Educators gather to discuss regional career pathways for new educators in ESD 113. This is part of CSTP's efforts with Career Connect to expand equitable and accessible opportunities for careers in education; see our CCW summary below for more information. | |
WERD Book Studies: Registration is Still Open | |
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We're excited for you to join us as Dr. Adeyemi Stembridge facilitates studies of his book Brilliant Teaching.
We will be joined by the author at each weekly meeting, who will help facilitate learning and large-group discussions on this equity-based education book. In addition, participants will connect, discuss and reflect upon the book in small groups.These free book studies are open to all Washington paraeducators, teachers, principals, administrators, and ESAs. Registration is free, and each book study offers clock hours. See our website for more information.
Brilliant Teaching
-January 9th: Preface & Chapter 1
-January 16th: Chapter 2
-January 23rd: Chapter 3 & 4
-January 30th: Chapter 5, 6, 7 & 8
-February 6th: Chapter 9 & Afterword
Register and learn more here.
Plus: Facilitators Wanted
We are seeking Facilitators for our upcoming book studies. We have a few spots left and would love people interested in facilitating small group discussions and deepening their leadership skills and equity lens, as well as earning a stipend, to consider joining our work with the WERD book studies with Dr. Stembridge!
Apply to be a WERD facilitator here.
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CSTP's National Board Component 1 Support is Open for Registration | |
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Registration is still open for Component 1 of our online cohort, which begins March 26, 2025
Online cohort: Facilitated by Ranice Innocent. This will be Ranice's 6th year facilitating and supporting National Board Candidates/Cohorts. Foundations and all four components will be offered, with 12 clock hours available for each section. Read more and register here.
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Partner with CSTP to Offer Clock Hours at Your Next Training | |
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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
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Career Connected Learning with CSTP | |
CCW is a statewide network of business, labor, education, and community leaders creating work-based and academic programs for young people in Washington to explore, prepare, and launch themselves into college and careers. CSTP is the designated Sector Lead for Education supporting this work at the state level. Here are our monthly updates.
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Pictured: Educators at the ESD 112 regional gathering.
Regional Gatherings
Over the past month, CSTP has facilitated three convenings across the state, and plans to have more as the year continues. Many thanks to our hosts at ESD 101 in Spokane, ESD 113 in Olympia, and ESD 112 in Vancouver! We were thrilled to support this much-needed work!
The events present an opportunity to center a conversation about equitable access and opportunity within the pathways to careers in the educator workforce. Our driving question for our shared time together was, "What do accessible and equitable pathways into a career in education require of us?"
At our gatherings, we convened those who have touch points along the prospective educator's journey (district superintendents, Directors of DEI, SPED, multilingual learners, CTE Directors, local union leadership, Higher Education, HR Directors, local nonprofits, and CBOs) to come together and collaboratively engage in dialogue about what opportunities currently exist. And, more importantly, where in the region are there possibilities to grow, build, or expand programs to ease the path and make space for those we so desperately need in the classroom?
These gatherings present a chance to leverage collective expertise and foster a collaborative space to address regional needs and expand our impact with folks commenting that they were "Grateful that we had the time to learn and think together through these complex system challenges."
Our guest speaker at our "roadshow" of sorts has been Darin Knapp, Program Manager with Puget Sound ESD to share about the paraeducator to full certificate for BIPOC educators program that they are building in partnership with Highline, Federal Way and Auburn School districts. Our next gathering will be out east later this month. Pasco and ESD 123, here we come!
If you have any questions, please contact the Sector Lead Saara Kamal at saara@cstp-wa.org!
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WEA National Board Certification Resources | |
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National Board Information Session Series: Registration Now Open!
Audience: Certificated Educators. Our Certification Trainings are conducted online through Zoom, as a Member Benefit, free of charge to WEA Members only.
National Board Certification — Overview: Session 1 (2 Clock Hours)
National Board Certification — Standards & Process: Session 2 (2 Clock Hours)
National Board Certification — Support & Next Steps: Session 3 (2 Clock Hours)
See here for more trainings and details from WEA!
