By Regan Nickels

One of the greatest strengths of our schools is the partnership we share with our community. Whether you have children in our classrooms or simply care about the future of education in Sequim and Clallam County, your voice matters. That’s why I’m excited to introduce a new way to connect: Table Talk.

What is Table Talk?

Table Talk is an informal, open conversation with me, your superintendent, and/or our Assistant Superintendent Donna Hudson held Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. (excluding school holidays or snow days) at the River House Bakery into the winter months. It’s a chance to step away from school buildings and meet in a relaxed setting where ideas can flow freely.

There’s no agenda, no presentation — just dialogue. You’re welcome to enjoy a coffee and pastry special, breakfast or nothing at all. The only expectation is curiosity and conversation. If the interest continues beyond this winter, we’ll discuss how to keep meeting up on a regular basis.

Our goal is simple: to extend communication beyond the walls of our schools and invite everyone into the discussion about education. Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, a business owner, or a neighbor who simply wonders about the direction of our district, Table Talk is one way our schools are reaching out to engage.

Why now?

Schools thrive when communities are engaged. We know that many people want to understand what’s happening in our classrooms, what challenges we face, and what opportunities lie ahead especially with progress on the school construction bond. Table Talk creates space for those questions and for your ideas. It’s about listening as much as sharing. A community member suggested this format out in the community, and we put it into practice.

Topics so far

We launched Table Talk with a soft start on Oct. 23, and since then, the conversations have been lively and meaningful. Topics have ranged from cell phone use in schools and their impact on youth, to special education and gifted and talented programming, school construction bond projects, and even school nutrition. Every session has filled the hour with thoughtful dialogue, and I’ve left each one with new insights and perspectives.

Connection to Strategic Plan

Our district’s strategic plan focuses on four key goals, including that of community partnerships. Table Talk is one way we are working to expand those partnerships especially to individuals who may not have students in Sequim schools but care deeply about education in our region. Your ideas and questions help us shape a stronger, more inclusive future.

Kaleidoscope magazine

In addition to in-person conversations, we share news and updates through Kaleidoscope, our district magazine. Kaleidoscope highlights student and staff accomplishments, current events, and provides routine reports on the progress of our capital levy projects, the new and upcoming Ramponi Center for Technical Excellence building and the bond-funded construction engineering and design pathways our district is pursuing.

You can access Kaleidoscope online at sequimschools.org/departments/communications or email mlyke@sequimschools.org to get on our emailing list. We encourage you to read and share it. The magazine is a great way to stay informed about what is happening in our schools.

Education is a shared responsibility. The decisions we make today shape the opportunities for tomorrow’s students. By creating spaces for conversation and sharing information, we strengthen trust, build understanding, and ensure that our schools reflect the values and aspirations of the community they serve.

So, mark your calendar: Thursdays at 10 a.m. at River House Bakery. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee if you’d like, and join the conversation. Together, we can keep our schools and our community moving forward.

I look forward to seeing you at the table.

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Regan Nickels is superintendent of the Sequim School District.