Rainy Day Recess
@rainydayrecess.bsky.social
Rainy Day Recess aims to increase public understanding of Seattle Public Schools and the broader factors impacting public education. Christie Robertson & Jasmine Pulido, Ex-Seattle Hall Pass
For those wondering how to keep up with Seattle Public Schools now, a new publication is starting up here!
Welcome to The Bulletin! We're an is an independent publication covering Seattle Public Schools launched in November 2025 by progressive SPS parents. You can subscribe here -- all articles are free! thebulletinsea.org
We'll also do some live coverage here on Bluesky of SPS board meetings.
We'll also do some live coverage here on Bluesky of SPS board meetings.
November 20, 2025 at 8:22 PM
For those wondering how to keep up with Seattle Public Schools now, a new publication is starting up here!
New episode!
In 1995, Seattle hired a retired Army general to run its schools.
In just three years, John Stanford reshaped the district — and his ghost still lingers in its policies today.
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
In 1995, Seattle hired a retired Army general to run its schools.
In just three years, John Stanford reshaped the district — and his ghost still lingers in its policies today.
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
A Forensic Analysis of SPS with Vivian Van Gelder, Part 1 - Rainy Day Recess
In this first installment of our three-part series unpacking Left to Chance: Student Outcomes in Seattle Public Schools (2024), hosts Christie Robertson and Jasmine Pulido sit down with report author ...
www.rainydayrecess.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:35 PM
New episode!
In 1995, Seattle hired a retired Army general to run its schools.
In just three years, John Stanford reshaped the district — and his ghost still lingers in its policies today.
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
In 1995, Seattle hired a retired Army general to run its schools.
In just three years, John Stanford reshaped the district — and his ghost still lingers in its policies today.
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Summer/Fall Update with RDR news - www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Summer Recap & Big Changes Ahead - Rainy Day Recess
Co-hosts Christie, Cherylynne, and Jasmine give updates on some SPS developments over the summer, school board election results, and a big change coming soon to Rainy Day Recess.Summer School Board Me...
www.rainydayrecess.org
September 10, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Summer/Fall Update with RDR news - www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
District 5 (roughly east Seattle) School Board Candidate interviews are out! Check out all 6 candidates - Allycea Weil, Janis White, Julissa Sanchez, Landon Labosky, Vivian Song, and Vivian Van Gelder on rainydayrecess.org.
July 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
District 5 (roughly east Seattle) School Board Candidate interviews are out! Check out all 6 candidates - Allycea Weil, Janis White, Julissa Sanchez, Landon Labosky, Vivian Song, and Vivian Van Gelder on rainydayrecess.org.
District 4 (roughly central Seattle) School Board Candidate interviews are out! Check out Laura Marie Rivera, Bill Campbell, and Joe Mizrahi on rainydayrecess.org.
July 16, 2025 at 5:38 PM
District 4 (roughly central Seattle) School Board Candidate interviews are out! Check out Laura Marie Rivera, Bill Campbell, and Joe Mizrahi on rainydayrecess.org.
You can find interviews with all District 2 (NW Seattle) Seattle school board candidates now on rainydayrecess.org.
July 14, 2025 at 7:19 PM
You can find interviews with all District 2 (NW Seattle) Seattle school board candidates now on rainydayrecess.org.
🎧 NEW EPISODE: Seattle Public Schools is quietly eliminating specialized classrooms for newcomer students. We examine this policy change and speak with teachers and former students about what's being lost.
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Bilingual Orientation Centers Slated for Closure This Fall - Rainy Day Recess
Seattle Public Schools is quietly eliminating specialized programs for newcomer students - recent immigrants with limited English skills who need intensive support. Teachers at Dunlap Elementary broug...
www.rainydayrecess.org
June 16, 2025 at 3:29 PM
🎧 NEW EPISODE: Seattle Public Schools is quietly eliminating specialized classrooms for newcomer students. We examine this policy change and speak with teachers and former students about what's being lost.
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Check out the new Public Records Request portal for Seattle Public Schools! seattleschools.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/(...
Seattle Public Schools | Public Records Center
Support Home Page
seattleschools.govqa.us
June 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Check out the new Public Records Request portal for Seattle Public Schools! seattleschools.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/(...
🎧 New episode: www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
We break down how SPS plans to close its $104M deficit — plus the board’s debate over new accountability metrics for the district’s strategic plan.
We break down how SPS plans to close its $104M deficit — plus the board’s debate over new accountability metrics for the district’s strategic plan.
