With more than 25 years of educational leadership experience, Dr. Kurt Buttleman has a breadth and depth of experience ranging from leading large public educational institutions through challenging budget balancing to making sweeping changes and enhancements to business operating systems.

He has a background in strategic planning, business, and financial operations and worked in partnership with Seattle Schools for many years prior to joining SPS as assistant superintendent of finance.

He has earned a Bachelor of Science in finance degree from the University of Illinois, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Washington, and a Doctor of Education Administration degree from North Carolina State University. Kurt enjoys spending time with family, running, playing golf, basketball, softball, and pickleball, and photography.

Dr. Buttleman Oversees

• Accounting
• Budget
• Payroll
• Procurement
• Warehouse Operations

Personal Statement

"I am humbled and honored to serve as the assistant superintendent - finance at this dynamic time and am committed to ensuring the public and private resources entrusted to the Seattle Public Schools are effectively utilized to ensure students furthest away from educational justice have the opportunity to thrive.

"I have dedicated my career to making a difference in the Seattle community through my work in enabling educational opportunities for those most in need and I am passionate about doing all that I can to help the district achieve its objective of ensuring that every child, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, language proficiency, learning style or disability, achieves to their highest level.

"I wholeheartedly believe that 'Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.' – Nelson Mandela

Mr. Carter has been an educator for over 25 years, beginning as an elementary teacher in Long Beach, California before returning home to Seattle. He began with Seattle Public Schools in 1997 serving as a teacher, house administrator, and principal. In 2018, Mr. Carter was awarded the Thomas B. Foster Principal of the Year, which honors leadership in accomplishing equity driven outcomes for students.

His leadership extends outside of Seattle Public School as well. Serving as an assistant principal in Highline Public School, as a K-12 regional school director in Federal Way Public Schools, and his leadership work with the Global Cities Education Network. This work focused on learning from high performing educational systems around the world toward identifying and applying what great systems do in support of professional learning and its impact on student achievement.

The past three years, as director of schools, he has provided leadership and support to schools in our southeast, southwest, and central regions. Mr. Carter is a graduate of the University of Washington, holds a master’s degree in education, and principal certification from Western Washington University.

As an educational leader, he believes that our principals are the most important leaders in our system and believes strongly in the spirit and power of collaboration. Executive Director Carter is honored to be able to lead, serve, and support in this role.

Mr. Carter Oversees

The schools in Southwest Seattle

Key Enterprise Level Functions: Our purpose as regional executive directors of schools is to better support our schools and school leaders in the service of students. We do this through regionalize support by way of:

• Student Supports
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Human Resources
• Business and Finance
• Operations

As regional executive directors we act as lead implementation strategists, partner with and empower school leaders in analyzing their schools’ needs, identify trends and patterns, anticipate and respond to the needs of our schools, and work to build and sustain relationships with our families, community partners, and stakeholders.

Personal Statement

"As a lifelong educator, why the work of education is so personal to who I am and what I believe, is grounded in passion and vision for our children to reach their potential and to have the access and opportunity that they deserve.

"Though I have had multiple roles in education going back to volunteer tutoring when in college and coaching sports, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and now in a central office role, my why has always been and continues to be focused on our students and the communities we serve."

Dr. Laura Davis Brown has been in education for more than 30 years and is passionate about serving and supporting the needs of students, families, and educators.

Throughout her experience, Dr. Davis Brown has been fortunate to work in various roles which focus on the equity and achievement of students furthest from educational justice. She has served in various capacities as an equity director, PreK-12 administrator, counselor, social worker, and family advocate.

She is committed to building and supporting our district and district leaders collaboratively to implement changes that will empower the lives of our students, their families, and our community.

Dr. Davis Brown is confident and excited about the opportunity to utilize her professional career experiences, training, and personal qualities to support the Seattle Public Schools vision in the role of regional executive director of schools.

Dr. Davis Brown believes improving the opportunities of students to become academically, socially, and emotionally successful is the cornerstone of education. She is committed and thankful for the opportunity to serve.

Dr. Davis Brown Oversees

The schools in Northwest Seattle

Key Enterprise Level Functions: Our purpose as regional executive directors of schools is to better support our schools and school leaders in the service of students. We do this through regionalize support by way of:

• Student Supports
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Human Resources
• Business and Finance
• Operations

As regional executive directors we act as lead implementation strategists, partner with and empower school leaders in analyzing their schools’ needs, identify trends and patterns, anticipate and respond to the needs of our schools, and work to build and sustain relationships with our families, community partners, and stakeholders.

