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To help voters in their decision-making process for the Nov. 4 general election, My Neighborhood News Network sent a list of questions to candidates for various races. We are posting them as we receive them.
Jason Moore is running for the District 4 director seat on the Edmonds School Board. Moore is a U.S. Navy veteran who had two deployments on an aircraft carrier as a flight deck trouble-shooter. He is currently a small-business owner in the carpentry industry.
His opponent is District 4 appointed incumbent Thom Garrard.
Q: Why are you running to be an Edmonds School Board Director? What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a board director?
A: I decided to run for the Edmonds School District school board director position 4 because the board is in desperate need of some diversity of thought. My opponent has the same opinions and views as all the other board members. This is why they vote yes on everything that comes across their desk from the superintendent and or her executives. The board and the district like to shout from the rooftops to promote diversity and equity, however when it they are challenged with differing views or opinions by the community, parents, or teachers, they are uninterested in considering diverse views or opinions. I will entertain all views or opinions, even if I disagree with them. I also choose to run against my opponent because I was sick of seeing so many school board positions go unopposed, If no one else will run against them, then choose me, I will go. The board selected my opponent for his position, but the people have selected me for it.
One of my first goals to accomplish as school board director would be to reform the “secret society” study sessions. A study session is another form of public meeting that the board uses to discuss policy, question district executives, and receive presentations from staff. I call them secret society because they are structured in a way to keep the information hidden from the public. For example, the meetings are earlier before the main business meetings at an inconvenient time. And, if you miss the meetings and want to catch up later good luck, because study sessions are not recorded like regular business meetings for some reason??? Unless you attend the meeting, you have no way to learn what happened there. This is unacceptable for a government agency with a nearly $500 million budget!
Q: What experience would you bring as a board director and how is it relevant to the position?
A: First of all, we need to change our thinking about what “qualifies” a person to be a school board member. I will admit, I have no professional school experience. I was not a teacher for 40 years, I have never been a teacher’s union executive, actually I think the teacher’s union hates me. My opponent has done all of these things and more. He has been a professional school person longer than I have been alive! I will be 44 in December. As amazing as all of that experience is, good for him, it will not help him conduct proper oversight over the Edmonds School District and related unions. Conducting proper oversight over all of his friends and buddies in the union will not be easy for him. This could actually be considered a conflict of interest in a way, how will he regulate, or write policy for the groups that he was or is still a part of?
My experience is from outside of the school system, so I have an open mind and am free from bias or conflicts of interest. I was in the US Navy for five years in NAS Whidbey Island and served honorably. The military is one of the most diverse places you can be. Most of my friends were from other countries and we worked together to accomplish our goals daily. I am able to collaborate with others that I agree with and do not agree with in order to get the project completed on schedule. I have also been a tradesman most of my life, learning carpentry, drywall and other skills along the way. Not everyone fits into the same cookie cutter shapes, some people are better at working with their hands, or working with others in groups, some people are better working by themselves. Education should work for individual people, not attempt to place everyone in a cookie cutter shape. This is not working and needs to be addressed. I have the will and fortitude to tackle this problem. A grading practices task force is not the solution.
Q: What would be your top priority, if elected?
A: According to the Edmonds Police Department leadership, violent crime and gang activity are on the rise among our youth in the area of the Edmonds School District. This is my top priority, and I have already been working on ways to solve this problem. Unlike my opponent, who along with the rest of the board members refuse to acknowledge that this is an actual problem. I have been out in the streets at community safety meetings, and city council meetings reaching out to the heads of the police departments, councilmembers and community leaders in order to address the rise of gangs and youth violent crime, and how to best tackle this problem. One of the answers could be to bring back the SROs (school resource officers) to our schools. The problem is the board is not willing to do this because they voted unanimously to have them removed after the BLM riots. The board needs to come clean and admit it was a mistake to go against the will of the people and remove SROs. Time to bring them back!
Q: What ideas do you have for improving the district’s high school graduation rates?
