Karl Wilkinson

East Valley School Board, unchallenged incumbent

Personal: Age 45 … mediator, former teacher and real estate agent … lived in community 27 years … married, six children, “three that are living and three that are teenagers” … enjoys Scouting, camping, craft-making … served on East Valley board 12 years.

Education: bachelor’s in education from EWU … favorite classes, “any kind of class that engaged us in thinking and communicating” … least favorite, “I didn’t like the classes where you just had to sit back and listen to somebody lecture to you” … last book read, “Being Happy” by Andrew Matthews.

Issues: Making the education in East Valley the best it can be. “Why not make it the best in the world?” … continuing as a liaison between parents and administrators.

Accomplishments: “I’ve been on the board for 12 years and I’m still happily married” … built collaborative relationship with the teachers’ union … spent a lot of time trying to build trust.

If I were king for a day: “I would start teaching foreign language in our elementary schools. Also, every student and teacher would have the opportunity to go on an exchange program.”

, DataTimes