Liza Rankin - Seattle School Board Vice President
As an advocate, parent of two SPS students, past PTA and Seattle Council PTSA leader, and Seattle School Board Director, Vice President, and Legislative Liaison, I have spent a decade engaging with and working alongside families and educators all over Seattle, since the day my older son was enrolled in an inclusive toddler program, for children with and without disabilities.
I first ran for School Board in 2019, committed to holding the district accountable to its strategic plan centered on equity, to increasing inclusion for students with disabilities, and to addressing racial disproportionality in programs and discipline. During my first term, I have made good on those commitments, even while navigating the challenges and ever-changing demands of being a school district leader during a global pandemic.
Liza and other key advocates and supporters for special education funding at the 2023 signing of ESHB 1436 - the largest increase in funding for special education in WA state history.
Working to improve experiences and outcomes for all students
Throughout the disruption, challenge, and trauma of the past few years, there has been hard work in our district to improve education systems and structures so every child can see themselves in the material they learn, feel safe and welcomed in their school communities, and have opportunity to succeed and thrive, academically and beyond. Additional state resources for special education and other basic education needs will help make further improvements, and there is also much more work to do in SPS. Liza is committed to continuing to build on her record and the progress made to improve student outcomes and support positive systemic change.
In her first term, Liza has prioritized student support and equitable access to education through efforts that include
leading work on Board Policy 3246 Restraint, Isolation, and Other Uses of Physical Intervention to ban isolation as a practice in SPS and limit restraint to emergency intervention only, and advocacy for legislation that would do the same across our state
revising Board Policy 0010 Instructional Philosophy to increase inclusion as a general education initiative so that students who receive special education services spend more time learning and engaging with their peers
led committee work focused on reviewing the entire board policy manual to better align the district’s work with the Board’s direction as given based on the vision and values of the community, and improve measures of accountability for the public
led legislative advocacy and collaboration with board directors across the state to increase funding for special education services and youth mental and behavioral health support
worked with community members and educators to support outdoor learning pilots during remote pandemic learning
collaborated with students on policy and advocacy for preventing sexual harassment and gun violence
supported community advocacy and engagement by meeting with PTA and other community leaders and providing information and resources about school and district funding and special education
was deeply engaged as needed at schools during and after remote school due to Covid-19 to distribute laptops and lunches, administer testing at SPS Covid rapid testing sites, and at multiple elementary and middle schools to cover vacancies/absences in lunchroom/recess supervision and as a special education IA