Annual Report 24-25
From the Board Chair & the Head of School Dear UCDS Community, Thank you for a remarkable year of bringing every piece together, especially during a time of headship transition. As we embraced this year’s theme of Puzzle, our community—students, families, faculty, staff, and trustees— came together with curiosity, patience, and creativity to make meaning out of many moving parts. This year invited both reflection and growth as we strengthened the essential components that make UCDS thrive, from classroom practice to program alignment, from strategic planning to community connection, ensuring every piece fits within our shared mission: design a culture of inquiry, cultivate reflective, collaborative, and skillful thinkers, and engage diverse perspectives in shaping and sharing our innovative education model.
02
Our students engaged in deep, meaningful curriculum across the Studio, Early Elementary, Elementary, and Graduate programs. Each level offered a curriculum intentionally designed to spark creativity and curiosity while developing essential academic and social foundations. Students collaborated on projects that encouraged problem-solving, critical thinking, and imaginative expression—bringing learning to life in meaningful and memorable ways. Across every program, they practiced curiosity, resilience, and collaboration, building the skills and confidence that will guide them throughout their educational journey.
24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
The heart of UCDS lies in the dedication of its volunteers. We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary leadership of the Parent Guardian Association (PGA) and the committees that energize our school. Special thanks to the PGA Executive Committee, Breanne Fortun, President; Abby Maletis, Vice President; Jo Schwabland, Treasurer; and Marianne Bamford, Secretary, whose steady guidance has been foundational to the success of every initiative. We also thank the New Family & Community Liaisons, Events, UCDServes, and Faculty & Staff Appreciation teams for welcoming new families, organizing celebrations, extending service into the broader community, and honoring our faculty and staff. We are also grateful to our UCDS Fund Chairs, Ana Flávia Hedrick and Xuemin John, for their dedication to helping us reach our financial goal, and to our Denim & Dazzle Auction Chairs, Molly Lamb, Morgen Maroney-Allen, Meghna Kumar, and Shelley Grover, whose creativity and hard work brought our community together for a joyful and memorable event. These efforts sustain the pieces that make UCDS exceptional, including our endowments for Teacher Excellence and Tuition Assistance, ensuring both our educators and students can thrive. We also greatly appreciate all our donors who support us in reaching our annual goals. Finally, we extend heartfelt thanks to our Board of Trustees, whose thoughtful governance and strategic engagement guide UCDS's long-term vision. To all our volunteers, leaders, donors, educators, and staff: you are the vital pieces that complete the picture of UCDS. Your collaboration, generosity, and dedication have made this Year of the Puzzle truly successful, and we look forward to the coming year, building something extraordinary together piece by piece. With deep gratitude,
Joe Gruber, UCDS Board Chair
Jen Vary, Head of School
LOOK FOR QR CODES THROUGHOUT. CLICK OR SCAN TO VIEW ADDITIONAL ONLINE CONTENT. ENJOY!
UCDS Service Learning The Service Learning program at UCDS allows 5th-grade students to gain a deeper understanding of their community. They build the skills to plan and facilitate larger-scale events and projects, and practice developing presentations, public speaking, and reflection. Students join faculty and staff on working committees, and with faculty mentors as guides, work to meet authentic needs and make an impact within their community, growing their confidence, independence, and community awareness.
24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
03
Planning & Organization: EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM COMMITTEE Drawing on their experience with the program, 5th graders took on a leadership role in our Extended Day Pogram (EDP). Students provided hands-on mentorship, supporting Early Elementary clubs and students in the Discovery Area. Their unique insight as kids helped them design projects like a large LEGO Seattle display and the incredibly popular "Cozy Day All-Day EDP!" Additionally, the committee took the lead in planning and attending the daily EDP meetings and met every other week to organize projects, honing their planning and mentorship skills!
Nurturing Connection: THE STUDIO COMMITTEE 04 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
The Studio Service Learning students spent the year working with students and teachers in the Infant-Toddler Education Program, also known as The Studio. The 5th graders provided hands-on support, facilitating Morning Meetings by singing songs, reading aloud during naptime, playing with studio students in the courtyard, and helping Studio preschoolers transition smoothly through activities. Further demonstrating initiative, individual students connected their own passions to the Studio HUB's study of bugs, creating original stop-motion videos, songs, and artwork. The committee members learned valuable skills for working with young children and had a blast making connections with some of the youngest students on campus.
Developing Coaching Strategies: EARLY ELEMENTARY COMMITTEE Students on the Early Elementary (EE) Service Learning Committee dove into the heart of teaching in the EE classrooms by observing teachers and reflecting on teaching strategies in different parts of the school day, including Math Vitamin, Word, News, Rest and Read, and Lit Circles. Applying their learnings, they became peer coaches. They provided support to EE students, helping them start and edit News projects and practice counting skills during Calendar projects. Through this process, our 5th graders mastered crucial leadership and coaching skills, recognizing the value of patience and respecting that everyone learns at a different pace.
Inclusion & Community: AFFINITY & ALLIANCE COMMITTEE The Affinity and Alliance Committee Service Learning students took the initiative to create groups designed to bring people together and facilitate learning about diverse identities and cultures. After discussing how to integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles, the committee surveyed their peers, which led to the launch of three groups: the History of Asian Culture Alliance Group, Atypical Experiences Affinity Group, and LGBTQIA+ Alliance Group. Service Learning students managed the entire implementation process. In fulfilling their goal to create a safe space for learning and community building, they worked with teachers to plan and schedule meetings where students learned about identities and experiences and shared personal stories, all while experiencing the value of community connection and shared learning.
The Admissions Committee Service Learning students took on the role of school ambassadors, sharing their love of UCDS with prospective families. Students helped host several Admissions events over the year, including helping to welcome families and guide tours, sharing with students how to care for their doodlebug after Doodlebug Day, and planning fun and engaging activities for the New Family Celebration. Service Learning students on the Admissions Committee reflected on their work, saying, “Something we’ll take with us [in] our years to come are the public speaking, leadership, and planning skills we practiced.”
