“When I was young, and going to high school, I lived in a fairly poor neighborhood,” remembers Kelly Munn. “I was taking all the classes I needed to go to a four year college, but my high school counsellor told me that I shouldn’t bother about applying for a four year college, and she wouldn’t help me get the forms.”

“No one else knew anything about what I needed to do — I lived in an environment where nobody went to college.”

“I will always remember what that was like, how attitudes like that really limit the options of young people.”

Munn ignored the apathy of her counsellor and went ahead and earned her degree.

From that moment on, the importance of education has been one of the central tenets in the way Munn sees the world.

It is a philosophy that drives her now in her work as advocate for education reform.

For the past 10 years Munn has fought to ensure schools in the Issaquah School District are paid the attention they deserve by those in power — a passionate and dedicated undertaking that this year earned her a nomination for the Spirit of Sammamish SAMMI Award.

The SAMMI awards celebrate and honor those who make unselfish contributions, and inspire others to contribute to the quality of life in Sammamish.

The awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 14, at Eastlake High School.

Like many committed community volunteers, Munn juggles a number of roles.

As well as being the legislative representative in her local PTA, she is one of the driving forces behind Issaquah Schools Foundation, Volunteers for Issaquah Schools, and the Olympian Coalition.

She lobbies, educates, researches legislation and raises funds.

Of course then there is her job, with the League of Education Voters.

“My background in all this is as a parent,” she said.

“I remember, 10 or 12 years ago, watching as a school bond and levy they were trying to pass kept failing.”

“My oldest was at Sunnyhills at the time, and they were talking about going to school in two shifts, because there wasn’t enough money to provide the buildings they needed to cope with the number of students.”

“And the bill kept failing.”

“So I got involved, working with the parents and getting them to vote ‘yes.’”

The bond passed, and the Issaquah School District would never be the same.

With funding for education a hot topic as state and federal budgets are compiled, Munn’s passion for the importance of a good learning system burns brighter than ever.

The parents, students and teachers in the Issaquah School District can rest assured they have a committed, informed and tireless lady watching out for them.