Rainy Day Recess

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Cherylynne Crowther interview Vivian Van Gelder, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Seattle School Board. Note: Vivian has since stopped campaigning and is endorsing Janis White, but her name will still appear on the ballot. Vivian diagnoses Seattle Public Schools as needing fundamental restructuring rather than reform. She argues that the district's failed experiment in "radical decentralization" 30 years ago cre...

In this re-released episode of Rainy Day Recess (originally episode 26 from March 2025), host Christie Robertson interviews Landon Labosky, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Seattle School Board. With a Masters in Public Administration and nearly a decade of youth development experience, Landon was motivated to run after witnessing the district's "communication downfall" during the 21-school closure proposal that "panicked 50,000 kids and families" without a plan. He advocates for ma...

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Cherylynne Crowther interview Janis White, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Seattle School Board. As a lawyer who put three children through Seattle Public Schools K-12, Janis argues that school board directors have broader legal responsibilities than commonly understood - that the board, not the superintendent, is accountable for proper district operation. She advocates for restoring standing committees, particularly...

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Cherylynne Crowther interview Laura Marie Rivera, a candidate for the Seattle School Board District 4. Rivera discusses her extensive background in education and nonprofit work, and her views on the role of the school board in leadership and governance. Following a lightning round of quick questions, the conversation delves into Rivera's perspectives on school board responsibilities, superintendent selection, and balancing cent...

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Cherylynne Crowther interview Bill Campbell, a candidate for Seattle School Board District 4. The interview, part of the 2025 Seattle School Board candidate series, includes a lightning round to get to know Bill, followed by in-depth questions on the role of the school board in leadership and governance. Bill discusses his background, unique perspectives on education, and his plans to improve transparency, community involvement...

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, hosts Christie Robertson and Colin Meyer interview 2025 Seattle School Board candidate Eric Feeny from District 2. The discussion begins with a lightning round of quick questions covering Feeny's background, qualifications, and viewpoints on education and school board roles. Key topics include his approach to school board leadership, specific policies he supports, and his strategies for improving Seattle Public Schools. Feeny emphasizes the importance of c...

Seattle Public Schools is quietly eliminating specialized programs for newcomer students - recent immigrants with limited English skills who need intensive support. Teachers at Dunlap Elementary brought this story to our attention because they've been sitting in empty classrooms for four years while newcomer students struggle in overcrowded mainstream classrooms. We speak with Tricia DeVille, a newcomer teacher with over 20 years of experience, and Nhi Nguyen, who was DeVille's student in the...

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, Cherylynne Crowther takes the reins to discuss the ongoing exclusion of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) families in Seattle Public Schools. After a group of Deaf parents testified about enrollment barriers at the April 23 board meeting, many returned two weeks later to a district engagement event, only to find there were no interpreters. The district apologized, but the apology wasn’t interpreted either. We explore the long history of inaccessibility in S...