Partnerships & Communication: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE As part of the Community Development Committee, Service Learning students partnered with the St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Bank to run a year-long food drive. UCDS has partnered with the St. Vincent de Paul Society for over 30 years, supporting their efforts to serve our neighborhood. The 5th-grade students presented to classes every other week, sharing key information about the food bank, what students can bring, and why it’s important. The Service Learning students then helped the classes deliver donations every Friday and assisted the food bank volunteers with sorting the donations. Service Learning students shared about their experience: “It’s been meaningful to be a part of helping people and providing necessary things,” reflecting their understanding of community support and purposeful action. Continued...
05 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Ambassadors of UCDS: ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE
06
24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Curators of Curiosity: LIBRARY COMMITTEE
Exceptional Experiences: SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE Our Special Events Committee Service Learning students worked diligently behind the scenes, mastering the art of collaboration to bring joy to the entire school community at cherished events like Milk & Cookies, Halloween, Lit Month, and Theme Fair. They supported the creation of the annual Día de Muertos ofrenda, supported Spring Sing, and welcomed special guests like Seattle Arts and Lectures Youth Poetry Fellow and UCDS Alum, Eka '21 (check out the photo on page 18), and Nancy Kiefer, UCDS’s longtime Librarian, who retired in 2023! Through these projects, the students learned the value of collaboration and the many steps and people needed to make these special events happen.
Calling all UCDS Alums! Share the moments that meant the most to you and the skills you still carry with you from your Service Learning experience at UCDS. Email alum@ucds.org
07 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Service Learning students supported the magic of the Library by working with the 1-2s, Early Elementary, and the Studio HUB classes. The 5th graders learned the check-out process and helped students check out books each week. They led Read Aloud to classes and chose the weekly poem and Words of the Week. They focused on inclusive curation, ensuring the library offered a wide array of books so that UCDS students could see themselves reflected in the stories. The 5th graders also helped students find great new books and encouraged them to explore new genres. By encouraging exploration and making thoughtful book recommendations, our Library Service Learning members took an active role in building imagination and curating the library space.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING
08 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
In the Year of Puzzle, UCDS continued to deepen its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) by strengthening connections among families, students, faculty, and staff. This year, we focused on learning together as faculty, staff, and parents/guardians by engaging in shared conversations about identity, equity, and justice. In the fall, UCDS welcomed educator and author Liz Kleinrock, whose keynote and workshop supported everyone in developing strategies for discussing identity and social justice with young learners. In the spring, we hosted a screening and community discussion of the film Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values with co-director Debbie LeeKeenan. In addition, we sent six attendees to the National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference (PoCC) in Denver. To strengthen belonging and shared learning, UCDS expanded its family affinity and alliance groups. Affinity groups support those who share an identity, while alliance groups invite community members to engage in solidarity and shared understanding. This year, the Asian Family Alliance Group hosted a Lunar New Year celebration open to the entire school community, and the Latine and Hispanic Affinity Group held a Lotería end-of-year gathering for Latine and Hispanic families. The Families of Neurodiverse Learners Affinity Group began initiatives to share resources and strategies to support students’ learning.
24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
09
Families, faculty, and staff also joined together in the 2025 Seattle Pride Parade, demonstrating UCDS’s support for LGBTQIA+ students, caregivers, and community members. Regrounding in our mission as a research-driven institution, UCDS conducted its first school-wide community survey to gather feedback and better understand community experiences through the lenses of faculty, staff, students, parents, guardians, and trustees. Based on this information, we continue to reflect on equity within our school and take action by leading school-wide integration and professional development around restorative practices to strengthen our shared understanding of how to support students when mistakes occur. These efforts continue UCDS’s work to build a community where everyone, including students, families, faculty, and staff, feels connected and valued.
UCDS INSTITUTE Resident Teacher Program: Impact Snapshot The UCDS Resident Teacher Program builds a steady pipeline of classroom-ready educators and supports lasting careers. In the latest Resident Teacher alum survey, 78.6% are working in education today. Among those in schools , 54.5% report a leadership role. Resident Teacher alum do more than enter classrooms. They guide teams, help mentor new peers, and participate in school culture. The program’s reach extends beyond UCDS. Of Resident Teacher alum in education, 56.4% work in independent schools, with others in public and additional settings. Most Residents entered as recent college graduates. Each year we recruit and train, and that investment pays off as alum advance.
What this means for UCDS families 10 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Our residency places well-supported teachers with UCDS students. Residents learn with expert mentors, then step into classrooms ready to teach. That means steady routines, clear lessons, and teachers who adjust to each learner at UCDS.
What this means for teachers & schools The Resident Teacher Program gives teachers a strong start. Residents practice daily routines with students, receive feedback, and grow confident in their craft. Many become team leads and coaches, lifting practice across the school. Through our Resident Teacher alum network, teachers share ideas across schools and bring back what works. “Within my first month of teaching, I led grade-level meetings, presented at Back-to-School Night, and was selected for a renewal inspection. I owe my success and confidence to the UCDS Resident Teacher Program—it truly prepared me to lead.” – Alum, 2022 The Resident Teacher Program builds a reliable pipeline of effective teachers and future leaders. The result is better teaching, stronger teams, and lasting impact across our school community. Source: UCDS Alumni Survey (Hanover instrument, Dec 2024).
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UCDS INSTITUTE: UCDS.ORG/INSTITUTE
UCDS GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Capstone Projects Have Wide-Reaching Benefits UCDS is an institution where both teachers and children learn, where early career teachers develop their practice, and where experienced teachers research and design curriculum. UCDS offers educators an opportunity to grow their teaching skills and earn their Master of Education degree through its Graduate School of Education (GSE)—a program rooted in applying theory to practice. UCDS graduate students demonstrate their synthesized learning achievements through a Capstone Project related to an area of professional interest. This year-long study has benefits for graduate students and the communities in which they teach. The Capstone Project is conducted in the student’s practicum setting, and each project demonstrates evidence of inquiry, collaboration, innovation, communication, and reflection—all essential skills for successful educators. During the Capstone year, graduate students design and implement an action research plan, collect and analyze data, and present their findings to the academic community through a thesis and a presentation.