Personal Statement

"Throughout my educational career I have been fortunate to work in various roles which focus on the equity and achievement of student furthest from educational justice. What matters to me is making sure that we are doing the best we can for our students. I am also passionate about how we engage families in that process, supporting the collaborative efforts between schools, the community and families. This is done by ensuring we are doing our best to provide them with a quality educational experience.

"In my role as an executive director this means working diligently to improve the opportunities of students to become academically, socially. And emotionally successful."

Mr. Del Valle Oversees

Department of Technology Services (DoTS)

Technology plays a critical role in Seattle Public Schools for all members of our community--students, families, staff, and the public. Key functions include:

Technology Resources. Ensure the organization's technology resources are utilized effectively and efficiently, in alignment with the district's strategic goals. By managing these resources, we maximize their impact on student learning and overall operational efficiency. Furthermore, overseeing the operational aspects of daily digital and network assets, guaranteeing uninterrupted availability for students, staff, and families.

Enterprise Project Management (EPMO). Effective management and support for the district's initiatives and programs, utilizing program management best practices to align business and technology resources proficiently with the district's academic goals.

Data Privacy, and Cybersecurity. Prioritize the organization's data privacy and cybersecurity operations, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. Implement proper security measures to safeguard the organization's systems and data, protecting against potential threats.

Promoting Innovation. Actively seeking opportunities for innovative solutions and collaborating with educators, students, and staff to implement these solutions. By driving business growth and improving academic outcomes, we envision a future where technologies like Digital learning resources and Digital Transformation systems can enhance the classroom experience (i.e. Classroom of the Future, AI, Business ERP).

Personal Statement

My vision encompasses the creation of a thriving educational ecosystem, empowering every student within the district to unleash their full potential. This objective is attainable through the strategic alignment of operational excellence and cutting-edge technology with our academic pursuits.

Our aim is to optimize resource allocation, effectively bolstering the learning experience in the classroom and igniting a sense of personal achievement among students.

Having been born in Los Angeles, California and raised in San Jose, Costa Rica, my journey has been marked by diverse experiences.

At the age of 18, I boarded on my service journey by enlisting in the U.S. Army. Following my military service, I embarked on a career in information technology, contributing my expertise to renowned technology giants like Computer Science Corporation and Unisys.

In 2002, I transitioned to the U.S. Air Force civil service, where my responsibilities encompassed business re-engineering, strategic planning, acquisition, and the implementation of forward-looking technologies.

My final role within this domain saw me leading technological initiatives supporting the nation's vital military Space operations under the auspices of US STRATCOM.

My professional trajectory culminated in my retirement from civil service in 2019, after which I undertook the role of chief information officer within the Seattle Public School district. In this capacity, I am fervently dedicated to advancing digital equity and propelling academic as well as operational success through the strategic deployment of technology.

My educational background further fortifies my capabilities, with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems underscoring my commitment to excellence.

Theodore (Ted) joined the Seattle Public Schools leadership team after a two-year central office position in the Tukwila School District. In 2020-22, he served as the chief academic officer. His work experience has been widespread in many roles as an educator. He initially began his employment as an instructional assistant and home school coordinator. He continued his educational career as a teacher, head teacher, high school assistant principal, principal, and president of the Principal Association in the Seattle Schools (PASS).

Born and raised in Seattle, Ted Howard has been a dedicated educator for over 25 years. He received his executive leadership - superintendent certification from City University in 2022. His passion is ensuring all students have the necessary skills to succeed in any goal they set for themselves. This is why he ensured he could teach all kids before entering leadership roles.

Mr. Howard served 16-plus years as principal of Garfield High School. During his tenure, Garfield was recognized for two consecutive years as a School of Distinction. The school received this distinguished honor from the State of Washington for School Improvement. Additionally, Garfield was named one of the top high schools in the United States for over ten years. During his leadership, Garfield won district and state championships in many of their sports and activity programs for both girls and boys. More specifically, Garfield has won the Golden Apple Award as a school demonstrating academic excellence at all levels. Mr. Howard was recognized with the Thomas B Foster Award for Principal Excellence and named the King- Co -4A League Distinguished Principal of the Year. As a result, the governor appointed him to the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board.

Ted has been married to his wife Lee for over 28 years, and they have two children. Their focus has been on education and opening doors for our kids, and they are devoted to a vigorous faith walk.

Mr. Howard Oversees

• Assuring the implementation of procedures associated with policies approved by the School Board and Superintendent Jones
• Performance measures
• Monitoring of district, departmental, and school-based administrative and instructional programs.
• Community and School Partnerships
• Monitoring data tied explicitly to student achievement and school improvement planning
• Ensures district practices comply with board, state, and federal policies

Personal Statement

“I am thrilled daily to be in the education field. This is my passion in life.  Because of my dedication to the students and families of the Seattle Public School District, I am returning to be a part of the Leadership team and to learn and lead in an inclusive environment.

