IN MEMORIAM Daniel B. Sweeney

On December 2, 2022, Seattle Country Day School lost a treasured colleague, advocate, and friend.

Daniel B. Sweeney graduated cum laude from Kenyon College in 1997. He worked in politics and media for a time, then pursued a teaching and administrative career. In 2010, Dan came to SCDS to take on the role of head of the Middle School, later adding the titles of director of professional growth and director of innovation. Dan also served as a consultant and board member for the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning.

His professional accomplishments were considerable, and he had the courage of his convictions: a profound belief in our students’ and our school’s capacity for growth, learning, and change. “Dan was fearless, and he used his personal and professional capital to help others,” recalls Kim Zaidberg, SCDS’s head of school. A few days before his death, in fact, Dan could be found writing high-school recommendation letters for the eighth-grade class.

He was legendary among the Middle School students, who recall this tall, imposing administrator with a certain amount of awe. Dan was also greatly admired by the Middle School teachers. “Dan’s pride in our team of colleagues made me feel so lucky to be a part of SCDS,” says art teacher Meg Hosch-Schmitt. “He thought what we do in the classroom was pure magic.”

Shortly before Dan passed away from colon cancer, the SCDS Board of Trustees signed a proclamation to name the Daniel B. Sweeney Middle School Building. This proclamation recognized Dan’s years of dedicated service to his students and his passion for education, and we know that the Sweeney Building — with all the magic that name contains — will help us remember this generous, formidable, funny, and committed man.