LYNNWOOD—Thom Garrard is running to retain his seat as Edmonds School Board of Directors because he believes in protecting public education, rather than “spinning narratives that would destroy it”, he says.
“Given that 90% of students are enrolled in our schools, public education is essential to our community’s well-being and to our children’s future,” said Garrard.
Garrard’s top priority is, and will always be, Edmonds School District students. Given these students possess a wide range of abilities, speak many languages, and represent diverse racial, ethnic, and gender identities, Garrard said it’s essential that every student feels welcomed, included, and supported at school.
“I will do everything I can to ensure that each student has what they need in order to learn and to be prepared for life after graduation — with real skills and a solid plan for the future,” said Garrard.
Regarding public safety in schools, with youth violence and gang activity on the rise within the jurisdiction of the Edmonds School District, according to law enforcement data, Garrad was asked if he would support returning School Resource Officers to ESD schools.
First, Garrard dismissed the rise of youth violence and gang activity, at least in Edmonds proper, citing that Edmonds Police data indicate there has been a “small tick” in gang violence in the area, but not within the city limits of Edmonds.
However, the Edmonds School District has 34 schools in the cities of Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, and Woodway. In Lynnwood alone, gang related youth violence is up 108.7% from 2021 through 2024, according to the most recent Snohomish County Child Fatality Review.
Still, Garrard believes that the school district’s current approach, with its comprehensive safety plan containing many preventative measures to keep students safe (including partnerships with local law enforcement’s school liaison officers), a tip line, free online counseling for teens, monitoring of online activity, and student surveys, is the most appropriate “given that studies on SROs and school safety are inconclusive, and some students feel less safe around an officer, our current approach is the most appropriate.”
As School Board member Garrard is also responsible for approving the school district’s roughly $450 million annual budget. With federal cuts, and the current state deficit, Garrard was asked what his plan is to exercise fiscal responsibility if elected to a new term.
“We must hold the state accountable for meeting their paramount duty to fully fund basic education as defined in the state constitution,” said Garrard. “With each passing year that the Legislature fails to deliver the required funding, the district is left with fewer and fewer options for cuts that will balance the budget. Staff has been reduced at the central office and in the schools. Curriculum updates have been delayed. Fifth grade band has been eliminated. I will keep working to mobilize the community.”
At last November’s Education Funding Crises Town Hall at Edmonds Woodway High School – which was attended by local legislators and a large crowd of concerned citizens, for example, the school district received enough funding to restore its reserves and “take painful cuts off the table,” Garrard continued.
“We must be careful to maintain those reserves, so we can address emergencies and retain local control, unlike Marysville and Bellevue, which are under state oversight,” said Garrard. “If more cuts do become necessary, I will give primary consideration to how they will impact students. By continuing to apply pressure to our representatives to meet their obligation, we’ll be able to preserve our arts, music, sports, and other essential services, such as librarians, counselors, and behavior specialists.”
Garrard believes that family engagement in education has a positive effect on student achievement and helps to reduce educational opportunity gaps and plans to support family engagement and respect families as important decision makers for their children’s education.
He plans to do this by creating and implementing culturally inclusive and effective school-family partnerships throughout the school district, which he believes is critical to the success of every student.
With that comes good communication and maintaining the school district’s Family Resource Advocate program (which provides holistic support to students and families and helps them access community resources, such as the Nourishing Network and Washington Kids in Transition). Good conversation, Garrard added, also involves taking the necessary steps to ensure materials or information is translated to accommodate the wide variety of languages spoken by Edmonds School District schools and families.
As far as transparency Garrard feels the School Board has continued to do a good job with adhering to the Open Public Meetings Act, posting agendas and minutes, and broadcasting livestreams and records board meetings. Study sessions, at which no board matters are voted on, are also open to the public with presentation materials readily available on the district website.
Both state-wide and nationally, standardized test scores are below pre-pandemic levels and improving the school district’s test scores remains one of Garrard’s focuses.
He believes the district is on the right track with schools having completed the first year of three-year improvement plans with encouraging results and trends.
“With gains in our 2025 scores of 2.7% in reading and 2.0% in math, we are now 4% above the state average in reading and 3% above in math. Eighth grade students did even better, increasing by 7% in both areas,” said Garrard. “Our SAT, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate exam scores are excellent, hundreds of students are taking Running Start classes at Edmonds College, and amazing Career and Technical Education programs are preparing students for high-wage jobs.”
Understandably, Multilingual Learners (20% of ESD students) and students receiving Special Education services (18%) have significantly lower test scores. Garrard’s advocacy will focus on directing additional resources to these students, so they can also succeed.
Garrard also believes that arts learning, including music and the visual and performing arts, should be considered a part of basic education for all students.
“Students develop their creativity, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities, and build self-confidence and resilience through arts education. Our journalism, robotics, and sports programs also help students feel invested in school and eager to learn, while they develop teamwork, discipline, and leadership skills,” said Garrard. “All of these skills and abilities will help them succeed on whatever career path they choose to follow.”
Garrard believes he is uniquely qualified for the position of school board member due to his experience working 42 years as an educator – as an elementary school librarian, a classroom teacher, an instructional technology coach and, most recently a school board director.
His wife and him have two grown children who attend Edmonds schools and graduated from Edmonds-Woodway High School.
“As an educator, a parent, and a community member, I bring a comprehensive perspective to educational issues. I’ve also served on numerous boards and planning groups, including the Friends of the Edmonds Library, the Lynnwood Youth Council Task Force, planning committees for educational technology conferences, and the North Chapter Soccer Referees Association,” said Garrard. “These experiences have given me a strong foundation in collaborative leadership and results-driven teamwork.”
Garrard moved to Edmonds from Seattle in 1989 where he’s officiated over 3,300 youth and school soccer matches since. When his children were young, they joined Garrard and his wife as storytellers, performing at festivals and libraries around Washington for many years. Garrard and his family share their love of books by reading them aloud to each other.
Since Garrard joined the Edmonds School District board one year ago, he has been visiting the district’s schools and classrooms to talk with students, teachers, and principals to get their perspectives. He has also attended many school events where ESD students demonstrate their skills and abilities, including school plays at Lynnwood, Meadowdale, and Edmonds Heights, football and soccer games, high school music concerts in the parks and at the waterfront, commencement ceremonies, robotics demonstrations, and the STEM Expo at Mountlake Terrace.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
One Response
Thomas Gararrd is suck an amazing advocate for public education. He walks the talk! He is an active member of the school district community and volunteers for so many other community activities, which give the district access to other community groups. I personally appreciate your efforts to help all families be active participants in the Edmonds school district and for realizing the importance of co-curricular activities like the Robotics programs in the Edmonds school district.
We can’t ask for a more qualified and willing candidate!