Politics & Government

Meet Janet Quinn, Candidate for Northshore School District Board of Directors

Quinn is running for re-election for Northshore School District Board Director #2.

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This is part of a series of candidate profiles Patch will be bringing you for the 2011 elections. 

What is your full, legal name?
Janet P. Quinn           

Where do you work and what is your job title?
Snapdoodle Toys, Kenmore; Retail Sales

Where do you live now and how long have you lived there? Kenmore; 22 years

Age: 55

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Spouse or domestic partner if any:
Dennis E. Quinn

Children:
Patrick Quinn; 21 years

Sean Quinn; 15 years

Education (include graduation date(s), if any):
Currently enrolled in the Elementary Education Transfer Degree program at Cascadia Community College

Military Service (include year(s) of discharge, if any):
None

Memberships and affiliations with clubs and other organizations:
Northwest Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC-WA)

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Arrowhead Elementary PTA

Kenmore Jr. High PTSA

Have you or a business you owned (or had principal interest in) ever filed bankruptcy?
No

As an adult, have you been convicted or charged with a crime other than a minor traffic violation?
No

CAMPAIGN INFORMATION:

Web site: www.janetquinn.net
Email address: Quinn.janet@comcast.net
Phone number: 425-770-6417
Campaign manager: Ann Tillotson
Campaign manager contact information: 425-488-9653

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE(S):

Appointed to Northshore School Board May 2006

Elected to Northshore School Board November 2007

Other campaigns for public office:
None

THIS CAMPAIGN:

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?
To retain the perspective of a more experienced voice on the board. In my 5 ½ years on the board my knowledge and understanding of our schools has been built, layer upon layer, through difficult and diverse decisions and through conversations with all affected parties.

What will be your top three priorities if you get elected and why?

  1. Strong achievement for every student is my ultimate goal, and I believe that retaining Superintendent Larry Francois will help us achieve it. I am the only member of the current board who was on the board at the time of his hiring and voted to hire him. He was and is the best choice for Northshore schools, as evidenced by the district’s new Goals and Performance Measures, which Larry created after listening to broad input from the board and other stakeholders. They are specific and measurable, and what I’m hearing from principals, teachers and others is that they provide a strong foundation on which to build and clear direction for improvement. 
  2. I understand that we work best when we work together, and I will continue to work collaboratively with all involved parties to improve education in Northshore. Education is interconnected—students, teachers, parents, community—and we all have a role in assuring that we meet the educational needs of every student.  We’re engaged in challenging work and every voice is important to the conversation, whether it is the voice of the student, teacher, parent, or community member. 
  3. I will continue to use my voice as an advocate for students. I have established respectful relationships with our legislators in Olympia and Washington D.C., and I will continue to voice to them the challenges created by state and federal legislative decisions, and to advocate for stable, ample funding for our schools.

    4. What sets you apart from the other candidates and/or previous office holders?

    My PTA and school board experience and parent perspective. Prior to being on the board I served as Northshore PTSA Council President, and before that as President and Co-President of Arrowhead PTA, so I know what it means to be an involved parent. In my 5 ½ years on the board I have been through a superintendent search, severe budget reductions, boundary changes, 5 balanced budget cycles, real estate purchases and sales, community engagement activities, and a host of other decisions.

    I also have a child who attended Northshore schools from kindergarten through graduation (he’s now at UW-Seattle), and another who started in preschool at Sorenson and is now in 9th grade. Being on campus at Cascadia has given me added perspective gained by talking to current and former Northshore students to find out what they liked and disliked about our schools. People who have endorsed me say that I listen well and make thoughtful decisions based on multiple perspectives.

    How much money do you expect your campaign to spend on this election?
    $5,000 - $7,000

    Official endorsements:
    Northshore Education Association (teachers)

    Northshore Educational Support Professionals Association (paraeducators/nurses)

    Northshore Educational Office Professionals Association

    For other individual endorsements see my website:  www.janetquinn.net

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