A Message from Ben Shuldiner

Dear Seattle Public Schools Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. I am both happy and extremely saddened to write to you this week.

At 12:58 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, October 15, 2026, an armed teenager shot through a window of his former elementary school and murdered three children and a teacher before being shot and killed by a community member.

The tragedy and heartache felt by the Bend-La Pine Schools community is overwhelming. Sadly, we in Seattle, as well as districts across the country, have experienced similar unconscionable events and know the grief and anger they are going through. I know I speak for all of you when I say our love and condolences go to those impacted, but also to our entire country that continues to struggle under the weight of these too frequent occurrences.

Because of the events in Oregon, I think it is appropriate to discuss our own safety and security, what we have done, continue to do, and may do differently to address such a dreadful attack.

The good news is that many of our schools have a level of safety that did not exist a few years ago. We have some secure vestibules, fences, intercom systems, cameras, sign-in technology, and countless practices and drills of shelter-in-place and lockdowns.

We have "hardened" many buildings to make it more difficult to enter unannounced. We have a larger School Safety Department and a closer relationship with the Seattle Police Department than we have had in years, helping us deal with emergencies and hopefully stop things before they occur.

And of course, there is more to be done.

In Oregon, the timeline of what seemed to have occurred (based on what I have read and been briefed on) can show us what may have helped avoid further harm and what didn't so that we can learn from the awfulness.

As the assailant approached the building, they had to jump a fence. This seemed to slow the shooter and was noticed by a community member. The teenager shot through windows rather than using the doors, which were presumably locked. Once inside, it seems the school followed the generally accepted practice of "Run, Hide, Fight" or "ALICE" -- Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. The school went into lockdown within minutes (initial reports said less than 120 seconds). A teacher reportedly threw a cell phone at the shooter and tried to tackle them, while a community member came in and ultimately shot the attacker. Police responded within minutes to secure the school.

So, what can we learn? Fences may help, preparedness may help, hardening buildings may help, swift action may help, a thoughtful, caring, and watchful community may help, and a close relationship with law enforcement may help.

But of course, it did not stop murder. We still need to ask how the child got the weapon. Was it locked away? Was it stored well? There are reports this gun was bought around the child's 16th birthday. Was this a present of sorts? What training, support, and expectations accompanied the purchase of the Mossberg Maverick 88 pump-action shotgun?

And of course, there are deeper, systemic issues around support for the child before these acts occurred. What mental and emotional supports existed? Was the child showing concerning signs of distress? But I want to be clear, no matter these supports, if a 16-year-old has unfettered access to weapons, there is a much greater chance they will be used.

From the moment I arrived in Seattle, I have tried my best to address gun violence. But we need to do more. Over the next few months, we will be rolling out a district-wide informational support program, increasing training, and using new technologies to protect our students and staff.

And I ask for all of your help. If you have a gun, lock it up. If you know of a child struggling who needs support, please let us and others know. If you have information about weapons, an attack, or a threat, let us know. We must be vigilant, but also understanding. We need to distinguish between a false threat and a real one. The more we know our students, staff, and community, the better we can protect one another.

We are truly in this together.

Thank you all for believing in SPS. With your help and hard work, SPS truly will be the best urban public school district in the country.

Ben

We’re excited to kick off this year’s search for SPS All-Stars—district staff who go above and beyond their call of duty and exemplify our core values of excellence, teamwork, and commitment.

This month, we’re spotlighting our Super Support Staff—those who may not be in the classroom but play a vital role in building a positive culture across our schools.

Submit nominations by Friday, Nov. 13, and help us celebrate the incredible individuals who make SPS shine!

Nomination form link: SPS All-Star Nomination: Super Support Staff – Fill out form

We’re proud to celebrate Keenen Allen Ladd, Kingmakers Facilitator at Denny International Middle School, for being named a Washingtonian of the Year. The statewide honor recognizes Keenen’s leadership, service, and positive impact on the community.

Join us in congratulating Keenen on this outstanding achievement!

Read the Full Story

For more than a decade, Interagency Academy’s Recovery Campus has provided a place where students can pursue their education while building community and recovery. Now, Washington’s only public recovery high school is being recognized with accreditation from the Association of Recovery Schools.

Read more about this milestone and the difference the Recovery Campus is making for students and families.

Seattle Public Schools invites students, families, staff, and community members to join the next Superintendent Community Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. These meetings provide an opportunity to share feedback directly with district leadership and help shape the future of SPS schools and services.

Building on conversations from previous meetings, the Oct. 27 session will continue discussions around academic rigor, school design, and school safety and security. Community input will help inform future engagement opportunities and district planning efforts.

To support broad participation, language interpretation in Amharic, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese, as well as American Sign Language (ASL) services, will be available. Light refreshments and activities for children will also be provided.

Your voice matters. We hope you'll join the conversation.

View the full meeting schedule and learn more on the SPS website.

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day (Monday, Oct. 12), we highlighted a meaningful partnership between Ingraham High School and Chief Kitsap Academy of the Suquamish Tribe on our district Facebook and Instagram pages.

Students came together for a day of learning, cultural exchange, and community, including a special performance during Ingraham's homecoming assembly.

This exchange is part of the ongoing Ocean to Table Program, which will continue later this month when Ingraham students visit Chief Kitsap Academy.

Thank you to the students and educators who are building connections, sharing knowledge, and learning from one another.