Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is one step closer to naming its next leader. Following a unanimous vote on Nov. 5, the Seattle School Board announced Ben Shuldiner — currently the superintendent of Lansing School District in Michigan — as the finalist for the district’s open Superintendent position. Contract negotiations come next before the hire becomes official.
“We believe Ben reflects the hopes, values, and purpose of our SPS community,” said Gina Topp, board president. “We are ready to partner with a leader who listens, shows up for students and families, and does the work. Ben has a strong record of delivering results, extensive financial and operational experience, and a commitment to lifting every student and school in our system. That’s why we selected him. He’s ready to get to work, restore hope, and move our shared vision into action.”
Shuldiner said he was humbled by the board’s decision.
“During my tenures as a teacher, as an administrator, and as a leader in national organizations, I’ve seen common values across communities and classrooms,” he said. “Students, families, and staff are what make them extraordinary. And they expect honesty and transparency so that together we can achieve the most for every young person in our district.”
The announcement was made as results of the Nov. 4 general election rolled in, including results for four Seattle School Board seats up for a vote.
Election results bring returning and new voices to the board
Voters re-elected board members Joe Mizrahi (District 4) and Vivian Song (District 5). In the District 7 race, Jen LaVallee came out ahead of Carol Rava to take the board seat. In a surprising turn, Seattle School Board District 2 incumbent Sarah Clark is trailing opponent Kathleen Smith on Thursday by 4.6%.
Who is Ben Shuldiner? A look at his track record
SPS highlighted three years of progress under Shuldiner’s leadership in Lansing, where he became superintendent in 2021. According to the district:
- Graduation rate: up 26%
- Attendance: up 15%
- Enrollment: increased for the first time in decades
- Financial stability: more than $40 million added to the district’s fund balance
Not to mention, he is lauded for creating financial stability in Lansing, including a district fund balance increase of more than $40 million. Seattle Public School District has struggled to stay out of the red for several years, although the Seattle School Board offered up a balanced budget earlier this month. Here’s a list of credits attributed to Shuldiner’s steerage:
- In 2003, he founded the High School for Public Service, a public school in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. He served as principal there for a decade, during which the school had a graduation rate of more than 95%.
- Shuldiner became the Distinguished Lecturer of Education Leadership at Hunter College, CUNY, where he led one of the largest Principal and Superintendent certification programs in the Northeast.
- He was appointed to the New York City Board of Education’s Panel for Education Policy and also served as President and Executive Board Member of the New York City High School Principals Association.
- He earned his MSED at Baruch College in New York and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University, with an undergraduate degree in history and science.
“Ben Shuldiner brings exceptional financial and operational expertise and clear and precise insights on Seattle’s budget challenges,” said Mizrahi in a release. “Perhaps more importantly, he brings a clarity of vision and ability to communicate that vision with candor that will bring focus and momentum to our district.”
What’s next?
The board will vote one more time to confirm the hire following contract negotiations and a state date is settled.
“I’m eager to get started,” Shuldiner said. “Seattle Public Schools has an inspiring history of innovation. I’m looking forward to playing a role in that history, working closely with families, schools, and the Board to continue creating a truly welcoming, world-class educational experience for our students.”
New to the Seattle School Board
New Seattle School Board member Jen LaVallee (Image: Jen LaVallee
While board members Song and Mizrahi are already well-acquainted with the board’s work and procedures, there will be at least one, and possibly two, new voices on the Seattle School Board. Jen LaVallee is a Rainier Beach resident, SPS parent, and “experienced systems thinker with a deep commitment to her South Seattle community,” according to her candidate website.
LaVallee volunteers for the South Southeast Seattle Fundraising Alliance and helped launch the Billion Dollar Bake Sale. This grassroots statewide campaign mobilized hundreds of parents and students to go to Olympia earlier this year to demand better education funding. She co-owns a local small business and currently serves on the board of the National Women’s Political Caucus, as well as volunteering with Soulumination at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
“As a district, we’ve experienced significant losses in both enrollment and community trust during and after the pandemic. To move forward, we must be present and engaged in our community, and commit to transparency in order to grow our district and address our budget shortfall, ” LaVallee said at the recent Seattle Education Forum.
Seattle School Board candidate Kathleen Smith (Image: Kathleen Smith)
According to The Seattle Times and other media election results pages, on Nov. 6, incumbent board member Sarah Clark, who was appointed to the board to fill a vacancy in 2025, was significantly trailing challenger Katheen Smith, with 62,207 votes to 56,769.
Smith, a parent and experienced educator currently working in the field of AI and emerging technologies, also attended the Seattle Education Forum. When asked about the biggest challenge facing SPS, the candidate responded:
“The single most pressing issue in education is the devaluation of the teaching profession. If elected, I would prioritize money in the budget being spent on face-to-face learning in our schools, work on developing robust pipelines for educators to receive training and develop lifelong careers, and advocate for good faith bargaining with the educators’ union.”
To learn more about these two candidates, check out “Nov. 4 Election: Four Seattle School Board seats on ballot.”
Seattle School Board District Map
Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors District Map, current since 2022.
(Image: City of Seattle)