A: This is a perfect question to examine how simple, common-sense solutions can be over shadowed by big government solutions that over complicate the situation, and somehow actually make the situation even worse. This is what I suspect the Grading Practices Task Force will accomplish. Even if the task force is able to graduate more students once it is established, or the recommendations are implemented, this does not mean the students will be learning more, or doing better on their assessment test. And let all of us never forget, even the OSPI has graded the Edmonds School District and showed all of us that less than 42% of our students can test at grade level for mathematics! This is the real problem that needs to be addressed, not graduation rates. If more students were proficient at Math, English and Science, then more students would be graduating on time, which would boost graduation rates! An excellent common sense solution that solves multiple problems at once. Manipulating graduation requirements or relaxing requirements for students to make it “easier” to graduate is not the best solution, and will possibly even hurt students more. If we get back to focus on the common core subjects, then this will improve all other areas of student performance and graduation rates as a consequence.
Q: Where can readers go to learn more about your campaign?
The best place for your readers to go will be our website Moore4Students.com and we have many social media to share.
Youtube @WTP17762 and @Moore4Students
Tiktok @Moore4Students
Instagram Moore4Students.com
x @JSMforESD
A few months ago I attended the speed dating with candidates event at the Edmonds Waterfront Center, and I do not remember this man coming to our table. We did meet Mr. Gerard and another candidate, but I don’t think it was this man. I could be wrong. Lots of exclamation points and question marks in his sentences. Is there a graph or document on the 42% figure? Forgive my ignorance on that. Does Mr. Moore have (or had) children in the Edmonds School District?
You can read more about him on his website, linked in the article. I’m sure he’d respond to your question about the 42% figure as he has commented once here already. — Teresa
Mr. Moore’s children attend private school. They are not students in the Edmonds School District public schools.
In addition, Mr. Moore has stood up in the middle of business meetings of the Lynnwood City Council and the Edmonds School Board disrupting the meeting by yelling at the Council or Board members. This is not how rational, collaborative people behave, nor is this how a person models leadership for our students.
Thanks for that information, Nancy. I read something that led me to believe his children were in public schools and obviously that was incorrect. Ii’ll fix that comment. — Teresa
Nancy Katims is the School Board President. Did I interrupt a public meeting as a citizen, not as a board member? Yes I did. Citizens are not bound by the rules of a public meeting like a board member is, they can do what they want. However, as a board member I will follow the rules of the meeting and conduct myself as professional with proper decorum. I think you should be more concerned with your current board member using foul language during the meetings and acting out of order. You think Mr. Smith is a better model of leadership for our students? Ill let the people be the judge of that. I can assure you when the people elect me as the pos 4 board member I will be the most professional board member on the dias. Thank you for your comment ma’am.
Pamela, thank you for your questions. I was indeed at the Edmonds waterfront round table. My opponent and I were the only school board candidates present because nobody filed to run against the other board member who is up for election. I am not allowed to post images in my Q and A or on this reply, so I will leave the links for you to check that statistics for yourself. I would also be happy to take a call or email from you to answer any additional questions you may have. As stated in my answer that 42% figure comes directly from the OSPI (Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction) website, and it is a grade for how well the Edmonds School District is doing educating our children. Here is the link to the one-pager. https://tableau.ospi.k12.wa.us/t/Public/views/OnePager/OnePager?:iid=2&:format=pdf&iframeSizedToWindow=true&:embed=y&:showAppBanner=false&:display_count=no&:showVizHome=no&:toolbar=no&organizationid=100075
There are also charts and test results on this website https://www.publicschoolreview.com/washington/edmonds-school-district/5302400-school-district
Thanks MEN. i’m reviewed his website and it says he’s a resident of Lynnwood.Perhaps that hasn’t been updated or I don’t know the requirements to be on the Edmonds school board in terms of residency. I’ll send a contact message on his website.
Clarifying this explanation as a reader pointed out it needed more detail: Each board members runs for a specific position that is located within the school district — the Edmonds School District includes the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Woodway and unincorporated areas. However, all voters in the school district vote for all candidates. You can see more on the specific boundaries here: https://www.edmonds.wednet.edu/our-district/school-board/map-of-board-member-districts
Nancy Katims, I have witnessed the school board meetings on many occasions. I have seen that the members of the board work in lockstep coordination. The report card is in and change is needed. The children are suffering as the board congratulates themselves on how marvelously they’re doing. Students are not proficient in math or reading.
