As a father of two—one with special needs and another with a gift in math—I’ve seen firsthand how every child learns differently. My years as a TEALS computer science teacher at Bellevue High School, a mentor and judge for the Washington Science Olympiad, and a youth soccer coach have deepened my understanding of diverse learning needs.

I’m a Stanford graduate and a seasoned tech leader, having worked at Amazon and now at Google. I know from experience that education can unlock opportunity and transform lives.

My daughter has graduated, and my son is thriving—excelling in national math competitions and chess tournaments. But through my research and direct experience, I’ve concluded that our current school board has not served parents or taxpayers well. That’s why I’m stepping up: to ensure our public schools work for all children, especially those who are most vulnerable.

While knocking on hundreds of doors in Sammamish, Issaquah, Renton, and Newcastle, I’ve spoken with families who deeply value education—but have lost trust in the system. One in three students in our district now attend private school or homeschool. The Issaquah School District has officially acknowledged that enrollment will continue to decline by about 350 students per year. Parents are voting with their feet.