Letter to the Editor: Cole's commitment to community, civility and collaboration are needed on School Board

Editor,

My sister Sarah Cole is running for Eatonville School Board Position 2. She embodies many of the qualities and values of the people in this community that we all call home.

When our mom, Ida, passed away from cancer in 1994, Sarah was just 21 years old. I witnessed her courage as she suffered the loss of our mom, but she had the strength to help our dad, Tom, with the work of raising her three younger siblings. Her loyalty to our family during this difficult time carried us through and gave me a glimpse of the caring mother she would become.

Sarah is dedicated to this community and values the down-to-earth people that live here. This is why she and her husband, Brad, chose to raise their three kids in Eatonville, sending them to our schools from preschool through high school. Her strong work ethic and commitment to community can be seen in her years of volunteering with PTA, Dollars for Scholars, chairing the Senior Surprise auction and co-chairing the Eatonville Relay for Life.

Serving on the Eatonville Family Agency Board with Sarah, I see first hand her compassion for others as she works to meet the basic needs of people in our community. She naturally finds consensus and collaborates with a diverse board, skills essential to our next school board member.

During these contentious times, the work of our volunteer school board members can be challenging and sometimes thankless. As a healthcare provider in this community, I recognize the importance of having leaders who have the integrity and courage to advocate for the health and safety of all of our kids, at all times. Now more than ever, we need people like Sarah with a commitment to the civility and collaboration required to bring our community together to address the challenges we face ahead.

Peter Karlin

Eatonville