Janis White

Transparent Budgeting

High Achievement

Inclusive Learning for All Students

Meet Janis

For more than two decades, Janis White has been a champion for Seattle’s students and families.

She is the Founding President of All Youth Belong, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing inclusion and belonging for disabled youth in community life.

Janis is the former Board President of the Seattle Special Education PTSA and of the Kinhaven Music School. She also led as President of the TOPS K-8 Site Council, one of the schools the district has previously proposed closing to address our budget crisis.

FOR SEATTLE SCHOOLS

Gina Topp, Seattle School Board President

Leslie Harris, former Seattle School Board President

Kay Smith-Blum, former Seattle School Board President

Sherry Carr, former Seattle School Board Director

Anne Sheeran

Mariza Cabral

Tara F. Chace, PhD

Nancy Simon

Kimberly Gilsdorf

Heather Schwindt

Holly Overman

Susan Hester

Ilene Schwartz

Todd P. Silverstein

Stephen Montsaroff

Jamila Reid

Alison DeGregorio

Kerstin Dorse

Cheryl Jenrow

Karen Pavlidis

Ramona J. Hattendorf

Kay Gabriel

Lois Soiffer

David Kosins

Rose Yu

Katherine George

Dorsey Green

Ann Stever

Marianne Bryan

Sara Bruemmer

Roger Cibella

Kellie LaRue

Alison Wald

Angela Katsuyama

Frank Rowe

Jamie Flaxman

Julie Gunter

Shana Reiss de Reyes

Pamela Phillips

Nancy Bacon

Christie Reneer

Julie Osterling

Xiao Yu Law

Margaret Montsaroff

Chelle Johnson

Kristi DeVadder

Joelle Hammerstad

Daniela Hall

Anne Webster

Cherylynne Crowther

Ann Huber

Brenda Biernat, M.Ed.

Miriam Hinden

Rachel Nemhauser

Nancy Cohen

Dawn Aiken

Mash Makhlyagina

Heidi Bennett

Susan Welch

Catherine Staunton

Jai Lingappa

Paulette K. Hopke

Dionne Malatesta

Andrea Bonaccorsi

Vivian van Gelder

Croil Anderson

Renate Anderson

Carrie Barnes

Peggy Dolane

SUPPORTERS

ENDORSEMENTS

    • Gina Topp, Seattle School Board President

    • Leslie Harris, former Seattle School Board President

    • Kay Smith-Blum, former Seattle School Board President

    • Sherry Carr, former Seattle School Board Director

    • Anne Sheeran

    • Mariza Cabral

    • Tara F. Chace, PhD

    • Nancy Simon

    • Kimberly Gilsdorf

    • Heather Schwindt

    • Holly Overman

    • Susan Hester

    • Ilene Schwartz

    • Todd P. Silverstein

    • Peggy Dolane

    • Sara Bruemmer

    • Roger Cibella

    • Kellie LaRue

    • Alison Wald

    • Angela Katsuyama

    • Frank Rowe

    • Jamie Flaxman

    • Julie Gunter

    • Shana Reiss de Reyes

    • Pamela Phillips

    • Nancy Bacon

    • Christie Reneer

    • Julie Osterling

    • Xiao Yu Law

    • Margaret Montsaroff

    • Stephen Montsaroff

    • Jamila Reid

    • Alison DeGregorio

    • Kerstin Dorse

    • Cheryl Jenrow

    • Karen Pavlidis

    • Ramona J. Hattendorf

    • Kay Gabriel

    • Lois Soiffer

    • David Kosins

    • Rose Yu

    • Katherine George

    • Dorsey Green

    • Ann Stever

    • Marianne Bryan

    • Chelle Johnson

    • Kristi DeVadder

    • Joelle Hammerstad

    • Daniela Hall

    • Anne Webster

    • Cherylynne Crowther

    • Ann Huber

    • Brenda Biernat, M.Ed.

    • Miriam Hinden

    • Rachel Nemhauser

    • Nancy Cohen

    • Dawn Aiken

    • Mash Makhlyagina

    • Heidi Bennett

    • Susan Welch

    • Catherine Staunton

    • Jai Lingappa

    • Paulette K. Hopke

    • Dionne Malatesta

    • Andrea Bonaccorsi

    • Vivian van Gelder

    • Croil Anderson

    • Renate Anderson

    • Carrie Barnes

FIGHTING FOR STUDENTS

Janis knows what is at stake for Seattle Schools. She knows that to challenge the status quo, we must hold leadership accountable and bring people together to find solutions.

