Ben Shuldiner spent the day visiting students, staff and classrooms 

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) officially welcomed Ben Shuldiner as superintendent on Monday, Feb. 2. Shuldiner held a press conference at Mercer International Middle School before taking the oath of office and visiting classrooms at the school, marking his first day leading the district. 

The morning event brought together district leaders, staff and community members to formally recognize Superintendent Shuldiner’s transition into the role. Seattle School Board President Gina Topp administered the oath of office, followed by Superintendent Shuldiner’s first remarks as the district’s chief executive. 

“I would say the question is, ‘what is our hope?’ What is our work? What are we going to do? Because as a society and as a school district, it is about the ‘we,’” he said. “We want Seattle Public Schools to be the single best school district in America.” 

Watch the press conference and Oath of Office ceremony 

The superintendent went on to share how he has heard from hundreds of families and urged everyone to think of the district as a collective, not individuals. 

Mercer International Middle School was selected as the setting to reflect both the district’s future focus and its strong community partnerships. SPS leaders highlighted the school’s academic rigor, wholechild approach, and role as a community hub that supports students and families through expanded programming and services. 

In his remarks, Superintendent Shuldiner emphasized a leadership approach centered on listening, collaboration, and visibility. He shared his commitment to spending time in classrooms, learning directly from students, educators, families, and community members, and strengthening the systems that support teaching and learning across the district. 

“Students, children rise to the level of our expectations,” he said. “If we expect greatness from them, they will produce, but if we don’t, if we keep things low; if we focus on remediation and not acceleration; if we focus on the bad and not good, if we expect less from our children, that is what they will produce.” 

Looking ahead, Superintendent Shuldiner outlined plans to visit every school during his first 100 days and to host community meetings in all seven School Board director districts, along with a virtual session, to ensure broad engagement and access. 

Following the press conference, Superintendent Shuldiner toured Mercer International Middle School and Dearborn Park International, greeting students and staff and observing classroom instruction—signaling a handson approach to his tenure and a focus on learning from schools. 

Later in the day, Superintendent Shuldiner addressed the crowd at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence that had gathered for the kickoff to Black History Month with a flag raising ceremony. Shuldiner said Black history is a history of overcoming adversity, racism and hatred. 

“What we have to do to celebrate today, and this month, is to understand that we as an entire society need to care deeply about all of our people, but the way we do that is we highlight all of our people,” he said. “As we raise that flag and … look to the sky, we will think about the positives and celebrate Black history. We will remember again the adversity, but we will overcome it.” 

Superintendent Shuldiner ended his day visiting schools in the Rainier Beach corridor, meeting with school communities impacted by the fatal tragedy that took place in the neighborhood on Friday, Jan. 30. He joined students, staff, and community members who walked with Rainier Beach High School from the school to the bus stop where the tragedy occurred. 

Superintendent Shuldiner begins his leadership of SPS at a pivotal moment for the district, with a clear emphasis on partnership, presence, and shared responsibility for student success. 

Download photos from Superintendent Shuldiner’s first day