Jason Moore sees those numbers (they’re undeniable) and wants to help make a change for the better. I, too, put my kids through private school. Is that a strike against a parent? To choose the best possible outcome? Or must one sacrifice their children’s education and outcome to be accepted in your club? One will never find a candidate that rings every bell but the basic question here is “How are the kids doing? Are they solid in the most basic of subjects?” The answer is obviously no. I’m sorry you don’t have a good enough record with your board to just present facts, because that’s what he is doing. And they’re glaring.
I will vote for change because these kids are our future road builders, law makers, caregivers, teachers, first responders. They are all of our futures. They deserve the very best and we tax payers, spending $19,163 per student, deserve to see our tax dollars used to great effect. What the current board is doing isn’t workin.
I agree with Jason. Diversity of thought is important. The rubber stamp committee as it currently exists is not healthy. I’ll be voting for Jason.
I just wanted to comment that having your kids in private school doesn’t mean you lose your say in how public schools are run. If a public school district is good, reliable, and parents have confidence in it, why would you choose to pay private school tuition when they can attend a good public school for free? Just my two cents.
I for one, appreciate citizens who show up at the school board meetings. I’ve gone to several and have been surprised there are very few parents who attend. All my children went through the Edmonds school district and got a good education. Now, however, I feel there is far more emphasis on social concerns and feeling included than teaching math, English, science skills. That Mr. Moore sends his children to private school and is still concerned about public schools is a huge plus for me. Children are our future and we need care. I would not send my children to
Public school today which is sad.
I will be voting for a diverse voice and change. Jason Moore has my vote
A little late a replying, but after reviewing Mr. Moore’s responses and the comments that follow my wife and I will be voting for Jason Moore.
We have encouraged our family and friends to do the same.
BTW: We also sent our children to private schools while residing in Seattle.
Jason Moore’s answers to the MEN questions as well as his commentary offer a breath of fresh air! His opponent’s teachers’ union ties represent a conflict of interest not only during bargaining but in general. That the other board members choose him to fill a board vacancy shows their own conflict of interest.
Mr. Moore will represent moderate voters supporting the basics. As such, he is much needed to balance the over-represented left-leaning views of the current board members.
I had the opportunity to volunteer alongside Thom Garrard at several community events over the past few months, and one thing consistently stood out to me was the way students lit up when they saw him. Many children came up to say hello, and Thom greeted them with genuine warmth, knowing their names, and often recalling what grade they’d be entering in the upcoming school year, what extracurriculars they were involved in, or how things were going at school. It was clear to me that he’s not just aware of their experiences, he is actively engaged and invested in their growth.
When I was a student, I don’t remember ever meeting anyone on the school board, let alone felt seen by one. Thom’s presence and attentiveness show that he’s already making a positive impact, and I believe he’ll continue to do so as a school district director.
While I did not attend the meetings in which Mr. Moore disrupted the Lynnwood City Council and the Edmonds School Board by standing and shouting at elected officials. Hearing about his behavior in these comments is a red flag in my opinion. That’s not how collaborative, solution-oriented leaders behave. It sets a terrible example for students, that you can disrupt class by standing up and shouting whenever you feel like it. That behavior wouldn’t be tolerated in a classroom of children, and is certainly not appropriate for a ‘professional’ adult.
In the comments here, Mr. Moore did not reflect on that moment and apologize for his behavior. He defended his actions by saying he was acting as a private citizen, not a board member. But leadership isn’t something you turn on and off depending on the setting. If you’re asking voters to trust you with a position of responsibility, your conduct, whether it’s public or private, matters.
Disagreement is something we all go through, but as well regulated adults, I feel we all know that interrupting a meeting to yell is not appropriate behavior.
Hi Jason, I appreciate your being on here to answer questions. You’ve talked about supporting parent’s rights. How do you feel on the question of whether teachers and counselors should be required to inform parents if they learn a student is gay or trans? Thank you.
Jeremy, thank you for your question.
