West Seattle Elementary Leadership Announcement

I am excited to share some important news and invite you to join me in warmly welcoming Mr. Ritchie Garcia as the Interim Principal of West Seattle Elementary (WSE)! 

Interim Principal Garcia is no stranger to our community. For more than a decade, he has served West Seattle Elementary with dedication as a classroom teacher, teacher leader, and most recently, as assistant principal. His deep roots in the school and strong relationships with students, staff, and families uniquely position him to lead with care and continuity. Alongside the exceptional staff, Interim Principal Garcia will continue build upon the successes at WSE and provide the servant leadership our school community values so deeply. 

We also want to take this moment to honor and thank Principal McCowan-Conyers, who will be retiring at the end of this school year. We are immensely grateful for her outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to the success and well-being of our students, staff, and families. 

Over the coming weeks, Interim Principal Garcia, Principal McCowan-Conyers, and the entire leadership team will work closely together to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition as we close out the 2024–25 school year. With this leadership transition, we will also be welcoming a new assistant principal for the 2025–26 school year. We will communicate who will serve in this role in the coming weeks. 

Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Principal McCowan-Conyers for her remarkable service, and a warm congratulations to Interim Principal Garcia as he steps into this new role. 

Sincerely,  

Dr. Fred Podesta 
Chief Operating Officer 

Seattle Public Schools