Greetings B.F. Day Families,

Thank you for the kind and welcoming emails! It’s always a lot to get up and running in a new school, and I appreciate the care and patience from so many. This message includes some timely information that I’d like you to have including the PTSA meeting link for tomorrow evening, and information about interview training for staff and family members interested in participating in hiring teams.

PTSA President has invited you to join a video meeting on Google Meet.

First, I want to share the link to the PTSA meeting tomorrow. I’m looking forward to seeing you and your students! View link on the PTSA Website: July 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Training Opportunities For Our Community

Secondly, I have been working with our central office partners to get some interview training opportunities for our community. One option is tomorrow, July 10. A second training will be available next Thursday, July 17. Interested staff and family members only need to attend one training. The trainings are about 45 minutes and will be on Microsoft Teams. 

• Option 1: July 10, at 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 ish. This training wasn’t originally open to staff and families, but they’ve made an exception for our community, which is the reason for the short notice. 

• Option 2: July 17, at 4:00 p.m. -4:45 ish (This is the latest available time – I asked)

I will be inviting up to two parents to sit on each of the interview teams for our counselor and art positions. Our interview teams should represent the diversity of our school community as best we can with trained participants from staff and families. 

If you are interested and available to attend one of the training options, please email me directly at kmeckert@seattleschools.org, and include:

• Which training you would like to attend, 
• The best email for the training link
• A little information on which populations you represent as a family member (i.e.: BIPOC, LGBTQI, SpEd, HC, Mulit-lingual, etc…). 
• The grades to which your student(s) are rising 
• Your availability to sit on upcoming interview teams. I’m hoping to schedule interviews for at least on of our open positions next Friday, July 18th, but may also be looking at days the last week of July.  

Warmly, 
Kristen Eckert She/her
Interim Principal, B.F. Day 
Cell: 206-549-6120

Dear B.F. Day Families and Staff, 

I want to take a moment to say hello and share how excited I am to be joining B.F. Day as your interim principal. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit B.F. Day as part of a leadership learning walk with Dr. Jerid Morisco. I was struck by the warmth and positivity of the school, and by the great teaching and learning happening in classrooms.  

Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with Dr. Zisko and Seattle Public Schools Regional Executive Director of Schools Tim Moynihan, both of whom speak very highly of this community and have offered their support through this transition. I know there’s a lot for me to learn, and I’m eager to get started so we can navigate the summer strategically and set ourselves up for a strong start to the 2025–26 school year. I come to you as an experienced elementary school leader, having served as an assistant principal for the past nine years—most recently at Hazel Wolf K-8 and Catharine Blaine K-8. I’ve also worked at Graham Hill, View Ridge, and Wedgwood elementaries.  

Each of these schools has faced significant challenges, including staffing reductions. I have experience navigating and finding workable solutions to the challenges these reductions present—both the technical aspects and the emotional toll they can take on a community. My values are, and always have been, racial equity, social justice, building positive relationships, and having strong advocacy for public schools. I lead with my heart, and my previous students, staff, and families will tell you I am compassionate, caring, and capable. I’ll be sending out more detailed information next week about opportunities to meet in person before the school year begins. I look forward to partnering with you and meeting students in the fall. 

Warmly, 
Kristen Eckert; Interim Principal, B.F. Day Elementary