Tracy Mayclin
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Contact
Tracy Mayclin is running for election to the Bellevue School District school board to represent District 3 in Washington. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Mayclin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
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Biography
Tracy Mayclin provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 6, 2025:
Elections
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
Endorsements
Mayclin received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Mayclin's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Tracy Mayclin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mayclin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m a proud graduate of BSD and have spent over a decade advocating for the public schools that shaped me. As a parent and PTSA officer, I’ve worked side-by-side with educators and district leadership to support students and strengthen our community. I believe in the power of public education to transform lives.
My background bridges the arts and finance—two fields that have given me a deep appreciation for how students learn in diverse ways and how we must fund that learning responsibly. Effective financial oversight is essential in order to safeguard our diverse high-quality programming. My 20+ years in Accounting equip me with the expertise to provide this oversight. To ensure every student in BSD has access to opportunity, support and success, we must make strategic choices with our limited resources.
I’m running for the school board to continue serving the community that raised me. I’m committed to ensuring every child in BSD has equitable access to the opportunities they need to thrive, meeting them where they are — closing learning gaps, rebuilding community trust through transparency, and advancing a strategic vision grounded in inclusion and student success.
As a current BSD parent, I remain deeply connected to the daily realities and hopes of our families. My vision aligns with the district’s goals: belonging, student engagement, and a human-centered approach to learning and leadership. - Transparent Financial Stewardship & Sustainable Funding
BSD faces serious financial challenges. State under funding and rising costs threaten our ability to deliver high quality education.
I will bring disciplined, transparent oversight to our budgets, prioritizing classroom resources and direct student support to ensure funding reaches those who need it most.
I will advocate at the state level to reform K 12 funding and increase allocations for special education, materials, operations, and staff benefits.
I will also work to rebuild community trust so voters feel confident supporting levies or bonds when needed, showing clearly how every dollar is used to serve students. - Expanded College & Career Pathways
We must prepare BSD students not only for college, but for careers in a changing world. I will champion expansion of Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways, apprenticeships, dual credit programs, and partnerships with local business and higher education so students graduate with meaningful skills and credentials.
I support project based, hands on learning, integrated arts/STEM, and exploration opportunities throughout K–12.
By aligning our education system with future workforce needs in addition to maintaining high academic excellence, we can keep BSD competitive, equitable, and dynamic.
- Equity, Belonging & Opportunity for Every Student
I commit to ensuring every student in BSD feels they belong and are supported to reach their potential. Our district has a reputation for excellence, yet too many students aren’t seeing those results.
As a board member, I will push for equitable allocation of resources, culturally responsive instruction, and accountability measures so that gaps are closed and all students can thrive.
I bring experience in financial oversight and community engagement (as Bellevue PTSA Council Treasurer), and I will lead with transparency, listening to families who often feel unheard.
I'm passionate about creating a public education system where every student feels they belong, has access to meaningful learning, and leaves school prepared for a successful future. That means fighting for equity across all schools and student groups, ensuring transparent and responsible use of resources, and expanding learning pathways — from college prep to career and technical education. I believe in data-informed decisions, open communication with families, and policies that put students first. As a family and education advocate, my approach is guided by listening to families, making strategic choices with our limited resources and using data to drive change.
o Integrity, accountability, and a commitment to public service are the most important qualities in an elected official. Decisions should be guided by what’s best for the entire community. Elected officials must lead with transparency, listen actively to diverse voices, and be willing to make tough decisions guided by data and values. In education, that also means keeping students at the center, honoring the work of educators, and making fiscally sound decisions to protect the future of the district.
I want my legacy to be one of fostering a truly caring and compassionate community through the work we do in our schools. I believe that education is about more than academics—it’s about nurturing kindness, respect, and empathy in every student and staff member. I hope to be remembered for championing policies and programs that create safe, inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and supported. By building a culture of care and understanding, we can help shape not only successful students but also responsible, compassionate citizens who contribute positively to society.
