District News
Seattle School Board issues proclamation honoring Cheryl Chow
The Seattle School Board issued a proclamation Sept. 19 honoring the many contributions made to the children of Seattle by former Board director Cheryl Chow over the past 40 years.
“Her reputation precedes her and the work she has done on behalf of our students throughout the city is greatly appreciated,” said Director Sherry Carr, who served on the Board with Ms. Chow for two years.
The former Seattle Public Schools teacher and former School Board president is battling brain cancer. She attended the event with her partner, Sarah Morningstar, and their daughter.
“I particularly want to thank you for coming out as a gay woman at this point in your life,” said Director Marty McLaren. “Your public statement is so important … you help inspire others to confront their fears and prejudice.”
Cheryl Chow began her career with Seattle Public Schools as a teacher at Hamilton Junior High School in 1970. Her teaching career took her to Eckstein Middle School, Kimball Elementary School and Whitworth School.
In 1975, Ms. Chow became the Assistant Principal at Sharples Junior High, and she then took over as principal in 1975. After serving there until 1981, she moved to Garfield High School as assistant principal.
For the 1982-83 school year, she served as principal at Madison Junior High, and in 1983, became the administrative supervisor for Middle Schools. She moved to the role of Area Director in 1986, and Director II in 1989, before leaving at the end of 1989 to take her seat on the Seattle City Council.
Ms. Chow returned to Seattle Public Schools in 1998 and served as principal at Franklin and Garfield high schools, until her retirement in 2001. She was also elected to serve on the School Board for District VII from 2005 through 2009, and she served as Board President in 2007 and 2008.
Ms. Chow thanked her family and the School Board members for their service, and urged the community to support Seattle Public Schools.
“I want to thank the citizens who come to these meetings, and I encourage you to look at the positive, and get in there and get on a committee and help these hard working people out,” she said.
To read the proclamation, visit: http://tinyurl.com/CherylChowSPS
Photo above: Former School Board President Cheryl Chow thanks School Board members and Superintendent Jose´ L. Banda during a ceremony honoring her years of service at Seattle Public Schools.