A New Principal at Franklin

Sue (Sugia) Anderson, ‘67

Erik Weiss, Franklin’s new principal, sees the Franklin Alumni Association and Foundation as an essential community partner. 

During the pandemic, school closures and online learning severed the ties to many community resources, including the active participation of the alums in school life. Principal Weiss is committed to reengaging the community and to bringing the alums back into Franklin. 

He is excited that so many alums visited the building last summer and looks forward to participating in The Rising Tide Scholarship Fair, The Hall of Fame Dinner, and Senior Awards Assembly.

He recognizes the breadth of talent and resources within our Franklin alumni circle and is anxious to connect students to all the opportunities available.

Welcome to Franklin, Mr. Weiss. We look forward to getting to know you and working with you to support our students and staff.  

Franklin’s new principal Erik Weiss

Hello Quaker Alumni:

I began my teaching career twenty years ago at Highline High School where I taught English and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) for eleven years. After graduating from the UW's Danforth Educational Leadership Program, I served as assistant principal at Juanita High School in the Lake Washington School District for four years. In 2018, I came to SPS where I served as an assistant principal at Chief Sealth International High School until this year.

I have lived in Seattle for more than thirty years. I earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Washington and master's in teaching from Western Washington University. I attended the UW Danforth Education Leadership Program where I earned my administrator's certificate.

Twenty years ago I moved into the Mt. Baker neighborhood, a neighborhood in which I continue to raise my children and love with a deep passion. In 2016 John Muir, our feeder elementary two blocks south, organized an event to celebrate and support African American boys and change the narrative around Black Men. I remember, as a parent of two children at John Muir, getting the calls: school is cancelled because of bomb threats; school is back on; school is cancelled again; it’s back on. I remember talking with my wife, then calling in to my principal at the time and saying, ‘I have to take the day off.’ Ultimately, I felt pride and admiration when we got the final call: school and the changing-the-narrative event was on. 

I remember walking with my children and seeing the whole community around John Muir and around Franklin show up. Nationally televised bomb threats, district security calls—none of that came through on the day. Just the sheer joy of Black excellence and of community coming together. I will never forget that day. I will never forget how a community of committed educators, families, and students came together with a purpose, vision, and will to support our young people. 

Many of the children at John Muir that day are students at Franklin now, including my own. I come to Franklin holding that memory close to my heart—a vision of what can happen when educators, families, and students come together. A vision of Franklin.

Since that time, Franklin and our community have gone through a pandemic and leadership change. We continue to see the changes of gentrification, climate change, a housing crisis, and other events that strain our community bonds. It is my vision that Franklin, in partnership with our alumni, families, students, and other community organizations can help to reweave the threads that have kept our community together.  

I look forward to partnering with our alumni in providing opportunities for our students to develop relationships with and share in the experience of our alumni in support of us all.

I look forward to seeing you,
Erik Weiss
Principal, Franklin High School