This article is one of a series of articles produced by Word in Black through support provided by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Word In Black is a collaborative of 10 Black-owned media outlets across the country.
By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
As he enters his fourth year as Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, Dr. Brent Jones remains focused on navigating the district through tough financial challenges while prioritizing the needs of students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
Despite facing a budget deficit, inheriting the district during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, teacher strikes, and incidents of violence in and around schools, Jones remains optimistic.
“I’m doing good, I’m all good,” says Jones, as he reflects on his tenure as superintendent.
“I’m in my fourth year, we’ve experienced teacher strikes, violence in and around our schools, in spite of it all we are doing pretty well,” continued Jones. “So, Brent, who is a hometown kid from Seattle, went to Seattle Public Schools, son of a teacher, parent of a Seattle Public School’s graduate, all of this is somewhat my ministry to make sure that we have enduring support for our students.”
Seattle Public Schools is currently facing a significant budget deficit, and Jones acknowledges that the district will continue having to make difficult decisions in order to balance the budget. While it would be easy to blame the ongoing deficit issues on promises made by his predecessors to maintain neighborhood schools despite not having the enrollment to support them, Jones remains committed to leveraging the resources the district does have in the most effective ways to increase student outcomes.
“I feel like we collectively have been effective in terms of keeping things stable throughout all of these budget deficits, and we’ve still been able to keep our eyes on the prize,” says Jones. “Our business is teaching and learning. I feel like I have been successful in keeping our focus there, in spite of a lot of different challenges. These are unprecedented times, but I’m holding steady with lots of community support, lots of internal support from our teachers and principals, and we are in a good rhythm right now.”
A cornerstone of Jones’s strategy for managing these challenges is the district’s five-year strategic plan, Seattle Excellence. The plan aims to improve academic and life outcomes for students of color by addressing systemic racism and ensuring every Seattle Public Schools graduate is prepared for college, a career, and community participation. The plan specifically targets providing resources and support for students of color, particularly African American boys and teens, who are furthest from educational justice.
“This is a matter of can we get the resources that we need in order to support the programs that we have in place,” Jones says. “Making sure that services that we’re mandated to provide are always there, consistent and predictable, and we are always mindful that we were the first district in the country to have a policy on racial equity, and that is our foundation.”
Among the key initiatives under this strategic plan is the African American Male Achievement (AAMA) program, which aims to enhance the academic potential of Black boys and teens through targeted support and systemic change. Launched about four years ago, the AAMA program has been a driving force for deeper systemic reflection within Seattle Public Schools, prompting a more inclusive approach throughout the district.
“We want to make sure that we have support that is not just for our mainstream kids but for those who are historically marginalized and are on the margins,” Jones says. “We’re thinking about how do we have practices that are inclusionary at all times in the structural elements of SPS all the way down into the classrooms. So that is the challenge, and it’s been a labor of love.”
Jones believes the AAMA program has strengthened the district’s overall strategic approach by focusing on the needs of marginalized students.
“The fact that we have an African American Male Achievement office focusing on the needs, the sense of belonging, the welcoming environment, and the academic proficiency of our students has made our system better,” added Jones.
Community support has been a crucial factor in Seattle Public Schools’ efforts to ensure all students receive the academic and social support they need to succeed. Jones recognizes the significant role that local partners, community organizations, and Seattle residents have played in supporting the district’s mission, especially in challenging times.
“I believe the city of Seattle recognizes that most of our students are doing really well,” says Jones. “They also recognize that some students aren’t, and our city has been open to understanding and providing support through levies, through philanthropic donations, and through the will of our staff to lean into making sure our students who have historically not had the opportunity to have access to the highest quality of programs and instruction have the support that they need.”
Transparency and accountability are central to Jones’s leadership approach. He stresses the importance of keeping the community informed about both the successes and the challenges faced by the district. However, he admits that, historically, Seattle Public Schools has struggled to effectively communicate its achievements, particularly when it comes to closing achievement gaps and enhancing academic outcomes for all students.
“SPS is guilty of not telling the ‘good story,’” Jones concedes. “And one of the things that’s happening around accountability is we have set up infrastructure that has an accountability office, a plans and program office, and an office that is making sure we have strategy. We haven’t had that level of specificity before, so one of the officials is leading our accountability office, making sure we are measuring if these strategies that we are using are having the impact we predicted they would.”
Jones emphasizes the importance of accountability in driving continuous improvement. By focusing on measurable outcomes and evidence-based practices, Seattle Public Schools aims to better understand the needs of its students and implement strategies that foster educational equity and access.
“We are ready for the opening of school, we are ready for a strong start,” says Jones with confidence. “I think parents are going to be able to see a smooth opening to the first day of school. Children are going to come home and say ‘that things went smoothly.’”
“We have taken a strategic and intentional approach to making sure we have safety measures in place, and it’s going to be visible, and people are going to see that,” he adds. “I’m just excited about our readiness to serve our students.”