Dear Decatur families and staff,

I am pleased to announce Ms. Laurie Miller has been named the acting principal of Decatur Elementary for the 2023-24 school year. She will begin serving as the acting principal immediately.

Principal Miller will serve in place of Principal Geoghagan, who has accepted a new role as the principal of View Ridge Elementary.

Principal Miller enters the new school year with 21 years of experience as a teacher, coach, and administrator. She has supported Decatur from across the playground as an assistant principal at Thornton Creek for the last three years.

Prior to her service at Thornton Creek, Principal Miller taught and led in the Everett School District. Her Everett classroom experience includes teaching grades 2 through 5, including six years as a highly capable magnet program teacher at Penny Creek Elementary. She found a love of literacy coaching and served as literacy coach at an Everett Title One school, where she used data-informed practices to elevate reading across a diverse range of learners.

Principal Miller has a passion for educational equity and is looking forward to meeting students, staff and families at Decatur to continue working on the powerful practices of teaching, learning and collaboration. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Western Washington University and her master’s in educational leadership from the University of Washington.

SPS will begin the search for a permanent Decatur Elementary School principal in Spring 2024. At that time, SPS will share next steps with the community.

I also want to thank Principal Geoghagan for her leadership and service to Decatur Elementary.

Please join me in welcoming Principal Miller!

Sincerely,

Dr. Brent Jones
Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools