Children's Advocate Joe Cunningham running for Shoreline School Board

20 year education and disability advocate
Joe Cunningham is running for school board

Local children’s advocate Joe Cunningham is running for an open seat on the Shoreline School Board, after years of successfully leading advocacy efforts passing legislation and serving as a statewide leader of Arc of King County, (a longtime national organization for intellectual and developmental disabilities) and holding many leadership positions with the Children’s Campaign Fund. 

Joe has filed for the open seat (Position 5) created by Dick Potter leaving the Board after his term ends this November.

“I’m a 20-year resident of the Briarcrest neighborhood in Shoreline, and my involvement in education and the community runs deep. My father was a School Superintendent, Coach, Special Education teacher, and Federal Teachers Union President and my Mom taught music in schools as I spent a fourth of my childhood being raised on Native American reservations and Central America. I am raising my two children in Shoreline, and they are and have all attended Shoreline Public Schools,” Joe said.

“As a parent of a child who experiences a developmental disability, I have professional and personal expertise in special education, which is especially important now as the Legislature has just passed a history-making $25.2 million to address our special education needs which have frustrated parents for such a long time,” Joe said. 

He’s networked with Dads across the state as a member of Washington State Fathers Network, as well as Member of Governor’s Committee on Employment and Disabilities. “

As a Shoreline School Director, Joe said he will work with school staff to make sure all students achieve at the highest levels. 

“I will work to steward voter passed resources for our schools – ensuring funds directed to ensuring recruiting and maintaining quality teachers, including hiring more teachers of color, and ensuring that maximum dollars raised for schools go toward educating students,” he said. 

With a background in equity and social justice policies, Joe will work to ensure Shoreline schools are using principles of equity in all policy decisions. He is committed to serve as a bridge with teachers, parents and administrators to work collaboratively to strengthen “our extraordinary Shoreline Public Schools.”