By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
In recognition of her transformative leadership at Madrona Elementary School, Principal Regina Carter has been named one of two recipients of the 2025 Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence, a prestigious honor presented by the Alliance for Education. The award includes a $30,000 grant for her school and celebrates her commitment to educational justice and racial equity.
Carter was selected based on nominations from colleagues and community members, as well as school performance indicators, including improvements in equity and antiracism school climate surveys, district college and career readiness goals, and standardized test proficiency in math and English language arts.
First awarded in 1999, the Foster Award was established in memory of Thomas B. Foster, a prominent Seattle attorney who displayed a strong personal commitment to public education. The award provides unrestricted grants to each recipient’s school, allowing staff the flexibility to fund initiatives and resources outside the traditional school budget, allowing them to best meet their students’ needs.
According to the parents and staff who nominated her, Carter has been a game-changer during her tenure at the school. Her efforts not only include making sure that all students—especially students furthest from educational justice—were successful in the classroom; she also created community partnerships like Multicultural Night and College Day, and guided educators to make decisions that enhance academic rigor for students.
In addition, the school was recently recognized by the Washington School Recognition Program for its efforts in Closing Gaps and Growth during the 2023–24 school year.
“I’m deeply honored to receive this prestigious Principal of the Year award,” said Carter. “I am proud to be the principal of Madrona. This is the neighborhood where my grandparents used to live, and the school where many of my family members attended. Education is important to my family. They taught me that education is a gift that not everyone receives.”
“When I first came to Madrona, I didn’t think it was possible to start closing the achievement gap,” she continued. “But we’ve worked so hard now that the scores are turning and going in the right direction. I’m just incredibly honored and thankful that we all bought into our values and beliefs at Madrona.”
Yonas Fikak, vice president of impact at the Alliance for Education, praised Carter’s example of antiracist leadership.
“As we celebrate 30 years of supporting Seattle schools, it was an honor to present the Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence to Principal Carter in recognition of her energizing, persistent, and student-centered leadership,” said Fikak. “[Her] dedication to transforming antiquated school systems to uplift students furthest from education justice exemplifies who we want to lead our schools.”
Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones highlighted the award’s significance.
“The Foster Award is more than just a celebration of leadership; it is a recognition of those who dare to envision schools where every student thrives—where educational justice is not just a concept, but a daily practice,” he said. “Principal Carter has led with courage, compassion, and self-reflection that makes a difference for her students, her staff, and the Seattle community.”
At the end of the day, Carter believes that it is important to nurture an environment in the school that instills some of her own philosophies for success into her students.
“We tell our kids at Madrona, no matter where you go or what you do, you have to be professional and you have to be attentive,” she said. “And the way you approach it, you have to be thoughtful and hardworking.”
