In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Cherylynne Crowther interview Vivian Van Gelder, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Seattle School Board. Note: Vivian has since stopped campaigning and is endorsing Janis White, but her name will still appear on the ballot. Vivian  diagnoses Seattle Public Schools as needing fundamental restructuring rather than reform. She argues that the district's failed experiment in "radical decentralization" 30 years ago created widespread disconnection—schools competing against each other, losing sight of their educational purpose, and becoming isolated from the communities they serve. Her central thesis is that current accountability measures like progress monitoring cannot work because the district lacks the foundational capacity for meaningful organizational change. She advocates for external intervention to help build proper structures before implementing governance models, describing the current approach as "putting the cart before the horse." Vivian also critiques the school board election process as fundamentally inaccessible to ordinary people with day jobs and children, arguing that effective campaigning skills differ entirely from effective governance skills. Her vision centers on reconnecting schools as the heart of healthy democratic communities. Listeners are encouraged to check out interviews with other District 5 candidates and stay informed for the upcoming elections.

Timestamps:

• 01:18 Interview start
• 01:36 Lightning Round
• 07:05 Main interview questions
• 15:42 Preview of other D5 candidates

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Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, host Christie Robertson interviews Vivian Song, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Seattle School Board. As a former school board director making a comeback run, Vivian brings insider knowledge of Seattle Public Schools' $1.2 billion budget and her perspective on the board's challenges. She expresses frustration that "we haven't made much progress" on equitable budgeting since 2021 and argues the district struggles with community engagement—pointing to reactions over school closures, bell times, and option schools. Her platform centers on restoring institutional structures like Finance committees and Friday memos, addressing budget areas like bus transportation and substitutes, and finding a superintendent who can create long-term visions instead of "lurching from crisis to crisis." She proposes systematic community feedback tracking modeled after City Councilmember Debora Juarez's newsletters and advocates for a hybrid approach balancing school autonomy with district oversight. With experience on multiple levy oversight committees and international school systems, she offers a data-driven perspective shaped by previous board service. Listeners are encouraged to check out interviews with other District 5 candidates and stay informed for the upcoming elections.

Timestamps:

• 01:07 Interview start
• 01:19 Lightning Round
• 06:07 Main interview questions
• 17:55 Preview of other D5 candidates

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Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

In this re-released episode of Rainy Day Recess (originally episode 26 from March 2025), host Christie Robertson interviews Landon Labosky, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Seattle School Board. With a Masters in Public Administration and nearly a decade of youth development experience, Landon was motivated to run after witnessing the district's "communication downfall" during the 21-school closure proposal that "panicked 50,000 kids and families" without a plan. He advocates for making the current governance model less rigid to tackle operational problems and champions innovative collaboration between the school district, city, and county. Believing Seattle can achieve a "world class school system" given its extraordinary wealth and educated population, he opposes broad-stroke solutions in favor of meeting individual classroom needs—whether that's an extra paraeducator in room three or two more mental health counselors at another school. His approach emphasizes board members being physically present in schools and community events rather than governing only from the dais, and he takes a nuanced stance on school safety that prioritizes student input over blanket policies. Listeners are encouraged to check out interviews with other District 5 candidates and stay informed for the upcoming elections.

Timestamps:

• 00:31 About D5
• 01:11 Background
• 03:00 Collaboration -- district, city, county
• 04:58 School board involvement in operational issues
• 06:48 Community relationships
• 08:19 School closures
• 12:46 Achievement gap
• 17:21 Student question - SROs
• 21:01 Student board director question
• 23:33 Preview of other D5 candidates

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Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Cherylynne Crowther interview Julissa Sanchez, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Seattle School Board. As a Director of Advocacy who grew up in the Central District before being gentrified out, Julissa brings a community organizer's perspective to education policy. She emphasizes being "shoulder to shoulder, elbow to elbow" with her community and advocates for "passing around the mic and megaphone" rather than advancing her own agenda. Her immediate priorities include making the school board bilingual and accessible, and focusing on undocumented students, English learners, and special education students. She envisions governing through "community fiestas" and "community abundance and joy," believing that young people are the experts on their own solutions. As a single mother with a junior at Garfield who experienced Seattle's education system through busing and gentrification, she offers a community organizing approach to school board governance. Listeners are encouraged to check out interviews with other District 5 candidates and stay informed for the upcoming elections.

