Letter: ‘Nothing will change in our schools if we keep electing union-backed candidates who are there to work for the union and teacher, not the students they were elected to work for’

Vancouver Public Schools student Melanie Gabriel offers her endorsement for Michelle Belkot for Vancouver School Board Position 2

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com 

My name is Melanie Gabriel and I will be a freshman in high school in the fall at either Columbia River or Skyview if I get accepted to the magnet program. I am the co-founder of Open Schools USA, the founder of Clark County Student/Parent Union and the founder of Clark County Parents for Education Reform. 

I am writing to endorse Michelle Belkot for Vancouver School district position 2. All three of my grassroot education groups will be endorsing her as well. I met Michelle on December 17, 2020 at the Vancouver School district office at a rally to open schools for in person learning. Michelle and I have been advocating together ever since that day. 

Michelle knows the challenges students and parents faced last year during school shutdowns. She actively attends board meetings on zoom with me. She also has a passion for helping students and looking out for their best interests. She will be a board member who works for her community and always puts students’ best interest first. 

I would like to mention that multiple candidates for 2021 school board positions are backed by the local teachers unions. The teachers union protects teachers. A school board member’s most important role is to work with their communities to improve students’ achievements in their local public school. Having members on the board that are endorsed by teachers unions is a conflict of interest; it is not in the best interest of students. Please have students’ best interest in mind when you vote. Vote for someone who wants to work for your student. Nothing will change in our schools if we keep electing union-backed candidates who are there to work for the union and teacher, not the students they were elected to work for. 

Vote to save students’ futures! Vote Michelle Belkot for Vancouver School Board Position 2.

Melanie Gabriel
VPS Student