Adams Elementary Leadership Announcement

Dear Adams Elementary School Community, 

It is with deep gratitude that I announce that after five years as an assistant principal and eight years as principal at Adams Elementary, Doug Sohn will end his tenure on June 30.  

We are grateful to Mr. Sohn for his unwavering belief in Adams students, for the strong relationships he cultivated with the Adams community, and for the positive impact he has had on hundreds of Adams students, staff and families. We celebrate all he has accomplished as a leader for Seattle Public Schools and wish him continued fulfillment in his next endeavors. 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Anitra Jones, M.Ed., as the next principal of Adams Elementary School. 

Principal Jones brings more than 25 years of dedicated service to Seattle Public Schools, having served as an elementary school teacher, mentorship coach, and administrator at both the elementary and secondary levels. Most recently, she has been serving as an administrator on special assignment supporting Rainier Beach High School, where she works closely with students, educators, and families across the southeast region.  

She now returns to building-based leadership, and we are excited for her to bring her extensive experience in teaching and learning, systems development, and fiscal management back into a school community. 

Throughout her career, Principal Jones fostered collaborative school cultures where academic excellence is accessible to all students. She has partnered with school communities to lead Continuous School Improvement Plans (C-SIP) resulting in academic achievement distinctions in literacy and mathematics at the state and national levels. She believes deeply that all students can learn, and she is committed to ensuring that every child experiences joy, encouragement, opportunity, growth, and achievement in a positive learning environment where diversity is respected and valued. 

Principal Jones will begin her transition into the role in the coming weeks by splitting time between Adams and Rainier Beach to work alongside Mr. Sohn in preparing for a strong start to the 2026-27 school year. She will attend an upcoming staff meeting on Wednesday, April 8, to begin becoming acquainted with the Adams staff.

Please join me in warmly welcoming Principal Jones to Adams Elementary. I am confident her leadership will continue to strengthen the school’s mission of being a strong community school that offers a holistic education and fosters excitement about learning. 

Sincerely, 

Ben Shuldiner 

Superintendent