Editor’s note: All candidates were sent two questions to respond to. Those who didn’t respond to inquiries were quoted from their statements in the Kitsap County voters pamphlet.
The race for Bremerton School Board director position 5 features Ben Anderson, who currently holds the seat after being appointed in February, running against two career educators, Mary C. Devery, who taught for 42 years all within the Bremerton School District, and Linda Osborn Simpson, a former Boys and Girls Club educator.
The top two vote-getters for the primary election Aug. 5 will move on to the general election in November.
Ben Anderson: Anderson graduated from Bremerton High School and was accepted into the United States Coast Guard Academy, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. He served 10 years of active duty in the Coast Guard, attaining the rank of Commander, and did another 10 years in the reserves. He is currently the CEO of Art Anderson Associates, an engineering firm in downtown Bremerton.
He is involved in the Bremerton community working as a volunteer with the Bremerton School District, the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, Olympic College/WSU Engineering Advisory Board and others.
Q) What would be your top priorities as a school board director? (response from voters pamphlet)
A) “I am committed to fostering greater communication and transparency between the district and our community. This includes providing comprehensive updates on educational progress, celebrating student achievements that extend beyond state testing, and proactively addressing the challenges ahead. I will champion early and inclusive discussions with all affected parties to ensure decisions genuinely benefit our students.”
Q) Why should voters choose you over your opponents? (response from voters pamphlet)
A) “My roots in Bremerton run deep. As a lifelong resident and proud BHS graduate, my commitment to this community was further shaped by my service in the US Coast Guard. Upon returning home, I immediately found ways to give back through community service and volunteering. With three children currently thriving at each level within the Bremerton School District, my drive to serve on the school board is personal. I am deeply invested in the education and development of every child in our community – they are our future. This passion for service is fueled by a desire to enhance educational outcomes and expand opportunities for all Bremerton children.”
Mary C. Devery: Devery is a teacher with 42 years of experience in Bremerton. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Technology. Devery is a longtime supporter of Bremerton schools as well as the community through mentorship programs, Kitsap County Foster Care and an advocate for youth within the community.
Q) What would be your top priorities as a school board director?
A) “The top priority is to help put systems in place that students can learn, teachers can teach, and their administrators can support them. We created a strategic plan that students, teachers, community members, and administration created. We need to implement it. We need to have total transparency in our systems as well. We need to give our students opportunities that will change their lives. I have dedicated my entire 42-year career to the students and families of the Bremerton School District. I know this community, I know our schools, and I believe deeply in the potential of every student. We need to address the attendance problem, the high school dropout rate, and involve teachers in this process. Not giving teachers more work to do, but listening to their needs and listening to our students’ needs, I believe I will be able to assist in this process.”
Q) Why should voters choose you over your opponents?
“The reason voters should choose me is because I have something different to offer. I am a Bremerton student, parent, and teacher. I have taught in Bremerton for over 40 years. I have given my life to Bremerton students, and I want to help students, parents, teachers, and administrators make sure all Bremerton students learn and are given opportunities that will help their future because they deserve it. I will bring to the board a teacher’s voice—focused on student learning, equity, and responsible stewardship of public resources. I will listen with respect, collaborate thoughtfully, and lead with heart. I am the voice for the students, parents, and teachers. I hope the voters give me this opportunity, and I will passionately work to make a difference. I will be the voice for the voiceless.”
Linda Osborn Simpson: A Navy Reserve veteran and Washington state credentialed teacher, Simpson became disabled when she lost her leg in a motorcycle accident. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Old Dominion University, and worked as an educator for the Boys and Girls Club. Simpson and her husband Michael, an Army Veteran who now works at the Navy Shipyard, raised two boys and went through the Bremerton School District.
Q) What would be your top priorities as a school board director?
A) “One of our top priorities must be understanding why student achievement at Bremerton High School is falling short. According to the OSPI 2023–24 Report Card, only 30.1% of students meet grade-level standards in science, 26.1% in math, and 52.9% in English Language Arts. These figures are a clear call to action. We must provide students with an education that motivates, supports, and connects them to their future.
As the parent of two well-adjusted, happy, and successful autistic young adults who attended Bremerton schools from age three through graduation (2016 and 2020), I have seen firsthand how a tailored approach—like the Individualized Education Program (IEP)—can be transformative. The IEP process, which sets personalized goals and tracks progress over time, was instrumental in helping my children thrive.
It’s time to reimagine education not as a conveyor belt but as a guided journey—one that values every student and supports them in building a future they can be excited about.”
Q) Why should voters choose you over your opponents?
A) “An effective school board director must have a deep understanding of the diverse citizens they serve. My qualifications are grounded not only in education and leadership but in lived experience within the Bremerton community.
As an engaged parent of two special needs children who attended Bremerton schools from early childhood through graduation, I’ve navigated the system firsthand and advocated for the needs of exceptional learners. As a minority veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserves and the spouse of an Army soldier—often parenting solo while my husband was deployed to Iraq for nearly six years—I understand the unique challenges military families face.
Compassionate persistence, individualized support, and community-rooted leadership—guides everything I hope to bring to our school board.”
Mary C. Devery
Linda Osborn Simpson
