Liz Goodrich

It is an honor and privilege to serve on the Redmond School Board. I am seeking a second term because I am deeply committed to the students and staff in our district and have the experience to continue making a difference for RSD.

I believe in high-quality, equitable education for every student and let me be clear about what I mean by equitable education.

It’s not about cookie-cutter education for all, it’s about addressing the needs of each individual student. Imagine if we wanted everyone to learn to ride a bike. Equality would give everyone the same bike. Equity is giving everyone the bike that fits them. Applied to education, equity means that students, no matter how they show up in our buildings, get the education they need to graduate. Whether they are in AP classes, on an IEP, navigating homelessness or learning to speak English, every student deserves access to the resources they need.

I believe in creating safe and welcoming schools for every student. I am terribly concerned about the numerous incidents of gun violence across our country and in our schools and I know it’s a concern shared by our community. Safe schools start with hardening our buildings and thanks to the bond we passed in 2020, RSD has updated security systems to better secure our students and staff. RSD has an ongoing, successful partnership with the Redmond Police Department and continually monitors, updates and rehearses safety protocols.

Creating safe and welcoming schools isn’t just about secure buildings. It’s also about improving what’s happening inside hallways and classrooms. Students should feel safe, be seen for who they are and allowed to pursue their education free from bullying and judgment. Emotional and behavioral health needs of students (and staff) are at a crisis level. We have added counselors and specialists in our buildings and implemented programs to address the increasing need, but we must do more in the coming years.

I believe in academic and intellectual freedom, pillars of the First Amendment, for students and staff. Students should be encouraged to explore new ideas and different ways of thinking in order to develop critical thinking skills. Our highly qualified teaching staff should be able to engage with students in the pursuit of knowledge without fear, and our library shelves should be filled with books that represent diversity of thought and the diversity of our student body.

I believe in parents’ rights! Families should be engaged in their children’s education. Parents have access to syllabi and the opportunity to review curriculum. Parents have every right to make choices about their child’s education by opting out of potentially sensitive topics, but that right should not impinge the rights of other parents.

My husband and I moved to Redmond in 1999 and are deeply committed to this community. Both of our sons graduated from Redmond high schools and I am grateful for the dedicated teachers and staff who set them up for success. Like my sons, I want to make sure every Redmond student leaves RSD with passion, a plan and a purpose for their lives beyond the classroom.

I believe that strong public schools are the foundation of thriving communities and a cornerstone of our democracy. Every election matters but this one matters a lot. There are candidates running for various positions who, if elected, would advocate for extreme agendas that do not reflect what I know is the true character of Redmond; kind hearted and community oriented. Don’t sit this election out. Remember to vote on May 16.