What's Up With This?

Why is the best known national public education leader (Randi Weingarten) and the new superintendent of the largest public school district in Washington State on a panel for selective regional private schools? 

I am also hearing that members of the Board have been invited. 

Is this a paid gig for Shuldiner? 

Things that make you go, hmmmmmm
 

Comments

Anonymous said…
I agree Melissa.

The superintendent just got here. I prefer for him to stay in Seattle and focus on the district.

- Very Disappointed
9/29/26, 10:11 AM
Outsider said…
It is odd that the likes of Weingarten and Shuldiner would appear at an event like this, or that board members would take much interest. UCDS is runs a very pricey private PS-5 school, with 7:1 ratio of students to teachers, and tuition of more than $43K per year. Their rhetoric about students and learning is vaguely Montessori-like. An unbridgeable gulf exists between these gourmet offerings for the wealthy and the MREs forced on public school families. Shuldiner has, for example, continued Denise Juneau's ban on walk-to math in SPS elementary schools, and insists on strict fidelity to the new ELA curriculum. Most discussion about the latter has focused on reduction in recess, but it would also seem to block out any opportunity for acceleration, advanced learning, or individualization of any kind. Shuldiner has continued a one-size-fits-all vision for SPS that contrasts completely with the highly individualized vision of UCDS. It's not clear what Shuldiner could possibly say to UCDS parents, or what he could possibly learn from their operation.

SPS superintendent tends to be a not-for-long type of job, so you couldn't blame Shuldiner for trying to remain visible and maintain his network. But UCDS seems to be a modest operation with limited value for career advancement. Their endowment is only $13 million (i.e. no $billionaire gravy train sitting behind it). It wouldn't be a surprise if Weingarten at least will be paid an honorarium for her appearance.

If there is any ethical risk, it's probably this: UCDS has a non-profit business wrapped around their school, which possibly sells PD for teachers, math manipulatives, and master's degrees in education. The event in question seems like essentially a promotional event. Nothing wrong with that, of course -- if they have something to offer, they would want to promote it. But it would be awkward if Shuldiner accepted an honorarium for his appearance and later SPS purchased products or services from UCDS. I would guess Shuldiner is too honest and/or smart to do that, however.
9/30/26, 11:05 AM
Stuart J said…
This event description is on Instagram. The edit says only for members of the UCDS community.

ucds_seattle

and 2 others
Seattle, Washington
ucds_seattle's profile picture
ucds_seattle

Edited
•
18h
Due to space limitations, this event is intended for the UCDS community.

We’re excited to bring our community together next week for a conversation about the future of education and the changes that are shaping schools right now. Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how people think about learning, teaching, and the value of knowledge, while educators are navigating new pressures and preparing students for a future we can’t fully predict. The conversation will explore how we can embrace technological change without losing the human relationships, intellectual curiosity, hands-on learning, and great teachers at the heart of education.

Moderated by Dr. Vin Gupta, Senior Medical Analyst with @msnownews, the panel will bring together national and regional leaders Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers @aftunion; Ben Shuldiner, Superintendent of @seattlepublicschools; Katie Morrison, Ph.D., Dean of the UCDS Graduate School of Education @ucds.institute; Sam Uzwack, Head of School @eastsidepreparatoryschool; and Gretchen Warner, Head of School @theoverlakeschool.

As we think about AI at UCDS, we’re especially interested in how technology can support educators without replacing the deeply human work of teaching and learning. For our students, that means continuing to do what we do best: make plenty of room for asking questions, testing ideas, building things by hand, working through challenges, and learning alongside one another. We’re looking forward to a thoughtful conversation about what education should hold onto, what it might need to rethink, and how we can prepare children and teachers for what comes next.
9/30/26, 12:47 PM
Stuart J said…
I have another comment. UCDS is pre k through grade 5. Every one of their students sometime in fifth grade has to decide where to go: Public? Private? Move? Home school or online? Maybe this is an opportunity to build bridges to the private school community and for bridge building to families who might consider sending their children into SPS at some point. The event is in Seattle. So, maybe there's not a lot of downside and some possible upside.

I do hope someone who goes can publish a report.
9/30/26, 1:15 PM
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