Wiest is trusted advocate

I strongly support retaining Dr. Francine Wiest on the Bellevue School Board.

There are people who know how to work the room, and there are people who know how to do the work. Francine does the work. Her service on the school board is non-political and focused on doing what is right, regardless of popularity. She has a whole child, students first approach. As a parent committed to equity who is invested in the education of all our kids, I am glad Francine listens thoughtfully, stays firm, and is an advocate for us all. In a very short time period, she has elevated the bar of school board service.

Francine pushes back on standard answers and digs deeper with her fellow board members. Some community members who haven’t seen the totality of Francine’s work have misunderstood her inquiring approach. I welcome it. A director needs to ask tough questions, not rubber stamp. And, clearly, with all fellow board members who are endorsing supporting her, Francine’s assertive yet collaborative style has won her peers’ respect.

I want the best for my kids. I want the smartest and most committed person I can find to be their advocate. Along with empathy, kindness and teamwork, I want depth-of-thought, problem-solving skills, and the ability to interpret data and find solutions to support student success. Francine has all of these traits, and she’s applied them exceptionally well in service to our school district. Let’s keep what’s best for Bellevue: Vote for Francine Wiest.

Terri Forsberg

Clyde Hill