcome from Rainier Beach students and ‘Two Sentence Take’ introductions of candidates
- 6:15-8 p.m. – Roundtable Discussions; pairs of two candidates rotate every 8-10 minutes to connect with small groups of attendees
Bring your kids
The family-friendly, intergenerational event will be co-led by Rainier Beach students. Parents and caretakers should feel welcome to bring their children. There will be a supervised space with coloring pages and activities, or children can stay with their guardians throughout the event.
Details
- Date: Oct. 15, 2025
- Location: Rainier Beach High School, 8815 Seward Park Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118 (Google Maps)
- Time: 5:30-8 p.m.
