Gloria Suella Menchaca

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Gloria Suella Menchaca

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 5, 2025

Education

High school

Dodge City High School

Bachelor's

The University of Kansas, 2021

Personal

Profession

Community Advocate

Contact

Campaign website

Gloria Suella Menchaca ran for election to the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors to represent District 4 in Washington. She lost in the primary on August 5, 2025.

Menchaca completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Gloria Suella Menchaca earned a high school diploma from Dodge City High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas in 2021. Her career experience includes working as a community advocate and neuroscientist.

Elections

2025

See also: Seattle Public Schools, Washington, elections (2025)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors District 4

Incumbent Joe Mizrahi and Laura Marie Rivera are running in the general election for Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors District 4 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Joe Mizrahi (Nonpartisan)
		Laura Marie Rivera (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors District 4

Incumbent Joe Mizrahi and Laura Marie Rivera defeated Bill Campbell, Gloria Suella Menchaca, and Harsimran Kaur in the primary for Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors District 4 on August 5, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joe Mizrahi (Nonpartisan)	68.9	8,412
✔		Laura Marie Rivera (Nonpartisan)	17.9	2,188
	Submit photo	Bill Campbell (Nonpartisan)	6.5	798
		Gloria Suella Menchaca (Nonpartisan)	5.9	717
	Submit photo	Harsimran Kaur (Nonpartisan)	0.7	87

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 12,202
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Gloria Suella Menchaca completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Menchaca's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a scientist—not a politician. Public education has profoundly impacted my life. It is where I learned to lead. I understand the immense power and fragility of that foundation.

As a scientist, educator, mentor, and proud product of public education, I’ve experienced the strengths and vulnerabilities of our public schools.

I’ve conducted neuroscience research at MIT, coordinated COVID-19 outreach for immigrant communities, and launched a bilingual CPR training business in Seattle. I’ve also mentored underrepresented STEM students, advocated for equity and environmental justice, and launched pilot programs addressing healthcare, education, and sustainability gaps. These experiences have taught me the importance of meeting community needs.

I approach leadership with independent thought, creativity, and strategic planning. My integrity, curiosity, and natural leadership have always enabled me to find innovative solutions to challenges. Serving others is my true purpose, and I am committed to making a positive impact on the lives of our students.

I am running for the school board because this moment requires bold, grounded leadership rooted in courage, character, and our shared values. I lead with integrity and purposeful action, consistently serving my community, and I know I have the courage, clarity, and commitment necessary to lead Seattle public schools.

My name is Gloria Suella Menchaca. It would be my honor to serve as Seattle’s District 4 School Board Director.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Community mentorship is an invaluable local resource for students.
• Education is the only investment that can’t be taken from any of us.
• Leaders with integrity and purposeful action, consistently serving community creates sustainable solutions.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public policy is not abstract to me—it’s personal, urgent, and rooted in lived experience. I believe our democracy only works when everyone can participate. I’ve advocated for education and community sustainability reforms, mentored first-time voters, and launched a bilingual CPR business to increase access to lifesaving skills. I’ve seen how policy can either exclude or empower. I’m committed to equity-driven solutions that expand civic access, protect public schools, and hold systems accountable. I am not here for performative politics—I’m here to deliver results for the people left out of decisions made for them and their families. That’s the leadership I believe in.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My own. I need to be able to sleep with the decisions I make every day. I have to look myself in the mirror and answer to the very high standards I set for myself. I want to make the people who love me most proud of how I care for others.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I’ll write one in my spare time.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

. Elected officials must lead with integrity, transparency, and courage. They should care deeply about the people they swore to serve, communicate honestly, and act boldly—even when it’s not politically convenient. The most essential principle is accountability: to the public, not special interests. Effective leaders uplift those most impacted by systemic inequities and ensure decisions are made with—not just for—the community. Compassion, humility, and a commitment to serving students must guide every action.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Deep integrity and a bold heart willing to sacrifice to protect people with the greatest needs..

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To serve the public with transparency, integrity, and courage. A board member must advocate for students, ensure policies reflect community needs, and govern with accountability. This work is about protecting public education, not managing decline.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I hope those who’ve met me smile when they recall how our interactions taught them to prioritize their well-being and care for others around them.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

When Barack Obama Obama was elected as president of our country.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons at a local pool when I was 15. I was there for two summers.

What is your favorite book? Why?

