In this first installment of our three-part series unpacking Left to Chance: Student Outcomes in Seattle Public Schools (2024), hosts Christie Robertson and Jasmine Pulido sit down with report author Vivian Van Gelder to trace thirty years of reform and turmoil inside Seattle Public Schools.

The story begins in 1990 with the Cresap Audit, a state-commissioned report that deemed the district “nearly ungovernable,” and follows the arrival of Major General John Stanford, the charismatic outsider who redefined Seattle schools as a “market-based system.” Stanford’s three-year tenure (1995-1998) transformed governance, funding, and labor relations—introducing open-choice enrollment, principal “CEOs,” and the 1997 trust agreement between the district and the Seattle Education Association (SEA).

Drawing from Van Gelder’s decade-long research and Left to Chance (Southeast Seattle Education Coalition), this episode examines how these reforms—rooted in neoliberal management theory, school-based decision-making, and business-style accountability—continue to shape Seattle Public Schools today.

📖 Referenced materials

• Left to Chance: Student Outcomes in Seattle Public Schools (Vivian Van Gelder, 2024)
  • Report Timeline
• Cresap Audit of Seattle Public Schools (1990)
• A Nation at Risk (1983, National Commission on Excellence in Education)

🎧 Listen and read the full transcript at rainydayrecess.org
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Kathleen Smith is running for Seattle School Board District 2, which covers Magnolia, Ballard, North Beach, and Green Lake. Her opponent is Sarah Clark. This interview is part of our 2025 Seattle School Board Candidate series. Every Seattle voter will vote on four school board races in the general election: Districts 2, 4, 5, and 7.

About Kathleen Smith

• Data scientist at Microsoft
• Parent of 5-year-old entering kindergarten in SPS
• Comes from family of educators
• Attended public schools, then Annie Wright School in Tacoma
• Endorsed by Seattle Education Association

Key Positions

First Priority:

• Add more ways for student school board directors to have power and contribute

On School Board Role:

• Board sets policy and holds district accountable through superintendent
• Currently a disconnect between board and district
• Need balance between micromanaging and providing clear guardrails
• Important to build strong working relationships for alignment

On Superintendent Search:

• Should consider hiring interim superintendent first
• Need someone who will truly listen to community
• Balance listening with leading with confidence
• Must understand Seattle's geographic and demographic diversity

On District Structure:

• Current balance is worst of both worlds
• Schools have accountability (funding tied to enrollment) but no control
• District should be more accountable for quality; schools have more control
• Allow for local differentiation

On When Goals Aren't Met:

• Getting new superintendent is biggest lever for change
• Board doesn't have power to force district to change
• Power is in finding superintendent who will guide needed changes

On Community Engagement:

• Ultimate power is finding right superintendent
• Board can help engage community to define expectations clearly
• If district won't listen, must replace superintendent

On Her Approach:

• Not a policy wonk; brings data analysis and science skills
• Wants clearer metrics for measuring equity
• Known for seeking different perspectives and listening
• Fast learner despite learning curve
• Wants to fight for educator living wages

Other Positions:

• Strongly supports Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• Sees board role as accountable to voters

Educational Leader She Admires: Her mother (teacher)

Looking Forward to Working With: Liza Rankin

Important Info

• Ballots mailed: October 15th | Due: November 4th
• Also listen to: Interviews with all District 2, 4, 5, and 7 candidates at rainydayrecess.org
• Kathleen's campaign: https://www.smith-for-schools.com/
• Podcast info: rainydayrecess.org | hello@rainydayrecess.org

Support the show

Contact us at hello@rainydayrecess.org.
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

Sarah Clark is running for Seattle School Board District 2, which covers NW Seattle including Magnolia, Ballard, North Beach, southern Greenwood, and Green Lake. Her opponent is Kathleen Smith. This interview is part of our 2025 Seattle School Board Candidate series. Every Seattle voter will vote on four school board races in the general election: Districts 2, 4, 5, and 7.

About Sarah Clark

• Currently serving as District 2 school board director (appointed April 2024, running to retain seat)
• Director of Policy at Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
• Master's in Education Policy from University of Washington
• Graduate of Seattle Public Schools (Madrona Elementary, Washington Middle School, Garfield High School, Class of 2003)
• Serves as City of Seattle FEPP Levy and King County Liaison

Key Positions

On Why She's Running:

• Believes in coalition building and comprehensive policymaking
• Wants to involve community more in the work
• District is in crisis deeper than initially understood
• Sees opportunity to fix problems with new generation of collaborative board members
• Wants to set things up for success 10 years from now

On Budget:

• Current budget reflects hope for legislative support
• Also preparing for scenario without enough funding
• Many fixed costs (labor contracts, levies) limit flexibility
• Community engagement is critical part of budget process
• Hard decisions may be necessary if funding doesn't come through

On Student Safety:

• Experienced assault as sophomore at Garfield (drives dedication to this issue)
• Current approach has failed; past models weren't successful either
• Working to convene group of SPS/SPD leaders, community, city council, mayor's office
• Student safety policies need to be flexible and evolve
• Committed to restoring district's relationship with SPD for 2025-2026
• Can't promise school resource officers will return in previous form

On Her Background:

• Was in Highly Capable Program (APP) and experienced segregation by academic programs
• Shocked by difference between advanced classes and regular classes
• Studied equity and legacy of colonialism at UW
• Education opened doors and she wants that access for others
• Has two nieces in SPS

On Her Approach:

• Seeks to collaborate (shaped by playing sports and being on teams)
• Open to hearing from community (ideas, venting, questions)
• Takes responsibility seriously as part of her faith and values
• Hopeful that local action can make impact despite federal challenges
• Ready to develop fresh ideas to meet every student's need

Important Info

• Ballots mailed: October 15th | Due: November 4th
• Also listen to: Interviews with all District 2, 4, 5, and 7 candidates at rainydayrecess.org
• Sarah's campaign: https://www.sarah4schoolboard.org/
• Podcast info: rainydayrecess.org | hello@rainydayrecess.org

Support the show

Contact us at hello@rainydayrecess.org.
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.