Kathleen Smith (Washington)
Kathleen Smith is running in a special election to the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors to represent District 2 in Washington. She is on the ballot in the special general election on November 4, 2025. She advanced from the special primary on August 5, 2025.
Smith completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Kathleen Smith was born in Eatonville, Washington. She graduated from the Annie Wright Schools. She earned a bachelor's degree from Norwich University in 2006 and a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2017. Her career experience includes working as a researcher.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: Seattle Public Schools, Washington, elections (2025)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Special general election for Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors District 2
Incumbent Sarah Clark and Kathleen Smith are running in the special general election for Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors District 2 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Sarah Clark (Nonpartisan)  | |
 | Kathleen Smith (Nonpartisan) | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Special nonpartisan primary for Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors District 2
Kathleen Smith and incumbent Sarah Clark defeated Eric Feeny in the special primary for Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors District 2 on August 5, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kathleen Smith (Nonpartisan) | 47.9 | 15,080 |
| ✔ | | Sarah Clark (Nonpartisan) | 41.9 | 13,186 |
| Eric Feeny (Nonpartisan) | 9.9 | 3,100 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 105 | ||
| Total votes: 31,471 | |||
| = 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
Smith received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kathleen Smith completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Smith's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My professional background in data science gives me the skills to bring clarity, transparency, and accountability to district decision-making. Last year’s closure plan showed what happens when decisions are made without clear data or authentic community engagement. We can and must do better. Families deserve decisions that start with the problem to be solved, not a pre-determined solution. In my current role, I evaluate complex systems and translate that analysis into clear, actionable insights. That kind of disciplined, problem-focused approach is exactly what our district needs.
Public education is a cornerstone of a strong and just society. It prepares the next generation not only with knowledge, but with the sense of belonging and opportunity that allows communities to thrive. My teaching experience grounds me in the realities of education, and my role as a parent keeps me focused on what matters most: safe, supportive schools where every student can succeed.- Fix the system when it comes to making district decisions: Seattle deserves a school district that makes decisions based on data and authentic community engagement, not rushed plans or pre‑determined outcomes. The closure plan, confusing enrollment policies, and other recent missteps show what happens when the process breaks down. As a data scientist, I know how to cut through complexity, ask hard and clarifying questions, and focus on solving the real problem. Choices must be grounded not just in data and equity, but in what actually serves our students and communities.
- Fund our classrooms: Seattle’s schools face a budget crisis, but austerity is not the answer. My priority is to make the budget transparent, ensure resources are used responsibly, and advocate for progressive revenue so schools are fully funded without overburdening working families. Responsible budgeting means putting classroom learning first, supporting educators with fair pay, adequate resources, and the stability they need to help every student succeed.
- Listen to the community: Trust between Seattle Public Schools and its communities has been badly damaged. Families, educators, and students have been asked for input again and again, but need to fight for their voices to be heard. Too often, major changes are announced first, with engagement sought only afterward as a response to a crisis. I will work to rebuild that trust by listening with intention and acting on what I hear. Community engagement must be more than a checkbox. It should shape outcomes and ensure schools are accountable to the communities they serve.
I am also committed to the principle that government exists to serve the public good. Public institutions should not be driven by profit, but by their responsibility to their constituents. Public institutions have the potential to strengthen communities and expand opportunity. Public education is one of the clearest examples of this: it must be funded, protected, and improved as a public good that benefits us all.
That means supervising the superintendent, approving the budget, and holding the district accountable to its commitments.
It also means representing the community. The board is responsible for listening deeply, communicating clearly, and ensuring that decisions reflect shared values.
The series explores how privilege can sit atop exploitation, and how even well-meaning people can be complicit in harm. As a parent and a public school advocate, I think about this constantly - how to build systems that don’t force families into impossible choices, and how to lead with both love and justice.
I also feel imposter syndrome, especially when stepping into public leadership. But what I’ve really learned is the value of my own perspective. I have strengths that might seem ordinary to me — curiosity, clarity, empathy, a knack for connecting dots — but they’re not universal. I’ve stopped downplaying what I bring to the table, because when you combine lived experience, analytical thinking, and a commitment to equity, it leads to work that’s both effective and deeply grounded.
Board members also represent the community. They listen, communicate clearly, and help set a vision for public education.
As a board member, I would represent not just individual voices, but the shared values of a public education system: equity, transparency, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. My job is to make sure those values guide every decision we make.
I would ask for data to identify gaps in access, outcomes, and opportunity and work with district staff to address them with care and accountability. I’d prioritize listening to diverse voices, including student-led groups like the Seattle Student Union, NAACP Youth Council, WA Bus, Associated Student Body, and our student board members.
Supporting educators is also essential. I’d advocate for policies and budgets that reflect their needs and expertise, and ensure they have the resources and respect required to serve students well.
I’d also invite collaboration with community organizations that reflect the diversity of our district. While I won’t be able to meet with every group personally, I’ll work to make board processes more transparent and accessible, so people can see how their voices shape decisions.
I believe in prevention, not punishment. The data shows police in schools do not improve safety. They increase criminalization, especially for Black, brown, disabled, and neurodivergent students. I oppose bringing armed officers back into schools. I will push for proven alternatives that build trust.
Transparency matters. Families and educators deserve clear information about safety decisions. Students deserve to see their advocacy lead to real change. I will work with student leaders including Seattle Student Union, NAACP Youth Council, WA Bus, and our student board members to make sure their voices shape policy.
Data safety is also critical. If schools collect sensitive information like immigration status, gender identity, and sexual health, we must ensure it’s not used to harm students. I will fight for strong protections to keep student data safe from anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ agendas.
I also want to work with the city to follow through on its promises. Several years ago, students won city funding for mental health support. Half the funds were never released and that money was never spent. I will push the city to honor its commitment and invest in the supports students fought for.
Supporting educators also means making Seattle livable. We need a city where teachers and school staff can afford to live without constant stress. I will advocate for stronger partnerships between the district and the city to address housing, transit, and affordability. Mental health is shaped by the conditions people live in.
It also means making easy things easy and hard things possible. Accessing basic education should be straightforward and barrier-free. At the same time, students should have real opportunities to pursue advanced coursework, career pathways, language immersion, or specialized supports. Access to education shouldn't depend on their background or zip code.
This kind of environment requires well-supported educators, inclusive policies, and data-informed systems that identify and close gaps. It also requires listening to students themselves, through groups like the Seattle Student Union, NAACP Youth Council, WA Bus, and our student board members.
I’ll prioritize listening to a wide range of parent voices, especially those who haven’t always felt heard by the district. But listening isn’t enough on its own. I’m committed to making sure parent input leads to action. My goal is to make board processes clearer, more responsive, and more grounded in the lived experiences of the families we serve.
At the same time, some of our current materials aren’t serving students well. Our math curriculum needs improvement. Our early literacy curriculum doesn’t follow state guidance on the Science of Reading. We need to choose strong, research-backed materials, then stick with them and support educators as they learn to use them.
Artificial intelligence is already shaping the world our students are growing up in, and schools have a responsibility to prepare them to navigate it thoughtfully. That means giving both students and educators training on the good and bad uses of AI. AI can extend human capability, but it can also spread misinformation, reinforce bias, compromise privacy, and erode the habits of thought that help our brains grow.
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 Smith completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 3, 2025
