Seattle Public Schools Leadership
Ben Shuldiner, Superintendent, Seattle Public Schools
Benjamin “Ben” Shuldiner is the Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools. He most recently served as Superintendent of the Lansing School District in Michigan from 2021 through January 2026.
Ben comes from a family of educators and education leaders. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and science from Harvard College, where he graduated magna cum laude, and a Master of Science in Education from Baruch College.
The school Superintendent’s role is to implement the policies set by the School Board and manages daily operations of Seattle Public Schools. Go here if you want to know how something is working (or not) day to day.
Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors
The Board of Directors for Seattle Public Schools is an elected body of seven citizens who serve four year terms and represent geographical regions within the City of Seattle.
It is the belief of the Board of Directors and Superintendent that they are partners in the governance team of Seattle Public Schools. Both must do their jobs well for the organization to be successful and for the governance team as a whole to be effective.
The school board are elected officials who set district policies, hire and oversee the superintendent, and approve the district budget. Go here if you care about what’s taught, class sizes, teacher contracts, or district priorities.
School Board Student Members
School Board Student Members represent the voices of students in Seattle Public Schools by participating in regular school board meetings and contributing student insight to board discussions. They serve as a liaison between students and the Board, offering perspectives on district issues and needs, reporting on their work and committee activities, and communicating topics of student interest or concern.
While they do not vote or hold board offices, School Board Student Members are encouraged to engage in discussions, ask questions, and help ensure student perspectives are included in district decision-making.
Strategic Plan
Seattle Excellence, the most recent five year strategic plan from 2019-2024, was guided by four priorities and is laser focused on supporting Students of Color who are furthest away from educational justice, beginning with African American boys and teens. The district is still operating under many of the guidances within the Seattle Excellence plan as the new 2025-2030 is still being developed.
The Alliance for Education is proud to have convened philanthropic funding for the 2025-2030 strategic plan to ensure resources, strategies and instruction are aligned for Seattle students.