The primary job of a school board member is to provide strong governance by setting the strategic vision for the district, hiring and evaluating an effective superintendent to lead that vision, and providing responsible oversight of the budget to ensure resources are used wisely and equitably. These responsibilities ensure that the district stays focused on student success, long-term planning, and community accountability.
My constituents include all Bellevue School District stakeholders — students, families, teachers, staff, administrators, and community members, including taxpayers without children in the school system. While students are at the heart of every decision, I recognize our responsibility to all taxpayers. Their hard-earned dollars fund what is rightly called the State’s paramount duty: to educate our future leaders. As a board member, I will work to ensure that every voice is respected and every dollar is used to support student success.
I will work to close learning gaps and improve educational outcomes by supporting targeted interventions such as high-impact tutoring, early literacy programs, and expanded access to advanced learning opportunities for all students. For faculty and staff, I will champion professional development in equity, inclusive teaching, social-emotional learning, and strategies for supporting diverse learning needs. Just as importantly, I will ensure that voices from historically marginalized communities — including students, families, and staff — are meaningfully included in decision-making processes.
• I will actively engage with PTSA, neighborhood associations, cultural and language-based groups, faith communities, and nonprofits that serve youth and families. I’m committed to holding listening sessions across different groups in the district to hear directly from families who may not always feel represented. By working with our community partners, I will work to ensure the perspectives of those they assist are heard, their needs are understood, and their voices help shape district decisions.
To me, good teaching means clear, effective instruction, culturally responsive practices, strong relationships with students, and the ability to differentiate and meet each student where they are. It also includes ongoing assessment and a willingness to innovate in the classroom. I believe we should evaluate teaching using multiple measures, including student growth, feedback from students and peers, classroom observations, and alignment with curriculum – not just standardized test scores.
I will support advanced teaching approaches by investing in professional development, encouraging innovation through models like project-based and blended learning, and ensuring teachers have the time, tools and flexibility to succeed. I also believe in celebrating and sharing great teaching across the district.
I will advocate strongly at the state level for increased education funding and fairer funding formulas that reflect the true needs of our students. Supporting our superintendent in this endeavor is essential. Locally, I’ll work to ensure levy dollars are used transparently and efficiently, in ways that supplement core state funding. With my background in financial oversight, I know how to watch expenses closely, reduce waste, and ensure resources are directed where they’re most needed. I’ll also encourage the pursuit of grants and partnerships to support programs like mental health, technology access, and equity initiatives. By building trust and keeping the community informed, I’ll work to maintain the public confidence needed to pass future levies and bond measures.
I believe safety in our schools must be both physical and psychological. Students and staff need to feel safe in their environment in order to create an atmosphere for successful learning. That means taking proactive steps to prevent bullying, harassment, and discrimination, not just reacting when issues arise. I support transparent procedures, clear accountability, and inclusive practices that protect all students, including students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and those with disabilities.
Physical safety also requires that our buildings are well-maintained and up to date. I support investments in school infrastructure such as secure entrances, updated safety systems, and emergency preparedness measures to ensure every school is a safe place to learn and work. At all times, we must balance safety protocols with protecting students’ dignity, rights, and privacy.
I believe mental health is a critical part of student and staff well-being, especially as we face the growing challenges of larger class sizes. When teachers have more students and fewer resources, it becomes harder to give each child the attention they need, not just academically, but emotionally. That’s why I support expanding our counseling and social-emotional learning programs. BSD already offers mental health and suicide prevention services, but we need to build on that by increasing the number of mental health professionals in our schools when we have the funds to do so.
I also want to strengthen partnerships with outside providers, offer more training so staff can recognize and respond to signs of distress, and make sure staff themselves have access to wellness supports - like time, resources, and safe spaces to talk. Regular well-being surveys could be a good way to track what’s working and respond to what our school communities truly need.
I would support ongoing policy reviews like those BSD is currently conducting on nondiscrimination and student behavior, making sure these policies are clear, consistent, and culturally responsive.
