Submitted by Catherine Rudolph.
A move to Lakewood has been on my mind for a while, so I have been paying attention to the conversations around the Clover Park School District elections. I have been disturbed by the tone of the attacks on Alyssa Anderson Pearson. Her intentions, parentage, schooling and family friends have been subject to attack. Its like you are on the set of Mean Girls, but it’s Grumpy Old Men.
I have worked with Alyssa’s Dad on a variety of community service projects, campaigns, and as a co-worker. Here is a a man who gets things done. He’s served on a school board, volunteered as a track coach. He’s on the Lakewood City Council, is a successful attorney and was one of the leaders who rebuilt Goodwill Industries. Nancy Anderson is the schoolteacher you would want to educate your children, now retired. So Alyssa grew up in a home where community service was expected and fully on display. Alyssa’s first term on the school board occurred in a period of rebuilding the academic program. Not so long ago, Clover Park had poor academic outcomes, safety issues for students and staff, and between recents issues with COVID and social unrest, the Board and Administration have had much to navigate and done pretty well.
The Grumpy Old Men are attacking a young wife and mother. I believe they are more motivated by jealousy than principle. I hope the community takes that into account.
