Educators learn, discuss, and plan together a Culturally Responsive Education Residency with Dr. Stembridge in Tacoma.

• 5/6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week Giveaway! Check out the link in our bio!
• 5/29: Leadership Lab
• 8/14-16: Camp CSTP. Register Now!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Join Our Social Media Giveaway

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Every day this week, May 6-10, CSTP is giving out a $25 gift card to one lucky Washington educator! To enter, simply comment your answer to the day's question on Instagram post by the end of the day. See the CSTP Instagram page here. We will DM the winner of the drawing for further information.

Here is the list of daily questions, to give you newsletter readers a head start:

• Monday: What was your favorite subject in school growing up?
• Tuesday: What is your favorite question a student has ever asked you?
• Wednesday: What is your favorite lesson or topic to teach?
• Thursday: Do you prefer whiteboards, chalkboards, or electronic only?
• Friday: If you had a favorite teacher growing up, what did they do to make them your favorite?

We have gift cards available for Amazon and Starbucks, and it is up to the recipient which one they would like!

Continued Learning Around Culturally Responsive Education Sustainability: Register for our Leadership Lab

Join us on May 29th as we discuss how districts are continuing to push the learning and growth of educators who have participated in a teacher residency with Dr. Adeyemi Stembridge, a culturally responsive teacher and researcher. Attendees will hear how districts have continued the learning for teachers teams and how they are working to scale and sustain the CRE work in their district after having a teacher residency.

We will use the format of a “Leadership Lab” as the means to regionally amplify the work of school districts that have been effectively leveraging the CRE work in their efforts to strengthen instruction.

• LOCATION: Lynnwood Event Center
• WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Teachers, instructional coaches, principals and central office administrators. Space is limited to 60 participants, so register soon!
• WHEN: May 29, 2024, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• COST: $25. Lunch will be provided
• CLOCK HOURS AVAILABLE: 5 clock hours

Read more and register here.

Camp CSTP: Register By May 31 for Early Bird Rates!

This summer CSTP is hosting two sessions in-person at the Rainbow Lodge Retreat Center in North Bend, WA. Bring your colleagues and teammates! Register here. The Early Bird rate is $195.00 per session, with discounts for attending both. A total of 7 clock hours are available for each session as well as an opportunity to be guided through the Professional Growth Plan documentation to earn 25 clock hours.

August 14-15: Communication and Collaboration for Equity-Focused PLC

In this session, participants will utilize the Teacher Leadership Framework as a tool to develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to lead PLCs and Learning Teams toward collective efficacy, while developing a common understanding of high functioning PLCs. Participants will build capacity for effective teams through exploration of tools to support communication and collaboration while co-constructing a definition of equity for your team and context.

August 15-16: Transformational Advocacy

Come create a message for an issue you are passionate about. We support educators and leaders in defining their audience, what thresholds to consider, and what data or anecdotes to include. We will also address how positionality and identity play a role in advocacy and equity messages or movements. Participants will leave the session having a better awareness of what it means to work alongside as a co-conspirator instead of falling into white saviorism norms and behaviors in advancing advocacy for equity.

Our intimate sessions are limited to 24 attendees and focus on connecting educators while diving into important topics. These sessions are an excellent jump start for educators getting ready for the new school year with options to register for one or both learning sessions. These are great opportunities for individuals, and bringing teams is highly encouraged. Grab your colleagues and come learn at camp.

Read more and register here. Be sure to register by May 31 to take advantage of Early Bird pricing!

Partner with CSTP to Offer Clock Hours at Your Next Training

Are you running a course, professional development or book study and want to offer Washington State clock hours? CSTP is an approved Washington State clock hour provider and can approve your courses for clock hours. It is free for the instructor to apply for the course with participants paying a nominal fee.

Learn More and Apply for Clock Hours

CSTP's 20th Anniversary Monthly Giveaway

WEA National Board Jump Start

WHEN: June 24-June 28, 2024 -or- July 29-August 2, 2024. Times Vary (See registration link for class times.)

WEA's National Board Jump Start is a comprehensive, multi-day seminar designed to provide National Board candidates with important information about the certification process, time to examine component and Assessment Center requirements, the opportunity to plan how to meet requirements, and time to collaborate, gather resources and information needed to pursue certification. All this happens in a supportive, constructive and collegial environment.

There are a total of six (6) training modules that will be offered each training week. Foundations I must be completed as a pre-requisite before taking the component options. Those who register for the June 24 Foundations I session have the option of taking any of the component sessions from the June 24-28 and July 29-Aug. 2 training weeks. Those who take Foundations I on July 29 may only take component options offered during the July 29-Aug. 2 training week. In addition to Foundations I, participants will be able to take Component 1, Component 2, Component 3, Component 4 and Foundations II. Independent work time is required in addition to the class time.

Participants can earn up to 30 WEA clock hours for taking all six modules. Registration is $75 and is open to WEA members only. Classes will be held online.

Register: 6/24-6/28/24; 7/29-8/2/24

Questions about registration? Contact Jennifer Wolf. Questions about National Board Certification? Email Arlyn Palomo.

National Board Candidate Informational Sessions

Are you considering earning your national certification or working towards your renewal? National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers free informational webinars.

• 5/7, 4:00 pm: Teacher Appreciation Week Social Hour
• 6/13, 4:00 pm: Arts Integration

Pop-Up Virtual Design Studios

Dr. Yemi Stembridge, author of "Brilliant Teaching" and "Culturally Responsive Education in the Classroom," is hosting a virtual Design Studio pop-up sessions! One is still upcoming on May 18!

