Viewlands Elementary Principal Carrie Wheeler has been named one of the recipients of the 2025 Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence, receiving a $25,000 unrestricted grant for the school from the Alliance for Education.
The Alliance for Education, the local education fund supporting Seattle Public Schools, said the award recognizes principals who have demonstrated success in advancing educational justice and racial equity in their school communities. The endowed award has been given to Seattle Public Schools principals since 1999 and commemorates Seattle attorney Thomas B. Foster.
According to the Alliance, Wheeler was recognized for “her deep commitment to creating a school community where every student and family feels seen, valued, and included.” The organization said parents highlighted her leadership in supporting multilingual learners, elevating historically underrepresented voices, and fostering a school culture where diversity is embraced as a strength.
The Alliance also cited initiatives at Viewlands including CoGen, a student advisory group for Black and Latinx fourth- and fifth-grade students; family engagement nights and parent communications; celebrations of cultural traditions including Dia De Los Muertos, Lunar New Year, and Ramadan; and partnerships to expand access to arts and music enrichment.
“This year, we are proud to recognize Principal Wheeler … for ‘walking the talk’ about equity,” said Yonas Fikak, vice president of impact at Alliance for Education, in a press release. “Both principals lead with intention and care to support students who have too often been pushed to the margins, underserved or failed by our systems.”
Award recipients were selected through colleague and community nominations as well as school-level data metrics including equity and antiracism climate surveys and standardized test proficiency in math and English language arts, according to the Alliance.
Photo courtesy Ian Coon