Parents and guardians should be notified all medical, and psychiatric decisions that are made at school that involve their children, before any treatment begins. Not only notified, but involved as participants in those decisions, if they choose. This is why I am the only candidate that supports initiative IL26-001.
https://letsgowashington.com/
Parents should also be able to opt out their children from anything they disagree with at the schools. Schools should not be allowed to keep information from parents or guardians.
https://www.moore4students.com/
If children felt safe coming out to their parents, many would. But for countless LGBTQ+ youth, the home is not a sanctuary—it’s a source of fear. Hate-filled, anti-LBGTQ rhetoric from parents is one of the most significant reasons children choose not to disclose their identity. They intuitively understand that coming out in a hostile environment risks rejection, shame, and psychological harm.
Research from the Family Acceptance Project shows that LGBTQ youth who experience high levels of family rejection are more than eight times as likely to attempt suicide and nearly six times as likely to report high levels of depression compared to peers who are supported at home. The Trevor Project’s national surveys consistently find that parental support is one of the strongest protective factors against suicide risk among LGBTQ youth. Conversely, rejection—whether through verbal abuse, misgendering, or forced outing—can lead to long-term emotional trauma, substance use, and identity suppression.
Forced outing, in particular, is deeply damaging. It strips individuals—especially children—of their autonomy and safety, often exposing them to environments where their identity is not affirmed. The psychological toll includes anxiety, depression, and a fractured sense of self-worth.
If parents want their children to feel safe discussing their identity, they must actively create a supportive, affirming environment. This means listening without judgment, rejecting harmful stereotypes, and making it clear—through words and actions—that love is not conditional. Acceptance isn’t passive; it’s a practice. And for LGBTQ+ youth, it can be life-saving.
Thank you, Christie.
As someone who has worked in Human Services, I would like to add that approximately 40% of all homeless youth in our area and across the county identify as LGBTQIA+. The reason is that their parents or guardians kick them out, or youth suffer from so much harassment, neglect, and/or abuse that they decide that living in the street or couch surfing is safer for them physically and emotionally. Imagine feeling safer somewhere else other than your own home.
That doesn’t even account for the number who self-harm or attempt/commit suicide because of how their families or so many other people treat them.
What these kids need is support, acceptance, and love from friends, parents, teachers, school staff, and the broader community. To be told they matter and are valued, just like all youth need to thrive.
For this reason we need to keep Thom on the
School board!
It’s an interesting paradox that educators and school staff are expected to support LGBTQIA+ students, yet at the same time, they sometimes fall short in meeting academic standards for reading and math. Additionally, the idea that parents are often viewed as a questionable influence seems, at best, agenda-driven and rather debatable.
“Parents and guardians should be notified all medical, and psychiatric decisions that are made at school that involve their children, before any treatment begins. Not only notified, but involved as participants in those decisions, if they choose.” This statement by Jason Moore is inclusive of both the schools and parents because both care about students’ well-being.
Lawfully excluding parents before treatment based on subjective assumptions that all parent’s influence is likely to be negative is very biased. Would you accept that all teachers’ influence is likely to be negative, and therefore teachers should be lawfully excluded from knowing all students’ medical and psychiatric decisions made at home?
WA’s current laws that exclude parents from health matters at school from a child’s age of 12 onward were unethically and arbitrarily determined in recent years by the legislature. This set up a legally protected polarization that lacks nuance and can easily hurt minor students. Parents are not enemies and their children are not pawns. This polarization can only end by including parents again for the benefit of all but most especially for the benefit of the students. Jason Moore indicates that he understands this!
I find it extremely discouraging that while there are two ESD director positions up for election this cycle, only one is being challenged with an opponent. I can think of three reasons this might be the case: 1) residents and school families in the district are content with the current state of test scores,/graduations rates, quality of education, student safety and parental involvement. 2) they don’t care or think they can make a difference by running or 3) they don’t actually realize the current state our local school district is in. Actually, maybe there is another reason. Maybe it’s because many families are focused on raising their children and working to pay the bills and still believe the school district understands that parents need to be notified of what happens in school. Also, is it a requirement you have to have children to be qualified to serve on a public school board? All of us should have a vested interest in how our public school children are doing and how our tax dollars are being spent. Jason Moore is the diversity we need on the ESD board.
Yes, Jason Moore offers the diversity of thought that ESD Board desperately needs!