Former Tahoma Director Releases Statement in Wake of Claim that “Sexism” is to Blame for District Shortfalls
Former Tahoma Director Val Paganelli released a statement today amidst circulating claims on social media that existing board directors Haley Pendergraft and Malia Hollowell are stepping down due to "sexism" within the district. These claims began to circulate after the directors released a joint statement in which they asserted that “the district has long battled criticism for having a “good old boys club.”
From Val Paganelli:
During my time as a dedicated elected school board director with the Tahoma School District (2017-2022), the constraints I felt in having my voice heard (and the circumstances which collectively and ultimately led to my unplanned resignation) were not attributable to my gender. No one can claim the limitations in my ability to serve TSD was because I am a woman. For me, the biggest barriers to being the best board member I could be were mostly put in place by and at the hands of other women leaders, alongside a protected culture and a private core for which I never “solved the riddle”.
I did not explicitly observe other women in the district being disrespected or having a limited voice. Nor was gender discrimination ever expressed in the constant stream of voiced concerns brought forward to me as a board member. There are and have been many women leaders in TSD.
Please know I have experienced gender discrimination over the years in various other professional settings. I know how it feels and how limiting it can be. If it is present within Tahoma, it is surprisingly suppressed from my view. Voices, in general, being heard and respected without fear of consequences is the more definitive theme of expressed concerns shared with me.
I am a proven leader, especially in complex situations. Any constraints in my ability to lead and serve TSD were because I sought answers and action to very important questions and refused to compromise my personal ethics and integrity. Questions I asked were warranted for a system that is growing…in order to embrace change, be healthy for students and staff, prove to be sustainable, incur minimal risk, be financially responsible/accountable and hopefully delight the community through transparency, listening, delivering great learning results and having fun along the way. My questions were honest and never malicious but still proved to be uncomfortable, dismissed, ignored and/or disruptive. My drum beat was consistent, despite being mostly alone in the percussion section. I remained true to my chosen leadership style in my work with TSD and the community: open-minded, committed to continual improvements, expecting excellence, friends with all, singularly aligned with none…and genuinely committed to the hard work necessary for from-all-angles decision-making.
I was engaged and participating fully. I nonetheless suffered from a failure of freedom to lead.
I hold no grudges; I stand on solid ground; I care about our community; I am amazed at the extraordinary talents in our midst; I still have questions.
This is my truth and I wanted to share. I understand others may have different truths and I honor them.
Thank you to the many of you who have reached out to me this week to check in. I remain available to listen, as needed, to help bring forward a positive outcome for you and applaud you for engaging in a meaningful and resolute dialogue on behalf of our community.
The phrase "good old boys club" typically refers to nepotism rather than sexism, and it is likely how the existing directors intended it to be understood. It is worth noting that the board composition has had a majority of women since 2013. Here is the breakdown:
2013 TSD Board: 3 women/2 men
2015 TSD Board: 3 women/2 men
2017 TSD Board: 4 women/1 man
2019 TSD Board: 4 women/1 man
2021 TSD Board: 3 women/1 man
It is crucial for parents to acknowledge the existing shortcomings in district leadership during this tumultuous period. New candidates running for the board are committed to establishing an accountable and safe environment in Tahoma. In these challenging times, it is important for the community to set aside their differences and find common ground for the sake of our children.