The Capstone Project allows UCDS graduate students to demonstrate their mastery of essential educator skills by designing and implementing innovative, data-driven interventions that directly benefit the children and programs within the school community.
Maria Sijimon
Elizabeth Ang
Audrey Jacobs
Joseph Andrews
USE THE QR CODE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE UCDS GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION.
11 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
In 2024-25, all four GSE Capstone Projects were conducted at UCDS, each focusing on a different grade level in the Early Elementary and Elementary programs. So many UCDS students benefited from these innovative projects! Maria Sijimon explored building community through Morning Meetings in the Preschool classroom. Elizabeth Ang designed interventions to increase writing production in the 1-2s. Audrey Jacobs led the design and construction of a playground structure through her project examining agency and efficacy through community problem-solving in the 3-4s (see more about this project on page 13). And finally, Joseph Andrews infused reflection and collaboration into a Music class project as he measured students’ self-perception of creativity.
J. Brandon Suehiro Endowment
for Visual Art, Music & Design J. Brandon Suehiro attended UCDS beginning his preschool year and was a member of the Moving On Class of 2004. Brandon loved UCDS—all his learning environments and teachers, Math Vitamin, and Chair Announcements. He discovered his love of art and music at UCDS, which was nurtured alongside his academic growth, shaping him into a thoughtful person and learner. Brandon also developed a passion for tennis and basketball during these formative years. Brandon went on to attend University Prep and graduated with the Class of 2011. He then pursued a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Santa Clara University, graduating in 2015. His career led him back to Seattle, where he worked as an Account Executive at Tableau (Salesforce), following earlier roles in venture capital and technology sales. 12 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
At age 30, Brandon unexpectedly lost his life in a tragic incident. In honor of Brandon’s legacy, and through his estate and the efforts of his parents, Gerin and Jim Suehiro, this endowment was established at UCDS in his name to support his lifelong love of creative experiences in visual art, music, and design. This newly established fund supported two inspiring projects in the 2024-25 school year, providing unique opportunities in art and design for our students and making a lasting impact on our school community.
Transforming the Interconnection Through Collaborative Art UCDS welcomed Hiep Nguyen as our Artist in Residence for Theme Week in May, to lead our students in creating an enormous mural and seven gorgeous paintings that have transformed our largest community space, the Interconnection. Hiep is the creator of “Circle Painting” and “Draw All You Can,” two art programs that foster an artistic mindset, teamwork, and open-ended expression. 5th-grade students had the opportunity to work closely with Hiep and assist him as he worked with all the classes to create these impressive works of art. Everyone brought their own piece of the puzzle to the murals—their ideas, their style, their stories— and together, it all fits and captures a moment in time about us as a community. It’s exciting to know that it’ll be here for years, reflecting our community and the moments and connections of the school year. CHECK OUT THIS FUN VIDEO SHOWCASING THE CREATION OF THESE BEAUTIFUL MURALS!
A New Structure for the Tower Playground Made possible by the J. Brandon Suehiro Endowment for Visual Art, Music & Design
Student-led Design The Tower Playground needed a new place to store the student-favorite blue blocks. Tower students brainstormed and created many possible iterations for this structure while balancing pie-in-the-sky dreams with practical needs and realities.
All-School Meeting offered the perfect opportunity for students to weigh in on the designs. 1-2 teacher Susan Foley facilitated the voting and oversaw the design process.
Expert Advice Architect (and UCDS parent!) Kristen Johnson met with the students during the planning process and helped bring the final voted-upon design to life.
The Results The final design came to life with the help of our facilities team and our 3-4 students, and was unveiled to our whole community at Theme Fair: Puzzlepalooza '25. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE J. BRANDON SUEHIRO ENDOWMENT FOR VISUAL ART, MUSIC & DESIGN! USE THE QR CODE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE.
24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Democracy & Advocacy in Action
13
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Thank you to our Parent Guardian Association (PGA) for an incredible year! From hosting large community events like Boogie and Glow and their summer send-off, the UCDS Community Endof-Year Celebration: Piece Out!, to organizing volunteer and service events with the University District Food Bank, the Light Collective, and the Winter Warmth Drive, they created thoughtful opportunities for community connection, both big and small, throughout the year. UCDS families enjoyed popsicles in the courtyard, coffee and walks around Green Lake, and had faculty and staff feeling the love through monthly appreciation events! Thank you, PGA officers, for sharing your time and creativity with us!
2024-25 Parent Guardian Association Officers
14 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Breanne Fortun, President Abby Maletis, Vice President
Jo Schwabland, Treasurer Marianne Bamford, Secretary
New Family & Community Liaisons Katie Chan, Milan Mulye, Elspeth Payton, Jennifer Ricaldi & Gloria Yang
UCDServes Ana Flávia Hedrick, JingJing Li, Heather Proudfoot & Anu Vijay
Events Tingting Feng, Shelley Grover, Morgen Maroney-Allen, Jennifer Sullivan, Jingjing Wu & Sunny Zhou
Faculty & Staff Appreciation Natasha de Sousa, Emma Freeman, Xuemin John, Lydia Lu & Xiaoxiao Zhang
Grandparents & Special Friends Day 15 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Our community-favorite springtime event moved to the fall! In October 2024, we welcomed grandparents and special friends to UCDS for this heart-warming day. The campus was full of smiling faces as students guided guests through classroom activities and toured Specialist classrooms and school spaces. It was wonderful to reconnect with so many returning guests as well as to meet new family and friends who our students hold dear. The energy was electric! Thank you to all who participated, and thank you to our co-chairs, Katie Chan and Gloria Yang, and their team of parent and guardian volunteers for making this joyful day happen!
