Photo: staff gather at Rising Star Elementary during an assembly & surprise Foster award celebration in May

Dear Roxanne,

I've been reflecting on the power of community lately.

Someone once shared with me that one of the best things you can do in education, equity, and organizing work is to collaborate with others. I remember that often as we call on our community for care, for feedback and for celebrating wins big and small.

As we close another school year, I want to honor how our community has celebrated the highs and cared for one another during the low times.

It has been a busy spring filled with many celebrations, and I hope you'll join in celebrating them with us below.

In Community,



Yonas Fikak

Vice President of Impact

Alliance for Education

We awarded two Seattle Public Schools principals the 2024 Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence, each receiving a $25,000 award grant for their schools.

This school year’s award recipients are Principal Eyva Winet at Nova High School and Principal Huyen Lam at Rising Star Elementary School.

The award commemorates Thomas B. Foster and honors leaders who have demonstrated success in advancing educational justice and racial equity in their school community.

We also awarded six outstanding Seattle Public Schools educators and counselors with Philip B. Swain Excellence in Education and Adrienne Weaver Science Teaching Awards. The awards total nearly $18,000 in grants to classrooms outside of their traditional school budgets.

Both awards honor SPS staff who have demonstrated success in advancing educational justice and racial equity in their school communities and classrooms. 

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