Laura Williams begins Kent School Board director role

Laura Williams will be the one new director in 2026 on the Kent School Board, promising “stability, transparency and a board that approaches its work with respect and commitment to problem solving.”

Williams officially began her four-year term for the District 5 position when she was sworn in during the Dec. 10 board meeting. Voters elected Williams in November over Jane Smith. Williams replaced Tim Clark, who didn’t seek reelection after four years in office.

“Our students, staff, and families deserve stability, transparency, and a board that approaches its work with respect and commitment to problem solving,” Williams said during the meeting. “My goal is to help create a culture where we all listen to one another, ask thoughtful questions, and keep our focus on what truly matters, the success and well-being of our students. Because every student deserves their best education experience.”

Williams is a math teacher at West Auburn High School in the Auburn School District. She also is a playwright and producer the school’s theater program.

She looks forward to her role on the board.

“We have dedicated educators, resilient students and a diverse community that cares deeply about public education,” Williams said. “When we work together, when we lead with integrity and collaboration, we can make real progress.”

Before joining the board, Williams served in multiple leadership roles within the Auburn Education Association and has advocated at both district and state levels for strong family partnerships, elevated student voice and improved teaching and learning conditions, according to a Kent School District press release.

The board recognized Clark for his four years on the board. Voters elected Clark to the board in November 2021 over Sara Franklin. Clark previously was on the board for four years after voters elected him in 2009 following 16 years on the Kent City Council.

Gregory begins elected term

Teresa Gregory began her four-year term as the District No. 4 director. The board appointed her in February 2025 to replace Awale Farah, who resigned prior to the end of his term.

Voters elected Gregory in November over Carolyn Wilsie-Kendall.

“I want to say thank you to the voters,” Gregory said during the meeting.”This is the first time I’ve ever run for office. I did some doorbelling. I did a lot of meeting and greeting and it was very helpful to talk to the people I’m going to represent.

“I thank you for entrusting me with your vote and representing you on this board. I look forward to the challenges that we’re going to have, but also the celebrations that we’re going to have as well.”

Gregory’s priorities focus on closing opportunity gaps, supporting educators and staff, promoting fiscal responsibility, and ensuring transparent, community-engaged decision-making, according to a district press release.

Gregory is owner of G Squared Consulting in Kent, which empowers ethical, bias-aware leadership through coaching, speaking and training.

Margel reelected president

The board voted 3-2 to reelect Meghin Margel as president for another one-year term at its December meeting.

Williams, Gregory and Margel voted to elect Margel as president. Donald Cook and Andy Song voted against Margel. Cook, who was vice president in 2025, nominated himself for president, but his vote for himself and Song’s vote gave him only two votes, one short of the majority needed.

The board voted unanimously to elect Gregory as vice president. Cook nominated Gregory, who was the only nominee.

The vote was 3-2 to elect Song as the state legislative representative. Cook and Margel voted no. Margel had nominated Williams for the role.

Margel will continue as president despite a King County Superior Court judge’s ruling in August 2025 that the Kent School Board violated the state’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) during an executive session in May 2024 while Margel was president.

According to court documents, the Kent School Board on May 15, 2024 held a closed executive session meeting that discussed the process and criteria for a performance review of Superintendent Israel Vela. The judge noted a board can hold a closed session for a performance review of a public employee but not to discuss the process and criteria for a review.

The judge also announced a second violation occurred June 28, 2023 when the board failed to announce the purpose of a closed meeting, which is required by law, according to court documents. The announced purpose was to discuss the evaluation of a public officer or employee. But the board also discussed potential litigation and the legal or financial risks of a course of action (a resolution against a proposed Battery Energy Storage System near Mattson Middle School in Covington) with legal counsel.

Joe Bento was president and Margel vice president during that violation. The board voted 5-0 to elect Margel as president in December 2023 when she received votes from herself, Clark, Farah, Cook and Song. The board voted 3-2 to elect Farah as vice president and 3-2 to elect Clark as the legislative representative. Cook and Song were the two no votes, the first of many 3-2 split votes among that board.

In December 2024, the board elected Margel president with a 3-2 vote. Clark, Farah and Margel voted for Margel while Cook and Song voted against her nomination.

Margel and Clark faced a potential recall in 2025 filed by three residents but a King County Superior Court judge dismissed the petitions in April 2025 “for lack of factual and legal sufficiency.” A recall was sought based on several allegations for violating board policy.

Budget challenges

Margel and the rest of the board enter 2026 with the district facing more budget cuts due to declining enrollment.

Raul Parungao, executive director of finance for the district, told the board during a Dec. 3 work session that with enrollment projected to continue to decline, the board will face about a $35 million budget deficit for the 2026-2027 school year. Staff and the board will meet over the next several months to discuss the budget, which it is scheduled to adopt in June.

District staff projected 24,222 students for the 2025-2026 budget adopted in June 2025, but that number dropped to 23,430 in October, a decline of 792 students, according to district documents. Staff projects enrollment to be 23,192 in 2026-2027, and 22,857 in 2027-2028, a decline of 1,365 students in just three years. State funding of schools is based on enrollment.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with correct vote counts to elect Margel board president in 2023 and 2024.

Voters elected Teresa Gregory to the Kent School Board in November 2025 following the board’s appointment of Gregory in February 2025 to fill a vacant position. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District