Today, Tomorrow, Together Thank you to everyone who supported the UCDS Fund in 2024-2025! Your contribution is a fundamental piece of the PUZZLE for funding UCDS. Together, our community supported the intentionally designed curriculum of the school year, the interdisciplinary theme-related projects, and unlocked opportunities for special guests and artists to visit UCDS! A portion of your donation also supports the Endowment and is a sustaining investment in the future of UCDS.
$483,711
16 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
raised in total
current family participation
25%
75%
of funds raised support the Endowment
USE THE QR CODE TO SUPPORT THE MAGIC OF UCDS!
85%
of funds raised support operations
A special thank you to our co-chairs, Ana Flávia Hedrick and Xuemin John, who introduced “UCDS Fund Week,” a week of coffee chats with Jen Vary and a fun, fall-themed Spirit Week for the students! From Apples vs. Pumpkins to Pajama Day to Silly Sock Day, it was a week of community celebration, bringing everyone together to support the UCDS Fund! Thank you for sustaining our school!
UCDS Night to Unite 2025
SoDo Park provided the perfect setting for our community to showcase their creative Dazzle & Denim style and generous spirit. We are so grateful to everyone who came together in support of Tuition Assistance, Teacher Excellence, and updated student-focused community spaces in the Tower! Thank you to our Auction Co-Chairs, Shelley Grover, Meghan Kumar, Molly Lamb, Morgen Maroney-Allen, and their incredible team of volunteers who hosted a dazzling night for all, and to Dhruv Agarwal and Tatyana Dolgaya for generously providing the remarkable venue.
$418,160 raised in total
$81,575
raised for Teacher Excellence
$99,045
raised for Tuition Assistance
17 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Whether you volunteered, donated, or participated in one of our many auction activities, we greatly appreciate your support of this important event!
UCDS ALUMS We always love having familiar faces back on campus!
Check out our Instagram for the latest updates on alums, events, and UCDS news.
18
The 1-2s were treated to a special reading of Penelope’s Problem by UCDS alum and author Ava ’18, who co-wrote the book with her mom.
The Labyrinth turned 21! We loved reconnecting with our 21+ Alum for an evening of laughter & reminiscing.
The Summer Alum Party was a hit—friends, food, and fun! What more could you ask for?
24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
For Literature Month in March, UCDS Alum and 2024-25 Youth Poetry Fellow Eka ’21 shared her original poem, “A Raven’s Writing Desk,” with the entire school.
welcomed back the classes of 2022 and 2018 for their 8th- and Alum We 12th-grade class reunions. Thank you for coming back for fun evenings
Reunions of reflection and celebration!
Moving On Class of 2018
Moving On Class of 2022
24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
19
We hope you Moving On Congratulations! will come back to visit us and Class of '25 share your adventures.
UCDS has many traditions that our alum love. Check out Stone Soup 2024. Singing along is encouraged!
Stay in Touch.
Follow the Alum Instagram & join the UCDS LinkedIn Group!
Email alum@ucds.org to schedule a visit, volunteer, or get the latest updates & newsletters.
2024-2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS
Joe Gruber Chair
Shanthi Rajagopalan
Howard Burton David Brannon-Cirone
Vice Chair 1
Vice Chair 2
Greg Headrick
Secretary
Treasurer
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS 20 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Jen Vary
Head of School
Breanne Fortun
Parent Guardian Association President
Sarah Donahue Faculty Representative
MEMBERS AT LARGE
Darius Cayetano
Sean Holmes
Jeanne Nguyen
Jill Jackson
Jeff Pelletier
Nathan Jackson
Eric Sanderson
Kristen Johnson
Kai Shih
Amy Smith
Emeritus Chair
DEPARTING TRUSTEE TRIBUTES
Honoring the Legacy of David Brannon-Cirone, Trustee It is with profound gratitude that we recognize and celebrate the distinguished service of David Brannon-Cirone, who concluded his remarkable tenure as a Trustee in August 2025. For more than a decade, David exemplified exceptional leadership, strategic insight, and steadfast commitment to the mission and future of UCDS. From his early involvement on the Parent Guardian Association (2009– 2013) and as Annual Campaign Chair (2013–2014) to his long-standing service on the Board, David helped strengthen the school’s foundation and community.
Honoring the Legacy of Greg Headrick, Trustee It is with deep appreciation that we honor and celebrate the exceptional service of Greg Headrick, who concluded his remarkable 20-year tenure as a Trustee in August 2025. Since joining the Board in 2005, Greg demonstrated unwavering commitment, thoughtful leadership, and a clear vision for the school’s long-term financial strength. His early service as Board Member at Large (2005–2010) and Board Vice Chair (2010–2011) laid the groundwork for his enduring contributions in governance and fiscal stewardship. As Board Treasurer since 2011, Greg provided steadfast financial oversight, guiding UCDS through periods of growth and transformation. His leadership on the Finance and Investment Committees reflected his deep dedication to ensuring the school’s continued sustainability and success. We are profoundly grateful for Greg’s two decades of service, generosity, and lasting impact on the UCDS community.
Tributes continued...
21 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
During his tenure, David held key leadership roles, including Board Secretary (2017–2022 and 2023–2025) and Board Vice Chair (2022–2023). His thoughtful guidance on the Development Committee and Campaign Cabinet was instrumental in advancing the school’s strategic and financial goals. We are deeply grateful for David’s enduring dedication and lasting contributions, which have left an indelible mark on UCDS.
Honoring the Service of Jill Jackson, Trustee It is with immense gratitude and deep appreciation that we recognize the extraordinary service of Jill Jackson, who concluded her tenure as a Trustee in August 2025. Over the past decade, Jill’s steadfast commitment and thoughtful leadership made a lasting impact on the UCDS community. Her journey began with hands-on leadership as Auction Chair in 2016 and 2017 and on the Parent Guardian Association (2015-2017), where her enthusiasm and vision strengthened community connections and engagement. From 2019 to 2025, Jill served as a Trustee. Through her work on the Development Committee (2017–2021) and ongoing leadership on the Campaign Cabinet (since 2018), she provided invaluable guidance supporting the school’s long-term financial health. We are fortunate that Jill will continue to share her expertise as part of the Strategic Projects Advisory Group (since 2024), and we are deeply grateful for her dedication and enduring partnership with UCDS.
