Over the 15 years that I have known Karen Bunker, she has been my co-worker in education, my own child’s classroom teacher, an advocate for special needs students, a source of information and advice for neurodiversity and a strong team leader. Her knowledge is equally broad whether addressing enrichment activities for gifted and talented students, academic interventions for struggling learners, behavioral interventions for students who need it and the developmental appropriateness of expectations for all students in her classroom.

Karen doesn’t just excel with children. She also demonstrates warmth and compassion in addition to interpersonal competence in working with adults as well. While working with Karen is wonderful when everyone is on the same page and agreeing, she is one of the rare individuals who is able to respectfully disagree without raising the stakes in a conflict.

Karen is uncompromising in her beliefs and will stand up for what she thinks is right but she is able to do so in a way that does not judge, condescend or reject the other party and never in a way that deadlocks or derails the objective. In this event, even though you are aware that Karen believes you are wrong, her calm and steady presence will also let you know that she continues to value you and the outcome of the project, event or meeting and she won’t allow things to go sideways so that all forward momentum is lost.

In our current political climate, everyone needs to recognize what a rare and special talent that is to be able to successfully navigate a conflict while still achieving a positive outcome for all of the team members involved! “All means all” is a current phrase that is easy to say but difficult to actually apply to all students, all people and all perspectives. All of the White River School District’s students as well as parents, educators and staff members would benefit from Karen’s leadership because with her, all really does mean all.

My purpose in writing is to support Karen Bunker for White River School Board member. Not only will I be voting for Karen, but it is my intention to tell everyone available to vote for her as well! I’ve never written a letter to support a candidate for election before, but I have never before been colleague and friend to a political candidate. Please vote for Karen Bunker.

Kathleen Templeton

Buckley