Empowering Voices: Amy Breitenstein on School Board Success and Parental Engagement

In this episode of the Parents Rights in Education podcast, Hanna introduces the podcast's mission to empower parents in their child's education through free trainings and community support. Suzanne Gallagher then speaks with guest Amy Breitenstein, a new school board member from Moses Lake, Washington. Amy shares her motivation for running, driven by a desire to enact change rather than just complain. She discusses a contentious issue in her district— the construction of a smaller, project-based learning school instead of a second traditional high school, which has caused community frustration due to mismanagement and underutilization.

Amy and Suzanne discuss the importance of parental voice in education decisions, highlighting how endorsements from organizations like Parents Rights in Education can influence school board elections. Amy emphasizes engaging the community to address bullying and improve school policies, recognizing the need for clear consequences for misbehavior. Suzanne advises leveraging supporter networks for effective community engagement. The podcast closes with an invitation for parents to join their movement and utilize their resources for effective school board involvement.