22 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
FINANCIAL INFORMATION 2024-2025
Camps, Clubs & Student Activities 5.0%
Fundraising 7.5%
Investment Gain 8.9%
Development 2.3%
Program 70.6%
Management & General 19.5%
REVENUE & SUPPORT $19,766,245
EXPENSES $18,378,188 Tuition Assistance 7.5%
Earnings 28%
Tuition & Fees 78.6%
ENDOWMENT $13,303,524
Corpus 72%
To Endowment 45.4%
Teacher Excellence 13%
Tuition Assistance 17.4%
ENDOWMENT DISTRIBUTION $971,886
RESTRICTED GIVING* $573,742 Graduate School 16%
Teacher Excellence 14.2%
J. Brandon Suehiro Fund 7% *Restricted contributions are reported outside of our operating budget.
Tuition Assistance 87%
24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
23
THANK YOU! The UCDS community plays a vital role in the growth and sustainability of our school. Your support fuels our intentionally designed curriculum that cultivates reflective, collaborative, and skillful thinkers, preparing our students for their future.
UCDS Fund: Current Community
24 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Anonymous (18) , Bryce and Emily Aktepy, Javier and Shylah Alfonso, Robert Alford and Tara Moss, Cameron Allen and Morgen Maroney-Allen, Stewart and Mariska Allen, Angelo and Kathy Ambion*, Leah Anderson, James Anthony and Francesca Mazzola, Crystal Aspen and Alex Berezhnoy, Vineet and Shefali Badhwar, Bryan Balmadrid and Melissa Hayes Balmadrid, Drew and Marianne Bamford, Wenjie Bao and Shuang Li, Alyssa and Drew Barr, Lilly Berg, Simon Bocanegra Thiel and Nora Micheva, Bo Borgerson and Nan Shao, Jonathan Bricker and Maika D'Ambrosi, Thomas Bullock and Janis Sethness, Gideon Burkland, Reid Burkland and Megan Othus, Howard and Kay Burton, James Carothers and Lara Rose, Darius Cayetano, Nick Cetrulo and Kayla Wishall, Jon and Katie Chan, Chris Chen and Chenchen Wu*, Feng Chen and Xinbei Zhao, Marlene Chen, Mingyu and Catherine Chen, Ben and Karin Chickadel, Deb and Chris Chickadel, Greg and Corrie Cohen, Maddy Corteway, Ellen Cottrell and Jack Forman, Alex and Matthew Cramer*, Charley Daitch and Abigail Harley, Pahal Dalal and Charul Mehta, Chris and Erin Davis, Allie Deitel, Deniz and Leila Demir, Balaji Dhamodharaswamy and Preethi Ramesh, Kemper Diehl and Hanna McLaughlin, Sarah Donahue and Chris Eggert, Kevilin dos Reis Santos, Raina Doughty, Danny and Kristin Duran*, Jill Eagle, Ben Edick and Chenchen Li, Erin Fahey Sainsbury and Jon Sainsbury, Ali Farhadi and Hanna Hajishirzi, Marisa Ferche, Breaunah Flowers and Jordan Flowers, Susan Foley and Michael Doherty, Zach and Emma Freeman, Justin Fung and Margaret Hsu, James and Catherine Gannon, Rajiv Garg and Meghna Singla, Jessica and David Garrick, Hancheng Ge and Qi Luo, Skúli Gestsson and Anna Jónsdóttir, Andrew Glass and ZQ Ma, Will and Christa Glenn, John Goldmark and Anna Pepper, Ian Gore and Hana Choi, Dima Gorn and Rebecca Brunette, Natasha and Rob Greyber, Jane Griffin-Joseph and Tearon Joseph, Kristi and Ryan Grouws, Shelley and Prashant Grover, Zhoucan Gu and Chen Zhang, Sajeev Gulyani and Rui Gao, Vin Gupta and Nisha Ahir*, Loren Hall and Sarah Norris Hall, Mackenzie Hasenauer, Yuheng He and Han Mei, Greg and Jen Headrick, Kerrie and Brett Hecko, Ana Flávia Hedrick and Robert Hedrick, Julia Hohn, Greg and Sam Holloway, Andy Homer and Lauren Whiteside, Megumi Hosaka, Tony and Jessie Hu, Lynn Hyde, Charlie Jackson and Yau Wong, Eric Ji, Dalong Jiang and Tingting Feng, Jacky Jiang and Ying Yan, Yang and Yue Jiang, Tony Jin and Veronica Shen, Xuemin and Aji John, Jonathon and Jean Johns, Aimee and Wil Johnson, Jennifer and Courtney Jones-Vanderleest*, Sethu Kalavakur and Meghna