School Board - Budget Work Session + Guardrails - Rainy Day Recess
In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, we dive into the Seattle Public Schools board’s May 21 special meeting. Hear the latest on the district’s 2025–26 budget proposal, which balances through one-time ...
www.rainydayrecess.org
June 2, 2025 at 5:16 PM
🎧 New episode: www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
We break down how SPS plans to close its $104M deficit — plus the board’s debate over new accountability metrics for the district’s strategic plan.
We break down how SPS plans to close its $104M deficit — plus the board’s debate over new accountability metrics for the district’s strategic plan.
Our first student story, by Rafael Brewer - www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Student Stories: Quincy Jones Theatre Disrepair - Rainy Day Recess
In this student-reported episode, Garfield High School sophomore Rafael Brewer takes us inside the Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center, a space used for theater, music, assemblies, and community event...
www.rainydayrecess.org
May 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Our first student story, by Rafael Brewer - www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Always interesting things to think about in these Edunomics presentations. vimeo.com/1079889973/6...
4/29/25 30-min webinar
This is "4/29/25 30-min webinar" by Edunomics Lab on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
vimeo.com
May 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Always interesting things to think about in these Edunomics presentations. vimeo.com/1079889973/6...
School Board Candidates - WSSDA is having candidate training workshops wssda.org/community-me...
Candidate Workshops - WSSDA
Empowering School Directors to Champion Student Success
wssda.org
May 18, 2025 at 2:01 AM
School Board Candidates - WSSDA is having candidate training workshops wssda.org/community-me...
If anybody is interested in seeing the Northshore superintendent search process, their town hall was last night, and they are selecting a superintendent tonight - www.youtube.com/channel/UCtl...
Northshore School District
www.youtube.com
May 14, 2025 at 4:48 PM
If anybody is interested in seeing the Northshore superintendent search process, their town hall was last night, and they are selecting a superintendent tonight - www.youtube.com/channel/UCtl...
4 races, 17 candidates, 4 primaries. Rdr may need to recruit a elections reporter.
Final Friday update!
In District 2, Kathleen Smith joins the race!
In District 4, Bill Campbell has thrown his name into the ring!
In District 7, we have TWO new candidates! Kimberly Early and Carol Rava!
That means we're going to have FOUR PRIMARIES! EXCITING!!!
In District 2, Kathleen Smith joins the race!
In District 4, Bill Campbell has thrown his name into the ring!
In District 7, we have TWO new candidates! Kimberly Early and Carol Rava!
That means we're going to have FOUR PRIMARIES! EXCITING!!!
May 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
4 races, 17 candidates, 4 primaries. Rdr may need to recruit a elections reporter.
Rising tensions over enrollment and school choice in SPS open.substack.com/pub/rainyday...
Rising tensions over enrollment and school choice in SPS
Board Directors Sarah Clark and Joe Mizrahi throw down the gauntlet on SPS enrollment practices
open.substack.com
May 9, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Rising tensions over enrollment and school choice in SPS open.substack.com/pub/rainyday...
Rainy Day Recess wraps up the 2025 WA legislative session and breaks down what was funded—and what wasn’t—for public schools.
Special ed, MSOC, transportation, levy lids, and more.
Listen: www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Show notes: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Special ed, MSOC, transportation, levy lids, and more.
Listen: www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Show notes: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Big 3 Final Briefing - Paramount Duty, Deferred - Rainy Day Recess
In this final Big 3 Briefing of the 2025 legislative session, we walk through where things landed for education funding in Washington state. We cover what passed around special education, MSOC, and tr...
www.rainydayrecess.org
May 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Rainy Day Recess wraps up the 2025 WA legislative session and breaks down what was funded—and what wasn’t—for public schools.
Special ed, MSOC, transportation, levy lids, and more.
Listen: www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Show notes: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Special ed, MSOC, transportation, levy lids, and more.
Listen: www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Show notes: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
In which we do our very darndest to decifer the eduspeak for you to get to what really drives school choice decisions in Seattle Public Schools www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Explaining the Enrollment Plan Enigma - Rainy Day Recess
In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, we take a closer look at the Seattle Public Schools April 23 school board meeting, with the major focus on the Enrollment Planning presentation given at the end of...
www.rainydayrecess.org
April 30, 2025 at 10:29 PM
In which we do our very darndest to decifer the eduspeak for you to get to what really drives school choice decisions in Seattle Public Schools www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
For those itching for a detailed rundown re: education funding in the final budget, courtesy of WSSDA and WASA. Recorded a few days ago, but only a couple things changed (e.g. apportionment shift in 2050 was removed) tinyurl.com/insession202...
Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom ...
tinyurl.com
April 29, 2025 at 2:12 AM
For those itching for a detailed rundown re: education funding in the final budget, courtesy of WSSDA and WASA. Recorded a few days ago, but only a couple things changed (e.g. apportionment shift in 2050 was removed) tinyurl.com/insession202...
What is the deal with waitlists in Seattle Public Schools? Dawson Nichols and many community contributors take on this subject in this video episode of Rainy Day Recess. www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8sK...
Waitlists in Seattle Public Schools, by Dawson Nichols
YouTube video by Rainy Day Recess
www.youtube.com
April 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
What is the deal with waitlists in Seattle Public Schools? Dawson Nichols and many community contributors take on this subject in this video episode of Rainy Day Recess. www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8sK...
Reposted by Rainy Day Recess
Omg this video episode of @rainydayrecess.bsky.social has unresolved mysteries & enlightening interviews about the innocuous-seeming topic of waitlists! Enrollment planning muzzled by district lawyers (why??), and its staffers’ identities hidden!? m.youtube.com/watch?v=N8sK...
Waitlists in Seattle Public Schools, by Dawson Nichols
YouTube video by Rainy Day Recess
m.youtube.com
April 24, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Omg this video episode of @rainydayrecess.bsky.social has unresolved mysteries & enlightening interviews about the innocuous-seeming topic of waitlists! Enrollment planning muzzled by district lawyers (why??), and its staffers’ identities hidden!? m.youtube.com/watch?v=N8sK...
Great montage from Billion Dollar Bake Sale www.billiondollarbakesalewa.com - www.instagram.com/reel/DISCzJ0...
www.billiondollarbakesalewa.com
April 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Great montage from Billion Dollar Bake Sale www.billiondollarbakesalewa.com - www.instagram.com/reel/DISCzJ0...
The 3 superintendent search firm finalists vary in price and community engagement strategies. www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Hiring a Headhunter - Rainy Day Recess
Podcast Co-hosts Christie and Jasmine discuss the April 9th, 2025 school board meeting where the board reviewed proposals from executive search firms and started the process of choosing who will help ...
www.rainydayrecess.org
April 15, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The 3 superintendent search firm finalists vary in price and community engagement strategies. www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
What have we learned after 13 weeks of tracking education funding in Olympia?
The short answer: Change is rung-by-rung.
The longer answer is in our latest episode of Rainy Day Recess.
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
The short answer: Change is rung-by-rung.
The longer answer is in our latest episode of Rainy Day Recess.
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Big 3 Briefing, Week 13 - Rung by Rung - Rainy Day Recess
As budget negotiations reach their final phase, we recap where the Big 3 bills—special education, transportation, and MSOC—stand and what’s still on the table. We also reflect on the highs, lows, and ...
www.rainydayrecess.org
April 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
What have we learned after 13 weeks of tracking education funding in Olympia?
The short answer: Change is rung-by-rung.
The longer answer is in our latest episode of Rainy Day Recess.
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
The short answer: Change is rung-by-rung.
The longer answer is in our latest episode of Rainy Day Recess.
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
SE Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance (sessfa.org) is hosting their fifth annual Move-a-Thon. Check out our interview with co-organizer Heather Hart to learn more about what makes this event so unique. www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
The SESSFA Move-a-Thon! - Rainy Day Recess
We shine the community spotlight on the Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance (SESSFA) and their annual Move-a-Thon — a creative fundraising event that supports 17 public schools in Southeast...
www.rainydayrecess.org
April 7, 2025 at 11:58 PM
SE Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance (sessfa.org) is hosting their fifth annual Move-a-Thon. Check out our interview with co-organizer Heather Hart to learn more about what makes this event so unique. www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Check out this community training for school board candidates or candidate-maybes - www.championsforeducationalempowerment.org/trainings.html
We interviewed founder Debbie Carlsen for this community spotlight -
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
We interviewed founder Debbie Carlsen for this community spotlight -
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
Community Spotlight: Champions for Educational Empowerment's school board training series - Rainy Day Recess
Debbie Carlsen introduces "Learning Together," a free training series for prospective school board director candidates. Debbie shares her experience as a former candidate and explains how Champions fo...
www.rainydayrecess.org
April 4, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Check out this community training for school board candidates or candidate-maybes - www.championsforeducationalempowerment.org/trainings.html
We interviewed founder Debbie Carlsen for this community spotlight -
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...
We interviewed founder Debbie Carlsen for this community spotlight -
www.rainydayrecess.org/2230213/epis...