Of the three candidates on the November ballot for the Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) Area B board position, Mary Beth Thompson and Jacob Yuryev are the most visible.

Once elected, board members make decisions for the entire school district.

Thompson’s priority is to do what is best for the students in the district, and she runs with the knowledge of an experienced educator and the support of many of the district’s teachers—there are currently no educators on the board. Yuryev runs with goals of allowing flexible course options for students, making the public feel heard, and, since he is 18 years old, with the perspective of a recently graduated SUHSD student.

Thompson stresses the importance of her work as an educator when making decisions for the district. Thompson is the Executive Director of Summit Preparatory Charter High School and has worked in education for 14 years. With a deep understanding of the instruction of both teachers and students, curriculum, and student connection in high schools, she believes she has the experience and integrity required to make the best decisions for students.

She feels that her time as a teacher amongst students allows her to understand the challenges both teachers and students face. As a principal, she also sees the bigger picture and understands the importance of serving diverse populations of students from different racial, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.

“I know I’m the right candidate for the board because I understand the nuances and the passion it takes to work in education,” Thompson said. “I understand that it is not a nine-to-five job.”

Meanwhile, Yuryev graduated from Carlmont High School in the spring of 2024 and says he carries a unique perspective as a student who is first-generation in the United States. While he enjoyed his time at Carlmont, he emphasizes that his goal is to serve all students in the district, and he believes his experience as a student will help him make decisions that benefit the students.

“I think that my biggest takeaway from my time in the district is we have an amazing district and a host of really amazing teachers, administrators, staff and students,” Yuryev said regarding his student experience. “I honestly think that the most important thing to serve our students in our community is having the knowledge of what being a student in our district is like.”

Thompson admits that she doesn’t know everything, but knows when and whom to ask for help. Between board member Sathvik Nori, who is a current Stanford student, and student trustees, she actively seeks the student perspective.

“I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t pretend to, but I’m wise enough to know where to go to find the answers we need to help our students succeed,” Thompson said.

Yuryev says he is taking a gap year and is running for the board because he sees “no value in waiting” and wants to serve while his high school and student trustee experience is fresh in his mind.

“I think that if you want to do something, and if you feel like you have the ability to positively impact around 10,000 students, there’s just no reason to wait, and that you should do that as fast as possible,” Yuryev said. “I think that college will always be there and I’ll be there next year, but the opportunity to serve my community that has served me throughout my whole life will not necessarily always be there.”

Meanwhile, Thompson is the mother of a young child. He is one of the reasons she chose to run for the board. She hopes to create a district that her son and others like him will be proud to grow into and benefit from long beyond their high school years. She believes a parent’s perspective, among other diverse viewpoints, is essential to the board.

“This is where my son’s potentially going for high school one day,” Thompson said.

As someone who has worked in public education for years, she feels that everyone, regardless of where they live, is entitled to high-quality public education. If elected, she hopes to hold the district accountable to the Strategic Action Plan released last year.

Both candidates hope to improve communication and transparency within the district. Yuryev hopes to rebuild the public’s trust in the board, while Thompson would like the public to better understand how money in the district supports teachers.

“We know how hard this profession is and how easy it is to burn out. What are we doing to sustain and retain quality teachers?” Thompson said.

Yuryev is endorsed by Congressman Ro Khanna and CA State Senator Josh Becker, among others. One of Yuryev’s campaign managers, Laura Teutschel, has previously worked with several of his endorsers, such as San Carlos Councilmember Ron Collins and San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller.

Additionally, many of Yuryev’s donors live in Menlo Park and Atherton, outside of the zone that will eventually vote for the board seat. When asked why this is, Yuryev said, “Everybody really cares[…] and that means that people are willing to support candidates that may not even directly represent them. I think that’s a beautiful thing. We have our democratic laws and campaign finance laws in this country for a reason, and it’s because there’s no reason to limit the people that care on a specific issue that impacts all of us.”

Many teachers within the district support Thompson’s campaign, and she is endorsed by the Sequoia District Teachers Association (SDTA). Thompson says that this endorsement brings her the most pride and humbles her because these teachers work daily for students and want to support Thompson, knowing that she will support and listen to them in return.

She is also endorsed by education board members and educators from San Carlos, Redwood City, Belmont, and other school districts. She feels encouraged to know that middle school educators are putting the immediate futures of their students in her hands. Three current SUHSD board members endorse her, as do Congressman Kevin Mullin, former California State Senator Jerry Hill, San Carlos Mayor John Dugan, and more.

However, Thompson states that her main goal is to ensure student success academically, socially, and emotionally.

“When it comes to a child’s education, there is no room for politics. There is no room for grandstanding, and there is no room for holding anybody’s future hostage for someone else’s political gain,” Thompson said.