As our school board director, she is ready to fight for transparent budgeting, inclusive education, and policies that put students first.

KEY ISSUES

How Janis Will Fight For Our Students »

  • Fighting for High Achievement Programs

    Current Challenge: District leaders have cut high achievement programs leading many parents to consider moving their kids out of Seattle Public Schools, contributing to a downward spiral of declining enrollment that worsens our budget crisis.

    Janis's Commitment: Fight to restore and expand access to Higher Achievement programs and provide opportunities for students to have their needs met and advance.

  • Transparent and Responsible Budgeting

    Current Challenge: The district faces significant budget deficits and has proposed dozens of school closures, impacting educational quality and resources.

    Janis's Commitment: Advocate for full funding from the State Legislature, conduct thorough budget analyses to prioritize student outcomes, and promote transparency by involving community experts in financial discussions early and often. 



  • Supporting Students with Disabilities

    Current Challenge: Over 20% of Seattle Public Schools students have disabilities, yet District strategies often overlook their unique needs, violating their legal rights.

    Janis's Commitment: Integrate the needs of students with disabilities into all district decision-making processes improving outcomes for every student, advocate for inclusive policies, and ensure the implementation of evidence-based instruction and services for all abilities.

  • Addressing the Crisis of Student Mental Health

    Current Challenge: According to an analysis by Children’s Alliance, more than 1 in every 5 students in our K-12 schools suffer from major depression or anxiety with many more exhibiting serious symptoms.

    Janis's Commitment: Deliver on the demands of students after the Ingraham High School Shooting to fully fund more school counselors and therapists in our classrooms, increase access to group therapy options, and address the negative impact of social media use on our kids. 

  • Equity and Inclusion

    Current Challenge: Equity initiatives and protections for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC students are under threat, jeopardizing the progress made in addressing the diverse needs of every student.

    Janis's Commitment: Champion anti-racism, anti-ableism and other inclusive policies because they don’t just benefit the students who need them, these programs recognize the intersectionality of student identities, and ensure all students have access to world-class resources and opportunities.



"Our schools must be places where every child is seen, valued, and empowered to succeed. I will listen, learn, and lead with integrity to ensure Seattle Schools reflect the diverse needs of our students."

- Janis White

SEATTLE SCHOOLS

IN THE NEWS

Our kids and schools need help. Janis will work hard to make Seattle Public Schools more inclusive, equitable, and effective for our students. Check out my letter to the editor in The Seattle Times.

  • Federal probe opened into whether Seattle Schools failed special ed students during pandemic

    READ MORE

  • 'Needs not numbers.' Teachers, families protest Seattle schools special education staff changes

    READ MORE

  • Parents protest Seattle Public Schools' proposed special education staff swap

    Read More

  • Students With Special Needs – The Forgotten Class During The COVID-19 Pandemic

    READ MORE

  • Seattle schools Superintendent Denise Juneau will not seek contract renewal

    READ MORE

  • Seattle families growing frustrated with impasse between teachers and school district

    READ MORE

  • Washington state children with disabilities are left behind by remote learning

    Read More

  • Only 1 Seattle Public Schools student is receiving special-education services in person right now

    Read More

  • Seattle Superintendent leaving, community reaction

    Watch

  • Reactions to Seattle schools Chief Denise Juneaus resignation are mixed

    Read More

  • As other school district open, Seattle remains split on returning to classrooms

    Read More

  • Summer school in Seattle: it's hard for us to know if he is truly accessing education

    Read More

  • Seattle lags behind neighboring districts in search for new Superintendent

    Read More

  • OSPI has failed Washington's most vulnerable students

    Read More

  • Seattle school closures: why almost ever student would be affected

    Read More

  • District has failed to deliver on special education during pandemic

    Click Here

  • Seattle Schools says many 'essential' staff will be called back to classrooms in March

    READ MORE

  • Reactions to Seattle schools chief Denise Juneau’s resignation are mixed

    Click Here

Janis doesn't just talk, she leads.

Through her role as the past president of Seattle's Special Education PTSA, she worked with parents to help publish a comprehensive guide for families, caregivers, and educators to better support students with disabilities and understand their rights. It's available online for free and was presented to over 50 PTSA groups in Seattle.

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Join Janis in her mission to create a more inclusive, transparent, and equitable Seattle Public Schools system.