These free events are a great opportunity to preview the energy of Dr. Stembridge's CSTP-sponsored CRE professional development. Come plan with us, 8:30-10 am pacific time on May 18. Register at DrYemiS.com.

Learning Standards Feedback for OSPI

OSPI is seeking educator feedback on learning standards. OSPI is beginning the initial review phase for updating the learning standards in Health, Physical Education, World Languages and Financial Education. We understand that these standards might be taught by multiple types of educators in our state. We are seeking to obtain feedback from as many educators as possible in this process. The survey will filter to only the standards that each educator selects that they teach. The survey can be found here. 

If you have any questions or comments please send them to standards.review@k12.wa.us. You can also visit the Washington State Learning Standards Review website where we will keep updated information about the progress of the work as well as address Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

WEA's Free Spring Emergency Substitute Teacher Trainings

At WEA, we recognize substitute teachers are expected to step into an unknown class, often in an unknown building, on very short notice, and pick up ongoing lessons without the benefit of knowing exactly where a teacher left off or what material students have already covered. Thanks to a partnership grant with OSPI, WEA has created several free programs to support substitute educators through community-building opportunities, offering professional development and career coaching. These programs include Online Training, SubAcademy, SubCommunities, and the SUBposium.

Career Coaching

2024 group information sessions / in-person

• *May 13: 4:30-6:30 p.m.: 7403 West Grandridge Blvd, Kennewick

Group information sessions / virtual

• May 9: 4-6:00 p.m.: Zoom
• *May 13: 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Zoom
• May 20: 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Zoom

* Indicates hybrid event

WEA SubAcademy

• 5/18/24 – Federal Way – WEA Headquarters, 9 am-5 pm. Register here.

Free Online EST and Substitute Educator Professional Development Courses

WEA's Emergency Substitute Teacher Support Project is providing professional development via Zoom. When you register, you will automatically receive an email with a Zoom link. Courses are free for all Washington ESTs and substitute teachers.

• 5/16 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. – Universal Design Learning (UDL) 101 (3 clock hours)
• 5/23 and 6/18 from 4:30-6 p.m. – Classroom Management for ESTs and Subs with Mursion Simulation (3 clock hours)
• 5/28 and 6/6 from 4:30- 6 p.m. – Building Educational Agreements with Mursion Simulation (3 clock hours)
• 6/4 from 4:30- 7:30 p.m. – Technology in the Classroom for ESTs and Substitutes (3 clock hours)

View information here.

Information about all of these programs and more is available on the WEA website.

WSSDA: Apply to Present at the Annual Conference

WSSDA’s Annual Conference in November connects school directors, superintendents, student board representatives, and educators from around the state to share, learn and be inspired. The conference also gives attendees the opportunity to be both a learner and a teacher. If you would like to present at the conference, submit a presentation proposal here (the link also includes submission tips). Submission window for proposals closes May 31.

Students in Grays Harbor County: Apply for the Bishop Foundation Scholarship!

For students who are permanent residents of Grays Harbor County: Apply for the E.K. & Lillian F. Bishop Foundation Scholarship now!

This scholarship is for incoming and current students attending Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) member campuses. ICW has distributed these scholarships each year since 2004.

Two scholarships are available for incoming college students, each worth $4,000! Read more and apply here. Applications are due by May 10, 2024.

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

"In the month of May we take time to reflect and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) have played in our shared history. Explore Smithsonian events happening online and in-person and find resources, podcasts, and collection items to learn more about AANHPI contributions." --From the Smithsonian.

Read more and find more resources here.

Join us for fun facts, obscure knowledge, and exploration of physics, genetics, etymology, art, and more!

Cats in Fancy Genes

Cats have several genes that affect the coloration of their fur. Some create stripes, some give them white patches, some turn them orange or black or both. Then there are the point-colored cats, whose fur is colored dark—unless it gets too warm.

Albinism, in any species, is the result of a genetic mutation that reduces or eliminates the body’s production of melanin, the substance that generates pigmentation. Certain enzymes in animals facilitate melanin production; for an animal with albinism, those enzymes break down or work less effectively.

Color-point animals carry a particularly quirky variant of albinism. Here, the melanin enzymes break down only when the temperature is high enough. Even normal body temperatures are enough to stop the enzymes from working.

The torso and body near the core stay consistently warm, so the enzymes do not function there. They do operate correctly in the colder extremities of the cat. This results in the distinct point-color pattern, with the furthest “points” on the body being darker due to higher melanin production.

The Siamese cat is a well-known example of this mutation. This is why Siamese cats have their distinctive dark faces, ears, paws, and tails, in contrast to their cream-colored torsos. Particularly long fur can also start to brown at the ends.

When any color-point cat is born, their fur is pure white, only darkening when outside the womb. Low pigmentation also results in most color-point cats having bright blue eyes, which remain the same color as the cats age.

Though this genetic mutation is most well-known in Siamese cats, you also see it expressed in other pure-bred cats like the ragdoll, as well as mixed-breed cats—color-point tortoiseshells, for example, appear to be wearing fun mottled socks.

If you do have a cat—point-colored, tortoiseshell, black, orange, or any mix—I want your cat to know that they are a very good cat and I appreciate them very much, no matter what their enzymes are doing.