N/A

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I’m a boring scientist.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Yellow, the Emmit Fenn version. I love listening to it while I drive in the summer.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Racism and invisible systemic barriers.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

The primary job of a school board member is to strengthen public schools as a public trust and ensure they serve every student with equity, dignity, and respect. This role requires more than overseeing budgets or approving contracts—it demands bold, informed leadership that puts students, families, and educators first.

I believe school board members must approach their work with integrity, transparency, and a deep commitment to the public good. That means fighting disinvestment and school closures, rejecting contracts that prioritize private profit over student well-being, and protecting our communities from technologies that compromise privacy and safety. Technology should support learning—not surveil students or families.

A school board member must treat data, dollars, and decisions with care and accountability. I support policies that prioritize transparent budgeting, equitable resource distribution, and strong academic and social supports. Public schools are the foundation of opportunity in this country, but that promise is broken when our systems are shaped by inequity and exclusion.

I believe in building strong pathways between schools and local communities—especially through culturally relevant curricula, expanded access to science and technical training, and clear partnerships with colleges, certification programs, and apprenticeships. Our students deserve more than test scores and metrics; they deserve opportunities that reflect their brilliance and resilience.

Ultimately, school board members must be accessible, responsive, and willing to listen deeply. They must lead with both courage and humility—because the future of our public schools depends on it.

Who are your constituents?

Every student, educator, family, and community member within Seattle Public Schools—especially those historically overlooked. I represent the people, my seat will amplify their voiced concerns. I’m here to serve our whole city, not corporate contact insiders.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

I’ll govern with empathy and urgency. I support equitable and systemwide support standards, resources, multilingual support, and academic-focused support with safety net strategies. I also believe curriculum should teach students about systemic racism and invisible barriers to promote inclusive programs.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I’ll prioritize relationships with families, educators, immigrant communities, and advocacy groups often excluded from policy conversations and decisions.

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

Good teaching fosters trust, curiosity, and future goal-oriented mindsets. I support community-student collaboration, mentorship, and innovative tools. Let’s elevate teaching as the profession it deserves—with time, respect, and pay.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

STEM, innovation, civic leadership, bilingual programs, and community sustainability. Let’s equip students with real-world tools to shape the future. I am in favor of community mentorship, partnerships, and programs that reflect our city’s diversity and resources.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

Audit outsourcing to ensure community decision-makers are free from conflicts of interest. Scrutinize contracts to redirect funds to students and staff, preventing public dollar waste due to mismanagement. Advocate for legislative reforms to fully fund schools’ resources. Lead with creativity, not scarcity.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

Students’ safety starts with adult decisions. I support mental health, safe transit, and community bonds, not surveillance or punishment. Students need trusted adults, not security guards. They deserve to focus on academics.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

Fund licensed school-based mental health professionals, promote collaborative peer teaching and support to reduce staff burnout, and create easily accessible wellness spaces for mental health.

Tell us your favorite joke.

N/A

What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?

End outsourcing key services and transporting students to necessary services. Require at least two public board meetings per month. Board members physically present to vote during board meetings. Ensure equitable access to learning resources at every school. Eliminate racism.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

None. I’m here to serve the people. I am running a grassroots campaign and have mostly funded my entire campaign from my personal funds. I want to run a campaign that isn’t influenced by anyone else’s agenda.

I do have quotes from people who I am very close with on my website.

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

A neighborhood school where students feel inspired, safe, challenged, and supported—academically and emotionally. Every school should offer strong academics, academic resource centers, mental health care, and opportunities for students to lead and thrive.

How do you feel like your school district handled the coronavirus pandemic? What, if anything, would you do differently in the future?

I did not live here during the pandemic.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

I want to create open community forums, advocate for better access, and treat parents as team members. I want students and families to know they can communicate concerns and feel heard by someone involved in decision-making.

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

Invest in local talent. Create clear career pathways for paraprofessionals and community educators. Prioritize lived experience, racial and language diversity, and mentorship. Remove barriers and provide community support from applicant to classroom.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Audit ALL outsourcing to ensure community decision-makers are free from conflicts of interest. Scrutinize contracts to redirect funds to students and staff, preventing public dollar waste due to mismanagement. Advocate for legislative reforms to fully fund schools’ resources. Lead with creativity, not scarcity.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Menchaca completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• VoteWA Profile
• Alliance for Education

See also

2025 Elections

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Candidate

Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors District 4

Website