I am deeply committed to serving our children and schools. As a parent, I’ve been an active volunteer for many years – in the classroom, on school/district committees, as the new family coordinator, and as a PTSA parent representative. I also serve on the Mercer Island Youth & Families Services Foundation and Band Boosters boards.

I believe in public education. I want to strengthen academics, protect students’ mental health, enrich the extracurricular programs that are part of a complete education, and support our teachers. 

I have spent my entire adult life in public and community service. At the State Department, I headed the program mediating internal and interagency disputes; I also trained diplomats and foreign service workers around the world in conflict management. I am dedicated to finding the best next steps for our district, and I will represent our community well on the board. For more, visit: https://www.jodylee4mischools.com

Our school district is one of the best in the state. I want to deliver effective solutions to important issues surrounding our children’s emotional wellbeing, declining student enrollment and financial sustainability. Our two children attend elementary school in the district, and I understand directly the opportunities and challenges ahead.

As an experimental test pilot with 20+ years of executive and senior management leadership experience, I understand the importance of a focused academic curriculum enabling our children to be successful academically & emotionally.  I have served in leadership positions within small, medium, and large corporations managing annual budgets and teams of a size similar to the school district budget and staff size.

I would be honored to serve as a steward of our outstanding district focused on academic excellence & financial sustainability. I am endorsed by the Mercer Island Mayor Salim Nice and numerous other community leaders and members.

Mercer Island has strong schools. I believe we can make them even better. I’m running for the school board to solve hard problems and ensure that our district provides the best STEM, humanities, arts, and music education, while also supporting the emotional wellbeing of our students.

I believe in research and data when developing strategies and making decisions. My experiences as an attorney, my understanding of finances and compliance, and my collaborative approach will help our schools through a challenging period of decreasing enrollment and financial pressures.

With 15 years as a managing attorney at Microsoft and Schlumberger and 10 years as a founder and software developer, I am experienced in analyzing budget statements, navigating legislative rules, and understanding the rapid pace of technology. My philosophy is that solutions are found through collaboration informed by carefully gathered analytics and data. I am committed to strive for excellence in our schools.