"Overall, my most significant accomplishment outside of my family is a career in education serving kids and families. I cherish having the opportunity to come to work every day and work in an environment where we strive to develop and empower students to reach their goals amidst all the adversity and challenges we face as educators. It is truly an honor to collaborate and serve the Seattle community again.

After serving for one year as part of the Superintendent’s Cabinet in Seattle Public Schools, I am more committed to creating a vision of equitable and differentiated education for students, families, and staff. In new role as the chief accountability officer, I am honored to serve the Seattle Public Schools students, families, and staff.

My key focus is:

• To empower everyone to develop their greatness and serve at their highest capacity while focusing on the vision of goals and guardrails of the Seattle Public Schools.
• To support and provide direction and protection. Training and implementing the principal dashboard to share the site implementation and school improvement results.
• To walk alongside leaders and model respectful dialogue about the learning process with students and adults.
• To embrace the community and different cultures with enthusiasm using focus groups and a myriad of input tools that help guide and measure our progress with our stakeholders

We will develop partnerships and relationships with internal stakeholders to support student achievement based on the Seattle Public School goals and guardrails. Our organization will succeed based on the quality of our relationship with the community.

Katrina M. Hunt, a proud graduate of Ingraham High School, has an intimate connection to Seattle Public Schools, fueling her commitment to equitable education. With a diverse background spanning from dedicated parenting to 14 years of educational leadership, including principal roles at Aki Kurose, Garfield High School, and Washington Middle School, she embodies confidence, collaboration, and hands-on leadership.

Ms. Hunt's career is defined by dismantling opportunity gaps and fostering inclusive learning environments. Through collaborative leadership, she forges strong school-district-community partnerships, driving positive change. As Washington Middle School's Principal, she pioneered inclusive practices, uniting diverse student groups and integrating STEM education through a non-profit collaboration.

Her academic journey includes a Bachelors in Sociology, Masters in Education and Business Administration from the University of Washington, and ongoing doctoral studies at Hampton University. She champions an educational philosophy centered on nurturing every child's holistic growth.

Thrilled by the prospect, Ms. Hunt aspires to contribute her expertise as the regional executive director of schools for Seattle Public Schools.

Director Hunt Oversees

The schools in Southeast Seattle

Key Enterprise Level Functions: Our purpose as regional executive directors of schools is to better support our schools and school leaders in the service of students. We do this through regionalize support by way of:

• Student Supports
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Human Resources
• Business and Finance
• Operations

As regional executive directors we act as lead implementation strategists, partner with and empower school leaders in analyzing their schools’ needs, identify trends and patterns, anticipate and respond to the needs of our schools, and work to build and sustain relationships with our families, community partners, and stakeholders.

Essential Functions

Leadership

• Leads the organization in a manner that engages and empowers others to take action and responsibility to achieve results
• Fosters an organizational culture that exhibits the Seattle Public Schools Core Values and open communications among all stakeholders
• Serves the Seattle Public Schools with integrity, professionalism, respect, and those attributes that inspire confidence and collaboration to achieve organizational goals (‘servant leader’)
• Ensure organizational strategy, objectives, and priorities are clearly communicated to staff to ensure staff focus is continually aligned with the district objectives.
• Visible, accessible, and connected - internally and externally

Operations

• Responsible for the development of an operational team to support program operations, personnel, communications, finance, and human resources staff and functions
• Oversees and acts as consultation for individual school’s  operating budget and ensures compliance with legal and contractual obligations including District contract, bond finance, state and federal regulations
• Responsible for maintaining a safe learning and working environment

Development and Communication

• Develops relationships and maintains a positive image of the district in the local, regional, and national community
• Participates in community affairs that promote the District’s vision and place in our community
• Establish and foster corporate, community and academic partnerships
• Building partnerships to lead the continued development and growth of this climate-focused district.
• Have a deep appreciation for climate change mitigation and the role of education in promoting action and stewardship

Dr. McCarthy has served in public education for over 20 years combining teaching, coaching, mentoring and leading experiences in each level of multiple PK-12 school districts in the Puget Sound Region.

He was both a math and English teacher at the middle and high school levels and became a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in 2008.  Dr. McCarthy entered school administration in 2011 and has served as elementary and middle school principal in diverse urban districts.

In 2019, Dr. McCarthy became the director of K-12 mathematics for a large Puget Sound school district prior to leading in Seattle Public Schools as a director of school, PK-8 starting in 2021.

Dr. McCarthy graduated with a Master’s Degree in 2011 from the University of Washington’s Danforth Educational Leadership Program and is a 2021 graduate of the University of Washington’s Leadership for Learning Doctoral Program.  He is also a Tillman Scholar, recognized in 2020 as one of 50 leaders from across the country for distinguished leadership inside and outside of the military.

