A Letter of Support
A Letter to the SVUSD Community
From Leslie Terry · Retired SVUSD Teacher
My name is Leslie Terry, and I wholeheartedly support Kris Spowart for the Saddleback Valley Unified School District School Board. As a retired teacher who spent thirty-seven years in SVUSD, I have had the extraordinary privilege of knowing Kris for nearly fifty years—first as her teacher, and later as someone who has had the opportunity to watch her dedicate herself to the education and well-being of children and families.
I first met Kris in 1977, during my very first year of teaching. She was a third grader in my classroom—a sweet, determined little girl who took her education seriously. She wanted to learn, she wanted to do well, and she had a perseverance that stood out even then. I could never have imagined that nearly fifty years later, I would have the privilege of recommending that same little girl for a position where she could help shape the future of thousands of students.
Our paths crossed again many years later in a moment I will always remember. Kris’ daughter was a first grader at Robinson Elementary, and one afternoon Kris walked into my classroom. She looked at me and asked, “Are you the Mrs. Terry who used to teach at Montevideo?” When she told me her name, I immediately remembered her. There was something very special about seeing this former student—someone I had taught as a little girl—now standing before me as a mother and an involved member of our school community. It felt like one of those wonderful full-circle moments that teachers are lucky enough to experience.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to see Kris’ commitment to education firsthand. She has never been someone who simply talks about wanting to make a difference. She gets involved. She volunteered in classrooms, became active in PTA, and eventually took on significant leadership and advocacy roles through Saddleback District PTA Council and SELPA’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC).
As SVPTA Special Education Advocacy Chair and CAC Chair for three years, Kris has led sustained advocacy, parent engagement, and collaboration on behalf of students and families. In her SVPTA role, she worked to ensure that every school in SVUSD had a liaison providing resources and advocacy for students and families receiving special education services. As CAC Chair, she brought parents, educators, and community partners together to address issues affecting students and families.
Her advocacy has taken her beyond our district as well. Kris regularly travels to Sacramento to advocate for students with disabilities and has worked directly with legislators on critical bills affecting students. She doesn’t do these things for recognition; she does them because she genuinely believes students deserve someone willing to speak up for them.
This is why I trust Kris. I have known her for most of her life, and I have seen that her commitment to students is not a campaign promise or a recent interest. It is a deeply rooted part of who she is. She listens. She works hard. She is willing to learn, consider different perspectives, and stand up for what she believes is right. Most importantly, I trust her to put students at the center of her decisions.
I also trust Kris because I know her character. She approaches her work with integrity, transparency, and genuine respect for others. She understands that meaningful progress comes from collaboration, not division. I believe she will listen carefully to teachers, parents, administrators, and fellow board members while never losing sight of the people she is there to serve: our students.
After nearly fifty years of knowing Kris, I can say with confidence that she is someone I would trust to make thoughtful, informed, and compassionate decisions on behalf of our children.
Saddleback Valley Unified School District would be fortunate to have Kris Spowart on its School Board. I wholeheartedly endorse her and believe she will be a dedicated, knowledgeable, and courageous advocate for students, families, teachers, and the entire SVUSD community.
— Leslie Terry
Retired SVUSD Teacher · 37 Years in SVUSD