Kumar, Dean Kawamoto and Mary Fan, Bryan Kelly and Emily White, Garrett and Amy Kephart*, Patrick King, Yigit and Sarah Kolat, Nick and Nova Komorous, Alex Kurakin and Kavitha Lingamoorthy, Sanjuna Lama, Jim and Molly Lamb*, Tom Lee and Milan Mulye, Jason LeeKeenan and Leshya Wig, Justin Lent and Sarah Sled, Daniel Li and Sarah Wong, Hua Li and Vicki Zeng*, Kristi Li, Johan Lieu and Katherine Duncan, JJ Lin and Janice Liu, Joyce Lin, Wu Lin and Fei Xie*, Derek Little and Kimiko Domoto-Reilly, Hongxu Liu and Amanda Xiao, Ray Liu and Taro Wang*, Jason Lombard and Jamie Asaka, Chris Longenecker and Allison Webel, Mi Lou and Wanting Jiang, Tyler and Noelle Luiten, Zhaoqing Ma and JingJing Li, Dylan Maggio-Hucek, Abigail and Bryan Maletis, John Malozzi and Ann Smith, Rahul Mandiga and Varsha Manjunath*, Lisa and Nick Manheim, Jill and TJ Marlow, Tim and Sarah Martino*, Patrick McAuliffe, Ryan and Jessie McDonald, Topher McFarland and Yan Yan, Onur Mete and Ozge Sade Mete, Jesse and Kelly Miller, Tami Milles-Atterberry and Tony Atterberry, Jason and Harumi Mitchell, Chaitanya Moghe and Dhanashree Kale, Wes Moore and Hannah Soll-Morris*, Katie and Michael Morrison, Quynh Nguyen and Ted Virdone, Aman Nijhawan and Deepali Aneja, Yue Ning and Mingfei Yan, Tim and Justina O'Connell, Cooper and Lauren Offenbecher*, Carissa Osborne, Carlos Otero and Breanne Fortun*, Yang Ou and Qin Shen, Dmitry and Daria Pace, Jerry Pan and Lili Fang, Christopher Pasco and Jeffrey Pelletier*, Michael Place and Amanda Hilson*, Mike and Kathryn Podobnik, Cameron and Heather Proudfoot*, Ravi and Shanthi Rajagopalan, Preethi Ramani, Ben Redman and Gillian Hanson, Andy and Sara Rigel, Harlan and Christina Robins, Natasha Rodgers, Kevin Rooney and Ali Lewis, Aleks Rudzitis and Yuling Zhou, Maggie Ruisi, Mustafa Samiwala and Zahra Hazari, Abby Sandberg, Marianne and Andrew Sardelich, Giorgio Sardo and Belinda Ban, Adrian Schroeter and Jennifer Wong*, Peter and JoAnn Schwabland, Dave and Sara Sharkey, Roham Sheikholeslami and Maryam Maleki, Sijing and Disheng Shen, Kai Shih and Ingrid Chiang, Sierra Shimomura, Elaine and Colin Smith, Eric and Kyoung Sorenson*, Michael and Sarah Soung, Alistair and Lilian Speirs, Wyn Strodtbeck and Sarah Ringold, Cliff and Kirsty Su, Szu-Ying Su, Daniel Sun and Jingjing Wu, Xiaoyi Sun and Yiwen Zhao, Mark Suzman and Katherine Switz, Philip Tai and Katherine Zhang, Evan Tan and Jue Wang, Liang Tang and Jie Song, Yong Tao and Jiali Shen, Naomi Turner, Jeffrey Van Gogh and Yuan Zheng, Maddie Van Houten, John Vander Sluis and Anu Vijay, Jay and Jennifer Vary, Joel Vukelic and Melissa Holbert, Katie Walters-Krohn, Donny Wang and Zoe Zhao, Peter and Tingting Wang, Sean Wang and Meng Li, Kyle Washabaugh and Chiara Kovarik, Robert and Susan Waugh, Coco Weber, Sven Weber, Elizabeth Wei, Peng Wei and Lily Li, Deva Wells and Keren Lehavot, Youjiang Wu and Li Qiao, Yuqin Wu and Jin Ye, Yan Xia and Ping Lu, Chenwei Xie and Xinyi Wang, Jun Xie and Tawny Shi, James Xing and Jess Zhang, Feng Xiong and Shoko Oono, Lei Xu and Anna Bai, Ren Xu and Amy Lee, Xiaodong Xu and Ying Zheng*, Arden and Gloria Yang, Lelia Yerxa and Calvin Garner, Todd Yezefski and Jenna Farleigh, Yuedong Yin and Jiayi Zhou, Roy Yong and Hui Zhai, Ye Yuan and Ying Zou, Ken and Emily Yuhas, Daniel Zevallos and Jennifer Ricaldi, Bingfeng Zhang and Bingbing Jiang, Eric and Xiaoxiao Zhang, Maoqi Zhang and Kelly Fan, Lichao Zhao and Autumn Zhong, Cheng Zhou and Elva Wei, Simon Zhu and Sunny Zhou*, Zhong Zhu and Ying Qin Families with an (*) indicate they are a Friend of UCDS and have pledged to support the UCDS Fund for three consecutive years.
