Ms. Petersen's reign with the PTA was mired with a "my way or the highway" brand of top-down leadership that rubbed many the wrong way. Some of her communications from that time have been circulating including one that called for any PTA member that didn't agree with school closures and remote learning to resign from the PTA! Could part of the current climate where finding classroom volunteers in part be from this mentality that the school volunteers must meet Ms. Petersen's "purity test" before being allowed in the circle? [Removed pending verification. Please include a link or other form of verification.] School boards are non-partisan positions. There are many other partisan elected positions that would fit this very progressive liberal than a non-partisan position that is tasked with educating children without bias.

[Removed] Michelle I look forward to following your thoughtful campaign.

I’ve know Michelle and have collaborated/worked with her in different capacities in and out of school over the past 6 years. I can attest that Michelle is an open minded leader, she has created strong partnerships with staff, teachers and parents, especially during her time as PTA president at Alamo Elementary. I think it is naive to think that school boards are apolitical governing boards. Introducing a partisan conflict point is aimed to detract from the true purpose of a local governing board. The goal of a nonpartisan election is not to remove all politics from governing, but to remove a conflict point that keeps the school board from doing its job. Conflict can be productive when it leads to informed debate and well thought out decision making. No matter the candidate, there are ideological differences about how to run schools and educate children. Michelle is fully capable of executing the work of governing, which includes, budgeting, planning, communicating with the public, etc., which is not as exciting as the hot-button divisive issues. The governing work is what actually impacts our school board’s outcomes. The best way to inform yourself about what a candidate stands for is to ask them.

LiLo - Ms. Petersen demanding resignations from PTA volunteers that didn't share the same political views as her is hardly collaborative and is the exact type of partisan politics that belong far, far away from schools and educating children without bias. Perhaps Ms. Petersen would be petter suited for a political position where her extreme progressive views would be better appreciated? Regardless, the type of Progressive Pandering Petersen has engaged with to vary far left political groups is disturbing for a school board candidate.

Constant claims to hearsay statements are not reliable and do not constitute valid evidence. I served on the PTA for the two years when Michelle was PTA president and I never received this email that keeps being alluded to and touted as proof as to what type of leader Michelle is. Disparaging remarks about Michelle are aimed to make substantive debate impossible and turn this election into a existential debate over ideological superiority. Now more than ever it is up to local government boards, like school boards, to show that governing is still possible despite societal divisions.