The appointment of a new principal at Adams Elementary drew extensive public comment and debate at a Seattle Public Schools board meeting on Wednesday, as parents raised concerns about the selection process and the incoming leader’s past record.
Earlier this month, Superintendent Ben Shuldiner announced that longtime Adams Elementary principal Doug Sohn will step down at the end of the school year after eight years in the role and five years as assistant principal.
The district named Anitra Jones as the next principal. According to the district’s announcement, Jones brings more than 25 years of experience with Seattle Public Schools and most recently served as an administrator supporting Rainier Beach High School. She is expected to begin transitioning into the role ahead of the 2026–27 school year.
During public comment during the SPS board meeting on Wednesday, April 22, several Adams Elementary parents said they were concerned about both the selection process and Jones’ prior tenure at Rainier View Elementary.
One parent, Josh Callahan, said concerns are “centered in Ms. Jones’ record,” and questioned whether issues documented during her previous role were reflected in her personnel record. He also cited concerns about student discipline practices, including inconsistent documentation of classroom exclusions.
“It’s unacceptable to expect elementary-aged students to know their rights or speak up for their own fair treatment,” Callahan said. “How can we have confidence in this appointment when trust has been broken… and now by appointment out of legal obligation.”
Parent Christine Tryba said Adams Elementary was the only school among a recent group of principal appointments that did not include an interview process. She also referenced past labor complaints tied to Jones’ leadership at Rainier View Elementary.
“It’s unclear why this contractual obligation exists and why our community or any elementary school should have to withstand their principal after a documented history of discrimination and a toxic work environment that resulted in astounding staff turnover,” Tryba said.
A 2024 decision from the Washington Public Employment Relations Commission examined events at Rainier View Elementary during the 2022–2023 school year. The decision found that the district engaged in unlawful discrimination against certain employees in connection with protected union activity, including discipline and negative evaluations issued in reprisal for that activity.
The ruling also references concerns raised during that time about workplace conditions and staff turnover at the school. The decision notes that a union investigation found approximately 77% of staff left Rainier View Elementary during the 2022–2023 school year.
Another parent, Mike Lind, expressed concern about the potential impact on staff, saying the Adams community has longstanding relationships with teachers.
“We simply cannot afford to lose these cherished teachers if our staff do not feel valued by their administrator or scared of retaliation,” Lind said.
District leadership addressed both the concerns raised by parents and the tone of recent community meetings.
Shuldiner said he understood the frustration around a decision being made without a traditional hiring process.
“I understand that when a decision is made to impart a leader on a school rather than go through the more traditional process, that causes even more consternation because… the voice of the community is not being heard,” he said.
At the same time, he defended Jones’ professional record, noting that her evaluations have been consistently strong and highlighting multiple awards she has received during her career.
He also expressed concern about how Jones was treated during a recent community meeting, describing interruptions and comments from the audience as “uneasy,” particularly in the context of race.
“You had a Black principal… being interrupted,” he said, adding that comments directed at Jones during the meeting felt “insulting” and raised concerns about how community dialogue was unfolding.
Seattle Public Schools Chief of Staff Bev Redmond echoed those concerns, saying she found the tone of the interaction troubling.
“As a Black female, sitting in that space, watching another Black female be addressed in a way that I thought was insulting, undignified… that was discouraging,” Redmond said.
Redmond urged the Adams community to engage in further dialogue with Jones.
“What I’m hoping for that community and for Principal Jones is… give her the chance, give her the conversation, suspend the judgment,” she said.
Jones is expected to begin working with Adams Elementary staff in the coming weeks as part of her transition into the role.
Photo: Adams Elementary School / Google Image Capture