Leighton Thomas (North Kitsap School District school board District 1, Washington, candidate 2025)

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Leighton Thomas

Nonpartisan

Candidate, North Kitsap School District school board District 1

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 4, 2025

Education

High school

Cadillac High School

Bachelor's

Alma College

Other

Vanderbilt University, Peabody College

Graduate

American University

Personal

Profession

Education consultant

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Leighton Thomas ran for election to the North Kitsap School District school board District 1 in Washington. She was on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

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

Biography

Leighton Thomas provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 6, 2025:

• High school: Cadillac High School
• Bachelor's: Alma College
• Graduate: American University
• Other: Vanderbilt University, Peabody College
• Gender: Female
• Profession: Education Consultant
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook
• Campaign Instagram

Elections

General election

General election for North Kitsap School District school board District 1

Debra Strawhun and Leighton Thomas ran in the general election for North Kitsap School District school board District 1 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Debra Strawhun (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Leighton Thomas (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= 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.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for North Kitsap School District school board District 1

Seth Hartmann, Debra Strawhun, and Leighton Thomas ran in the primary for North Kitsap School District school board District 1 on August 5, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Seth Hartmann (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Debra Strawhun (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Leighton Thomas (Nonpartisan)

---

	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= 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.

Endorsements

Thomas received the following endorsements.

• Poulsbo City Council Memb. Ed Stern
• Kitsap County, Wash., Democratic Party
• Legis. District 23, Wash., Democratic Party
• Everytown for Gun Safety
• Kitsap Peninsula Young Democrats
• Moms Demand Action

Pledges

Thomas signed the following pledges.

• Everytown for Gun Safety

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Leighton Thomas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Thomas' responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a parent to two elementary-aged kids, a former classroom teacher, and am passionate about supporting my local public schools. I bring commitment, broad experience and expertise, and a spirit of curiosity to the North Kitsap School Board. I care deeply about kids and have spent my career and free time working to support them, whether through teaching, coaching youth running groups, or serving on local boards.

I began my career in human capital strategy, helping organizations design policies and systems to meet their current and future workforce needs. In 2009, I transitioned to public education and became a classroom teacher. Since then, I’ve served in roles across the education system, including state-level leadership. I understand the complexities of public schools from multiple perspectives, and I bring empathy because I’ve lived those challenges.

I hold a doctorate in education policy and leadership and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. I’ve spent years both working in and alongside schools and studying how to make them better.

Just as important as my experience is my mindset: I approach this work with curiosity and a commitment to listening. I believe in asking hard questions, engaging the community, and making decisions grounded in what’s best for all of our students.

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?

• We need to center students in our decision making and expect more than the status quo: Set high expectations for all students. Add measurable goals to our strategic plan, track progress, and share an easy-to-read public dashboard. Empower teachers and reduce unnecessary work. Address inequities between our high schools.
• We must plan for the future, not rely on patches: Transition from levy-to-levy fixes to proactive, long-term facility planning, ensuring all students learn in safe, high-quality spaces. This includes tackling enrollment decline head-on: Find and address the gaps; offer alternative programs (e.g. parent partnerships). Expand career and technical education. Restore art and music. Partner with trades, tech, and higher education. Work with the state and legislature to reduce barriers.
• We must work to strengthen community trust. Build real partnerships with the community: Hold monthly office hours and listening sessions, follow through on feedback, and intentionally strengthen relationships.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I've spent most of my career studying education policy. I earned a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University. I stay current on legislation, research, and funding opportunities for our schools.

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

Aside from babysitting, I was a summer camp counselor and staff member for seven years from late middle school through early college.

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

I am out in the community actively building relationships with our local government, our tribes, community groups, and families. We have incredible community organizations, such as Kiwanis and Rotary. The North Kitsap Schools Foundation is a well-resourced organization with a passionate board. Relationships with our local elected officials are vital to ensure our schools get the support they need, like smooth permitting processes for facilities, safe streets, and shared community resources. Our community is only as strong as our schools.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Kitsap County Democrats, 23rd Legislative Democrats, Young Dems of Kitsap Peninsula. Numerous individual endorsements are listed on my website.

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

I plan to be proactive and available. I will hold monthly office hours to increase opportunities for parents and other community members to interact with board members. I will visit schools and school functions, and seek parent input whenever possible. I will work with my fellow board members to ensure we create multiple opportunities for parents to know what is going on in the district, ask questions, and share feedback.

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

I met a recent high school graduate when out canvassing this summer. When I asked her about her experience, she absolutely beamed as she told me, at length, about her art teacher and the impact he had on her life. Our teachers are the lifeblood of our schools.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

In my mid-twenties, I watched a friend raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and complete a triathlon with Team in Training. I was so inspired, I decided to join, and over the next two years, I raised roughly $25,000 for cancer research. I went from not knowing how to swim or ever riding a road bike to completing an Ironman distance triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run). I went on to coach for Team in Training.

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 Thomas completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• VoteWA Profile

See also

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North Kitsap School District school board District 1

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