An Interview with Leighton

Ballots go out October 17 and must be returned or postmarked by 8pm on November 4, 2025. 

Here are some helpful links for more information:

Register to Vote

Where to drop your ballots

In North Kitsap, school board members represent the community as one of five ‘Directors’. I am running to represent District 1.

The Board works together to:

  • Hire, supervise and evaluate the superintendent
  • Set the vision, mission and strategic goals for the district
  • Review, revise and adopt policies
  • Establish and oversee the budget
  • Serve as community representatives
  • Monitor the district’s progress towards its goals

One way to think about it is this: school boards set the “what” and District leadership and staff figure out the “how”. You can read more details about what a school board member does here. 

I’m not! But I’m here to stay. I have been fortunate to live all over the world as a military spouse but from the moment I landed in Washington in March of 2020, I knew this place would be my forever home. We bought a house in Poulsbo and my days of moving due to the military are over. I can’t imagine a place I’d rather live.

Thank you for your interest! There are many ways to help out. Want to knock on doors? Help me write thank-you cards? Host a gathering with your friends? 

Please sign up to volunteer in a way that works for you. Feel free to send me an email leighton4nksd@gmail.com.

All event details are shared on our website and social media. 

If elected, I will bring commitment, broad experience and expertise, and a spirit of curiosity to the North Kitsap School Board. I care deeply about kids and have spent my career—and my free time—working to support them, whether through teaching, coaching youth running groups, or serving on local boards.

I began my career in human capital strategy, helping organizations design policies and systems to meet their current and future workforce needs. In 2009, I transitioned to public education and became a classroom teacher. Since then, I’ve served in roles across the education system, including state-level leadership. I understand the complexities of public schools from multiple perspectives—and I bring empathy because I’ve lived those challenges.

I also bring academic expertise: I hold a doctorate in education policy and leadership and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. I’ve spent years both working in and alongside schools and studying how to make them better.

But just as important as my experience is my mindset: I approach this work with curiosity and a commitment to listening. I believe in asking hard questions, engaging the community, and making decisions grounded in what’s best for all of our students.

I’m motivated to serve because I believe North Kitsap Schools should be every family’s first choice when choosing where to send their children to school. I have young children and plan to be part of this community for the long term. When I ask, “Where can I help?”—the answer is always kids and schools. When I learned my district seat was open, it felt like a call to action. 

I’m deeply motivated to strengthen trust between the community and our school board. I’ve heard a consistent message: people want more transparency and more opportunities to be heard. I’m a connector by nature. If elected, I’ll host monthly listening sessions and stay rooted in community conversations as we shape the future of our schools, together.

We have space for improvement in a number of areas, but continued loss of funding due to declining enrollment is one issue that impacts our ability to make these changes. Our district is facing declining enrollment, and not just due to housing costs or birth rates. We need to stay curious about why some families are choosing other districts or leaving public education altogether. This trend has major implications for our funding, staffing, and long-term planning. Every student who leaves takes resources with them—but every student we bring back brings funding, energy, and opportunity.

We need to ask: Why are families leaving/choosing other districts? What do they need to stay?  The answers should shape how we respond. That means listening closely to students and educators, and taking meaningful action—both within our existing structures and through creative new options. That might mean expanding CTE programs or offering flexible, part-time options for homeschoolers. We should be looking at models that work in other districts, and exploring how to make them work for us too.

North Kitsap has incredible strengths: excellent educators, stable finances, and an invested community. We are small enough to be nimble and bold enough to lead with innovation. I want to help build a future where families are proud to choose North Kitsap—and excited to stay.