Ms. Stephanie Barragan has been selected as the new principal for West Seattle Elementary.

Dear West Seattle Elementary Community,

I am pleased to announce that Ms. Stephanie Barragan has been selected as the new principal for West Seattle Elementary. Ms. Barragan brings a strong vision that aligns closely with the values and priorities of the West Seattle Elementary community, with a clear commitment to collaboration and high-quality, student-centered learning.

Most recently, Ms. Barragan served as the assistant principal at East Hill Elementary in Kent School District where she worked closely with educators, students, and families to build inclusive and collaborative school practices. She continues to rely on her years as a classroom teacher and Instructional coach to prioritize student-centered decision making and ensuring systems align to support students furthest from educational justice.

Ms. Barragan holds her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership both from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her minor in TESOL and BeGLAD certification anchor her work with multilingual learners.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Interim Principal Ritchie Garcia for his steady leadership during the 2025–26 school year and for his deep, ongoing commitment to the West Seattle Elementary community, which has extended well beyond this interim role.

Ms. Barragan is committed to building on the strong foundation that Principal Garcia and the West Seattle Elementary staff and community have created.

Ms. Barragan looks forward to partnering with students, staff, families, and community members to make a difference for every student, every day. Her official start date will be July 1, 2026.

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Barragan to the West Seattle Elementary community.

Sincerely,

Ben Shuldiner Superintendent

Seattle Public Schools