Alum & Alum Families
Anonymous (1), Thomas Barr and Maria Renz, Andrew Benjamin and Shelley Saunders, David Brannon-Cirone and John Cirone, Rod Cameron and Heather Howard, Charles and Amy Carter, Elaine Cashar, Jeff Chin and Maki Arakawa, Evelyn Delahunty, Hadley Delahunty, Nick and Julie Eitel, Dean Holmes and Kelly Larkin, Paul Hughes, Helen Joneschild, Kate Joneschild, Robert Lipson and Sharon Kean, Christopher Loeffler, Ruth Mynar, Roger and Penny Percy, Steve Price and Suze Woolf, David Ralph and Susan Ott, Robert Raphael and Jennifer Naimy, Sally Revere, Alan Rothblatt and Sima Kahn, Alexis and Grant Rubenstein, Kevin Ruddell and Heather Kroll, Josie Salazar-Hanson, Eric and Caroline Sanderson, Tal and Irene Saraf, Matt Schreiber and Mara Lippa*, Christiane Tsoungui, Mike and Dina Wampold
Grandparents & Friends
Marvin H. Albert, Lowell and Julianna Alford, Pam Bendich, Karen and Ray Burkland, Sue Chen, Elizabeth Flett, Bruce and Joanne Harrell, Barbara Hewins-Maroney and Michael Maroney, Peter and Jane Lamb, Jane and Richard Levin, Mari and Peter Offenbecher, Pat and Virginia Sainsbury, Norma and Peter Shainin, Darlene and Jerry Stanton, Yaxian Sun and Henry Pan, Imelda Tiernan and John Tiernan, Henry and Stephanie Vanderleest, Nancy and Lynn Walker, Carolyn Weimar, Quentin Yerxa and Karen Freisem
Corporate & Foundations
Airbnb, Apple Computer Inc, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Boeing Company, ByteDance, eBay, Inc., Edward Jones, Expedia Gives Matching Gifts Programs, Google, Inc., Hillis, Clark, Martin and Peterson PS, Indeed, Microsoft Matching Gifts Program, Nordstrom, Salesforce, Seattle Institute for Early Child Development, SnoCo Team Sales LLC, Starbucks Matching Gift Program, Zillow Group
Imagine Forever
Forever Endowment Charles Gust
J. Brandon Suehiro Endowment for Visual Art, Music & Design
Anonymous (1) , Ken and Marilyn Balter, Lauren Gaylord, Dan and Corinne Green, Arnold Hirotsu and Karen Hirotsu, Jon and Patty Mastrude, Jim and Gerin Suehiro
MAKE A CONTRIBUTION NOW: WWW.UCDS.ORG/DONATE
25 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Anonymous (1), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Nathan and Kate Jackson, Microsoft Matching Gifts Program, Emmy Neilson and Lewis Levin, Christopher Pasco and Jeffrey Pelletier, Lucille Pasco, Bob and Peggy Rinne, Harlan and Christina Robins, Eric and Caroline Sanderson, Larry and Audrey Sanderson, Mark Suzman and Katherine Switz
Auction
26 24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
Anonymous (2), Jinai A and Qianqian Hu, Ru Abbas, Dhruv Agarwal and Tatyana Dolgaya, Bryce and Emily Aktepy, Javier and Shylah Alfonso, Robert Alford and Tara Moss, Cameron Allen and Morgen Maroney-Allen, Stewart and Mariska Allen, Angelo and Kathy Ambion, James Anthony and Francesca Mazzola, Sarah Archer, Harry and Alicia Arsene, Crystal Aspen and Alex Berezhnoy, Katie Aweida, Nathan Aweida, Bryan Balmadrid and Melissa Hayes Balmadrid, Drew and Marianne Bamford, Wenjie Bao and Shuang Li, Alyssa and Drew Barr, Clara Batchelder, Ada Beierle, Bellingham Millwork Supply Co., Board & Vellum LLC, Simon Bocanegra Thiel and Nora Micheva, Boeing Company, Billy and Isis Bordner, Bo Borgerson and Nan Shao, Jonathan Bricker and Maika D'Ambrosi, Deborah Brissenden, Thomas Bullock and Janis Sethness, James Carothers and Lara Rose, Nick Carter and Denise Noyes, Nick Cetrulo and Kayla Wishall, Jon and Katie Chan, Chris Chen and Chenchen Wu, Feng Chen and Xinbei Zhao, Marlene Chen, Mingyu and Catherine Chen, Deb and Chris Chickadel, Kimseam Chou, Dave and Lily Clausen, Greg and Corrie Cohen, Maddy Corteway, Costco, Ellen Cottrell and Jack Forman, Dany Daher and Dina Hilal, Charley Daitch and Abigail Harley, Pahal Dalal and Charul Mehta, Chris and Erin Davis, Ian and Chandan Davis, Deniz and Leila Demir, Andrew and Leslie Dervan, Allison Dick and Andrea Hanson, Kemper Diehl and Hanna McLaughlin, Sarah Donahue and Chris Eggert, Victor Dumas and Dessa Dal Porto, Danny and Kristin Duran, Jill Eagle, Ben Edick and Chenchen Li, David Engelberg and Remi Specter, Kristin Erickson, Ali Farhadi and Hanna Hajishirzi, fatcork, Marisa Ferche, First Security Bank, Breaunah Flowers and Jordan Flowers, Susan Foley and Michael Doherty, Zach and Emma Freeman, Justin Fung and Margaret Hsu, James and Catherine Gannon, Rajiv Garg and Meghna Singla, Jessica and David Garrick, Hancheng Ge and Qi Luo, Matthew and Charity Gervais, Skúli Gestsson and Anna Jónsdóttir, Vishal Ghotge and Neha Tembey, Will and Christa Glenn, Danny Godbout and Stephanie Heinrich, John Goldmark and Anna Pepper, Ian Gore and Hana Choi, Dima Gorn and Rebecca Brunette, Matthew Grabowski and Erin West, Justin and Diane Graham, Greenwood Ohlund, Natasha and Rob Greyber, Jane Griffin-Joseph and Tearon Joseph, Kristi and Ryan Grouws, Shelley and Prashant Grover, Zhoucan Gu and Chen Zhang, Guardian Cellars, Sajeev Gulyani and Rui Gao, Vin Gupta and Nisha Ahir, Loren Hall and Sarah Norris Hall, Matthew Hasten and Christa Seid, Constantine Hatzis and Alice Huang, Yuheng He and Han Mei, Ana Flávia Hedrick and Robert Hedrick, Jeff Heer and Daniela Rosner, Dave Holloway and Leah Davis, Drew and Jessica Holloway, Greg and Sam Holloway, Andy Homer and