Class size is another urgent priority. I would advocate for policies that guarantee manageable and equitable class sizes across all schools, so every student receives the attention they deserve, and teachers have the resources to meet diverse needs effectively. At the same time, I realize that our current higher class size situation is due to the budget crisis.
To promote academic opportunity, I would develop policies ensuring that advanced learning programs are accessible to all students, not just those who are already adept at navigating the system. Equity in advanced learning is essential for closing opportunity gaps and fostering talent district-wide.
Mental health and social-emotional learning must be embedded as essential components of our educational approach, not optional extras. I support expanding mental health staffing, strengthening partnerships with external providers, providing staff training to recognize and respond to distress, and offering wellness resources for staff themselves.
In addition, I would implement a mandatory classroom cell phone policy that prohibits phone use during instructional time unless explicitly permitted by the teacher. This clear, district-wide policy would minimize distractions, improve focus, and support positive mental health for students.
Finally, transparency is key. I would push for greater openness in budgeting decisions and regular, clear communication with families, ensuring our community stays informed and engaged in the district’s priorities and challenges.
Together, these policy initiatives will help build a more equitable, supportive, and accountable school district where every student can thrive. Washingtonians for a Brighter Future, National Women's Political Caucus of WA, FairVote Washington, Marta Trilles, recent school board director for this seat who has suspended her campaign and endorsed me, many community leaders and individuals
• I imagine an ideal learning environment where students feel they belong; where learning is joyful, relevant, and personalized; where classrooms are inclusive and culturally sustaining; where students have voice and agency; where the social emotional, mental health, and academic needs are integrated into teaching the “whole student”. I envision a space where support is timely; where advanced learners, struggling learners, multilingual learners, students with disabilities all have tailored pathways. In this ideal space, there would be room for collaboration, creativity, hands on and project-based work, as well as connections to real world opportunities. And we would do this while paying our educators a wage where they could afford to live in the areas in which they teach.
• I am committed to actively listening to parents and creating meaningful opportunities for their voices to be heard. Having served as a PTA officer for several years, I understand firsthand the importance of open, ongoing dialogue between families and schools. By working closely with PTSA and other parent groups, I will ensure that families feel heard. Transparent communication and responsiveness to parent concerns are essential to building trust and fostering a strong partnership within our community.
I will support faculty and staff retention and recruitment by advocating for competitive compensation, manageable workloads and robust professional growth opportunities, as soon as our budget crisis is under control. To make Bellevue an attractive workplace, I will promote strong mental health supports, caring work environments and a culture that values and respects educators. I would work to leverage partnerships with universities, teacher training programs, local communities and non-traditional pipelines to recruit diverse talent. Using data to identify staffing shortages, such as in special education, world languages and STEM, I will ensure targeted resources address these critical needs.
Yes, I believe we can strengthen our curriculum by expanding real-world learning opportunities and offering students more pathways to success. I would prioritize continuing to grow our Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs so students can graduate with industry-recognized credentials or hands-on skills. I also support expanding dual credit options, allowing students to earn college credit or professional certificates while still in high school.
We need to strengthen STEAM education, world language offerings, and explore more apprenticeships and internships—especially in fields like technology, the arts, healthcare and sustainability.
Our students should graduate prepared for the real world. For some, that means college; for others, technical training or a direct path into the workforce. A modern, flexible curriculum that includes executive function skills and multiple learning pathways helps ensure every student can thrive. AI can be a valuable tool to support personalized learning and help teachers with routine tasks, freeing them to focus on students’ individual needs. However, it must be used thoughtfully, with strong policies around privacy, equity, and transparency. Most importantly, AI should enhance students’ critical thinking and creativity, not replace them. Our goal should be to teach students how to use AI responsibly and thoughtfully as a tool, while continuing to develop their problem-solving and analytical skills. I support careful implementation with input from educators, families, and students to ensure AI aligns with our district’s values and strengthens learning outcomes.
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Other survey responses
Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Mayclin completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.
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