Timestamps:

• 01:09 Interview start
• 01:29 Lightning Round
• 06:37 Main interview questions
• 16:46 Preview of other D5 candidates

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Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Cherylynne Crowther interview Janis White, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Seattle School Board. As a lawyer who put three children through Seattle Public Schools K-12, Janis argues that school board directors have broader legal responsibilities than commonly understood - that the board, not the superintendent, is accountable for proper district operation. She advocates for restoring standing committees, particularly a finance committee, and questions the current governance model's rigidity. Key topics include her focus on inclusive classrooms for students with disabilities, her two decades of parent advocacy experience, and her call for a superintendent with a "curiosity mindset" who can address what she describes as the district's toxic culture issues. Listeners are encouraged to check out interviews with other District 5 candidates and stay informed for the upcoming elections.

Timestamps:

• 01:09 Interview start
• 01:24 Lightning Round
• 05:31 Main interview questions
• 18:28 Preview of other D5 candidates

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Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Cherylynne Crowther interview Allycea Weil, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Seattle School Board. Allycea brings a perspective as a gig worker and single parent who moved to Seattle specifically for the public schools. Key topics include her call for a financial audit of the district's billion-dollar budget, her proposal to redistribute PTA/PTO funds for equity across schools, and her emphasis on being present in school communities rather than relying on formal policy expertise. She advocates for site-based decision-making while calling out obstructionists in central office, and discusses her experience organizing community events and working as a library assistant at Ingraham High School. Listeners are encouraged to check out interviews with other District 5 candidates and stay informed for the upcoming elections.

Timestamps:

• 01:09 Interview start
• 01:28 Lightning Round
• 09:28 Main interview questions
• 18:42 Preview of other D5 candidates

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Cherylynne Crowther interview Laura Marie Rivera, a candidate for the Seattle School Board District 4. Rivera discusses her extensive background in education and nonprofit work, and her views on the role of the school board in leadership and governance. Following a lightning round of quick questions, the conversation delves into Rivera's perspectives on school board responsibilities, superintendent selection, and balancing centralized control with school-based decision-making. The episode also previews interviews with other District 4 candidates, Joe Mizrahi and Bill Campbell, and highlights the importance of public engagement and flexible, student-focused policy-making.

01:33 Lightning Round
08:56 2-minute questions

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Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosted by Christie Robertson, Joe Mizrahi, the current school board director for District 4, discusses his candidacy for the 2025 Seattle School Board. The discussion covers Mizrahi's background, including his roles in labor education, his focus on governance and policy as a school board director, and his views on education policy, school autonomy, and centralization. Mizrahi also emphasizes accountability, communication, and community engagement as key priorities in his approach to leadership and governance within Seattle Public Schools. Transcripts and additional candidate interviews are available at rainydayrecess.org.

01:38 Lightning Round

06:23 2-minute questions

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Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Cherylynne Crowther interview Bill Campbell, a candidate for Seattle School Board District 4. The interview, part of the 2025 Seattle School Board candidate series, includes a lightning round to get to know Bill, followed by in-depth questions on the role of the school board in leadership and governance. Bill discusses his background, unique perspectives on education, and his plans to improve transparency, community involvement, and equity within Seattle Public Schools. Additionally, previews for interviews with other District 4 candidates, Joe Mizrahi and Laura Marie Rivera, are given, while noting non-responses from other candidates.

01:27 Lightning Round

06:22 2-minute questions

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In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Jasmine Pulido interview Sarah Clark, a current Seattle School Board member running to retain her seat in District 2, which encompasses northwest Seattle. 

Sarah discusses her background in education policy, her motivations for running, and the challenges the district faces, particularly regarding the budget and school safety. She emphasizes the importance of community involvement, coalition-building, and her vision for improving Seattle Public Schools. The episode also includes a student-recorded safety question from Rafael Brewer, highlighting the need for enhanced security measures in schools.

Sarah's campaign website https://www.sarah4schoolboard.org/

03:26 Reasons for running, then and now
09:52 Budget
12:56 Student Question
15:59 One Thing

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Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.