He is currently a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and is stationed at Ft. Shafter Hawaii where he teaches policy, ethics, operations and leadership for the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College, an accredited institution of higher learning for active and reserve army officers.

Dr. McCarthy Oversees

The schools in Northeast Seattle

Key Enterprise Level Functions: Our purpose as regional executive directors of schools is to better support our schools and school leaders in the service of students. We do this through regionalize support by way of:

• Student Supports
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Human Resources
• Business and Finance
• Operations

As regional executive directors we act as lead implementation strategists, partner with and empower school leaders in analyzing their schools’ needs, identify trends and patterns, anticipate and respond to the needs of our schools, and work to build and sustain relationships with our families, community partners, and stakeholders.

Personal Statement

Dr. McCarthy’s why grew out of a love for working with students, for seeing them grow, learn and thrive in the classroom, on the athletic field, in social settings, and in the community.

While teaching he would volunteer to take on classes others would not, with students that some said could not or would not learn.  The experiences teaching and then leading schools elevated an urgency to tackle the great discrepancy in opportunities, resources, beliefs about student abilities and the outcomes these beliefs lead to for students.  As a result, Mike continues to aspire to leverage high quality learning by building and sustaining the capacity of school leaders closest to the classroom and to the communities they serve.

He believes every school community deserves a school leader who is committed to excellence in outcomes for all kids and whom is willing to lead for educational justice, ensuring success for all, especially for those that have been historically underserved. He will continue to lead for the disruption of systems that value only the individual or that isolate and marginalize, while drawing on a broad base of research, knowledge and community capital that suggests collaborative and collective ways of teaching, leading and learning are critical to realizing the community we know can exist in the future.

Dr. McCarthy combines irrational hope with fierce determination knowing we can make an incredible difference in our world if we work collectively, with and for, the most valuable resource we have—our children.

Dr. James Mercer is a champion for children. He brings over 24 years of experience working with kids from underserved communities into his role as the regional executive director of schools.

He has worked as an educator in four different states with drastically different standards for students, teachers, and leaders. These differences proved to be the catalyst that encouraged him to enter the path of educational leadership.

Dr. Mercer has served as an elementary and middle school teacher, middle school assistant principal and principal, and a central office administrator. Additionally, he is a skilled facilitator who has worked with hundreds of administrators across the nation to improve their instructional leadership practices.

Dr. Mercer earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary and early childhood education from the University of Toledo. He earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from Georgia State University and his doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University.

Dr. Mercer Oversees

The schools in Central Seattle

Key Enterprise Level Functions: Our purpose as regional executive directors of schools is to better support our schools and school leaders in the service of students. We do this through regionalize support by way of:

• Student Supports
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Human Resources
• Business and Finance
• Operations

As regional executive directors we act as lead implementation strategists, partner with and empower school leaders in analyzing their schools’ needs, identify trends and patterns, anticipate and respond to the needs of our schools, and work to build and sustain relationships with our families, community partners, and stakeholders.

Personal Statement

"As a career educator, I bring experience as an elementary school teacher, middle school teacher, assistant principal, principal, and central office leader to my role as the regional executive director of schools for the Central Region.

"My why is centered on ensuring that all children receive a high-quality engaging education experience that prepares them to live a healthy, happy, and productive life.  To accomplish this, I supervise, serve, and support school leaders as they balance instructional leadership responsibilities with the operational realities of leading their schools."

Fred Podesta has devoted his career to public service by working more than 37 years as an employee and consultant to local and state government agencies in a variety of operations leadership roles overseeing infrastructure, finance, technology, customer service, and regulatory functions.

More than 25 of those years were spent with the City of Seattle, and offered Mr. Podesta a great opportunity to learn about our community and the contributions of Seattle Public Schools. Mr. Podesta is a proud graduate of the University of Washington.

Chief Podesta Oversees

• Admissions/Enrollment Services
• Business and Finance
• Capital Projects and Planning
• Culinary Services
• Enrollment Planning/Forecasting
• Facility Operations
• Information Technology and Optimization
• Safety and Security
• School Operations
• Transportation

Personal Statement

"Public education represents the best of our civic life. No other local institution is better positioned than Seattle Public Schools to foster an equitable community, enrich our neighborhoods, and establish our future. The positive impact of high-quality instruction in a welcoming and safe environment is profound.

"For our schools to deliver on their promise, the district must be a high-performing organization that supports students, families, educators, and school leaders with effective operations, visionary planning, sound financial management, and empowering tools. My mission as chief operations officer is to lead teams that provide that support."