Lauren Whiteside, Tony and Jessie Hu, Albert and Romelynn Hwang, Charlie Jackson and Yau Wong, Nathan and Kate Jackson, JAS Design Build, Eric Ji, Dalong Jiang and Tingting Feng, Jacky Jiang and Ying Yan, Yang and Yue Jiang, Tony Jin and Veronica Shen, Xuemin and Aji John, Jonathon and Jean Johns, Aimee and Wil Johnson, Chris and Mimi Johnson, Jennifer and Courtney Jones-Vanderleest, Michael Kahn and Ana Khatskevich, Sethu Kalavakur and Meghna Kumar, Burak Karacik and Ahu Erenoglu Karacik, Dean Kawamoto and Mary Fan, Garrett and Amy Kephart, Uwais and Safoora Khan, Patrick King, Ozgur Koc and Melike Yucel- Koc, Yigit and Sarah Kolat, Nick and Nova Komorous, Alex Kurakin and Kavitha Lingamoorthy, Jim and Molly Lamb, Landmark Event Co., Jason LeeKeenan and Leshya Wig, Daniel Li and Sarah Wong, Hua Li and Vicki Zeng, Kristi Li, Max Lieblich and June Spector, Johan Lieu and Katherine Duncan, JJ Lin and Janice Liu, Wu Lin and Fei Xie, Derek Little and Kimiko Domoto-Reilly, Hongxu Liu and Amanda Xiao, Ray Liu and Taro Wang, Jason Lombard and Jamie Asaka, Chris Longenecker and Allison Webel, Mi Lou and Wanting Jiang, Mary and Mugs Loudon, Tyler and Noelle Luiten, Julie and Matt Lutton, Zhaoqing Ma and JingJing Li, Dylan Maggio-Hucek, Sangram Majumdar, Abigail and Bryan Maletis, John Malozzi and Ann Smith, Rahul Mandiga and Varsha Manjunath, Lisa and Nick Manheim, Sean Marley and Jennifer Wilkes, Jake Martin and Elspeth Payton Martin, Tim and Sarah Martino, Patrick McAuliffe, Ryan and Jessie McDonald, Berto Mendoza, Onur Mete and Ozge Sade Mete, Microsoft Matching Gifts Program, Jesse and Kelly Miller, Tami Milles-Atterberry and Tony Atterberry, Chester Millisock and Sara Chesnin, Chaitanya Moghe and Dhanashree Kale, Wes Moore and Hannah Soll-Morris, Katie and Michael Morrison, Du Nguyen and Ping Xu, Quynh Nguyen and Ted Virdone, Aman Nijhawan and Deepali Aneja, Nike, Inc., Yue Ning and Mingfei Yan, Julia Noble, Tim and Justina O'Connell, Cooper and Lauren Offenbecher, Justin and Mia O'Neill, Omer Bilal Orhan and Rosa Enciso, Carissa Osborne, Dan Osias and Katie Gunderson, Carlos Otero and Breanne Fortun, Yang Ou and Qin Shen, Jeremy Paley and Ann Dornfeld, Jerry Pan and Lili Fang, Christopher Pasco and Jeffrey Pelletier, Michael Place and Amanda Hilson, Mike and Kathryn Podobnik, Kevin and Christy Pope, Pot O' Gold, Claudio Pozzi and Val Pascucci, Cameron and Heather Proudfoot, Jovi Qi and Sara Zhu, RAFN, Prashant Raghavan and Akhila Rajan, Ravi and Shanthi Rajagopalan, Preethi Ramani, David Ramenofsky and Becky Taylor, Sandeap Reddy and Neha Nariya, Ben Redman and Gillian Hanson, Elise Ricci, Andy and Sara Rigel, Harlan and Christina Robins, Natasha Rodgers, Rogue JiuJitsu, Alex Romero and Karina Juarez Romero, Kevin Rooney and Ali Lewis, Corey and Lauren Roussel, Aleks Rudzitis and Yuling Zhou, Maggie Ruisi, Salesforce, Rogelio and Sydney Salinas, Mustafa Samiwala and Zahra Hazari, Isabel Sanchez, Abby Sandberg, Joe Santiesteban, Marianne and Andrew Sardelich, Giorgio Sardo and Belinda Ban, Amanda Schaffer, Adrian Schroeter and Jennifer Wong, Peter and JoAnn Schwabland, Dave and Heather Scott, Dustin and Stephanie Scott, Dave and Sara Sharkey, Roham Sheikholeslami and Maryam Maleki, Sijing and Disheng Shen, Kai Shih and Ingrid Chiang, Sierra Shimomura, Umesh Simkhada and Beenu Maharjan, Maria Slade, Elaine and Colin Smith, Leah Smith and Somnath Mookherjee, Adam and Rachael Smith-Kipnis, Eric and Kyoung Sorenson, Michael and Sarah Soung, Alistair and Lilian Speirs, Cyrena Stefano and Reilly Donovan, Wyn Strodtbeck and Sarah Ringold, Cliff and Kirsty Su, Szu-Ying Su, Daniel Sun and Jingjing Wu, David Sun and Paris Fang, Fang Sun and Zeran Wang, Jian Sun and Tracy Zheng, Mark Suzman and Katherine Switz, Eric and Lindsay Swanson, Philip Tai and Katherine Zhang, Evan Tan and Jue Wang, Liang Tang and Jie Song, Tom Tang and YJ Dang, Tavour, Joe and Lea Tiernan, Vehro Titcomb and Diane Garvey, Josh and Ryan Turner, Naomi Turner, Brian and Kendall Tyson, Dmitry Pace and Daria Pace, Stephen Van Dyck and Kristen Johnson, Jeffrey Van Gogh and Yuan Zheng, Maddie Van Houten, John Vander Sluis and Anu Vijay, Jay and Jennifer Vary, Piragash Velummylum and Natasha De Sousa, Joel Vukelic and Melissa Holbert, Katie Walters-Krohn
24-25 ANNUAL REPORT
27
NON-PROFIT ORG, U.S.
5062 9th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98105
THE UCDS MISSION University Child Development School designs a culture of inquiry essential to meaningful learning. We cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities. We engage diverse perspectives in an ongoing effort to shape & share our innovative education model.
25-26 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS Joe Gruber, Board Chair Shanthi Rajagopalan, Vice Chair 1 Jeff Pelletier, Vice Chair 2 Darius Cayetano, Secretary Nathan Jackson, Treasurer Amy Smith, Emeritus Chair EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Jen Vary, Head of School Breanne Fortun, Parent Guardian Association President Sarah Donahue, Faculty Representative MEMBERS AT LARGE YJ Dang Sean Holmes Romelynn Hwang Jeanne Nguyen Eric Sanderson Kai Shih Brian Tyson
206.547.8237 / INFO@UCDS.ORG / UCDS.ORG
POSTAGE , PAID,
SEATTLE, WA, PERMIT NO. 02488