Times/News

Mengstab Tzegai, who was appointed to the Highline school board last year, will have to defeat Susan Goding of North Highline in the November election to retain his seat.

Julie Burr Spani of Burien is running unopposed for the open school position to replace board vice president Steve Denmark.

Denmark is running for the Burien City Council seat currently held by Councilwoman Joan McGilton instead of seeking re-election to the school board.

Tzegai, White Center site coordinator of the Refugee Federation Service Center, was selected in May 2004 to replace Linda Kalena, who resigned to take a job in Olympia.

In 1979, Tzegai emigrated from Eritrea in northeast Africa to attend college in Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Langston University.

The father of two grown children, Tzegai has lived in the Highline district for 15 years.

When appointed, Tzegai said he wanted to be a voice in the school district for immigrant families and people of color.

Goding did not respond to a Times/News request for information.

Spani is a former district employee as an advocate for "at-risk" students.

She served as a PTA president and was active in the five Highline schools her children attended over the past 13 years.

She earned a Masters degree in Public Administration from Seattle University and has over 30 years of management experience in education and human services.