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National Board Writing Webinars | |
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Who: Any National Board candidate working toward National Board Certification in 2024-2025
What: These one-hour webinars are designed to support writing for the National Board portfolio. Candidates should expect to examine their own writing and work with peers on the selected topic. These sessions DO NOT replace cohorts nor conditional loan requirements.
When: Twice monthly, always Tuesdays, 4:30 PM-5:30 PM (choose Series A, B, or both!)
See here for 2024-25 dates and registration.
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kʷu cnxiʔ (We Join In) First Annual Gala 2024 | |
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Join us for an unforgettable evening at the 2024 kʷu cnxiʔ Gala, an event that celebrates the power of transformation, cultural resilience, and community. On November 22nd, 2024, at Northern Quest Casino and Resort in Airway Heights, Washington, we will come together to support the cultural and educational work of kʷu cnxiʔ. Through this event, we aim to bring light, hope, and blessings back into our world.
This gala is not just an evening of celebration but a vital fundraiser to support kʷu cnxiʔ's mission of cultural and educational revitalization. All funds raised will directly support our language and land-based programs, ensuring that Elders, fluent speakers, and youth continue to engage in culturally rooted learning experiences. Your participation will help us provide essential supplies, support our cultural activities, and facilitate learning journeys that connect our youth to the land and their heritage.
See here for more details about the gala and this non-profit.
Your presence at the gala, whether as an attendee, sponsor, or donor, directly contributes to the continuation of our programs. This year, our focus is on securing funds to ensure Elder support, enhancing our learning environments, and expanding our students' access to land-based experiences. Every ticket purchased, donation made, or auction item bid on will help us further these initiatives.
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Washington State's Teacher of the Year: First Keynote | |
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At her first speaking event as Washington State's Teacher of the Year, Kim Broomer gave an amazing keynote speech at the 2024 Youth Advocacy Summit. You can watch the video of her address here: https://youtu.be/Fk2S0a94ru4.
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WEA Professional Learning on Certification | |
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Keep up-to-date with the latest educator certification changes in our state. Attend WEA Certification 101! Come find out the latest: Register for a WEA Educator Certification 101 course.
Consider the next certification steps you will need to take. Learn about what you need to do for the new equity-based school practices certificate renewal requirement, STEM requirement, and suicide prevention training. Find out how to add an endorsement. Explore the basics of Professional Growth Plans (PGPs) for all educator roles. Review OSPI eCertification. WEA certification courses meet the Washington state certificate renewal requirement for leadership.
Find out more:
- Questions on your individual certificate? Contact the OSPI Certification Office at (360) 725-6400 or cert@k12.wa.us
- Questions on WEA course registration and clock hours? Contact weapd@washingtonea.org
- Questions on certification policy and practice? Contact WEA Certification Specialist Maren Johnson.
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SETC Fall 2024 Webinar Schedule | |
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The Special Education Technology Center proudly presents our Fall 2024 through Winter 2025 webinar and book study series. Descriptions of these events, as well as registration information, can be found on our website. You can register via the Zoom link or log in to our website before registering to help maintain an accurate recording of your time spent in training. Free clock-hour registration is required prior to the start of a series.
See the list of webinars here!
Questions? Contact setc@cwu.edu
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November is Native American Heritage Month | |
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What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.
In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kans., formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.
The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislators enacted such a day in 1919. Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day we observe without any recognition as a national legal holiday.
In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month”) have been issued each year since 1994.
Read more and find resources here.
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Join us for fun facts, obscure knowledge, and exploration of physics, genetics, etymology, art, and more!
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Reptiles are cold-blooded, scaly animals who live primarily on land. Birds are warm-blooded, feathered animals, most of whom can fly. Glancing at the two groups, it seems easy to tell them apart. But here is a question for you: Can you tell which group descended directly from dinosaurs?
Our knowledge of dinosaurs comes from an incredibly spotty and luck-based fossil record. Most animals and plants that were ever alive have likely left no record at all; it takes specific processes for bones and outlines to be preserved and fossilized. This is why most skeletons we have are incomplete and most of our dinosaur knowledge has been reinterpreted several times.
When dinosaur bones were first discovered, particularly the large ones like Tyrannosaurus Rex, they were imaged as mostly reptile-like beings, covered in scales. It has been theorized that myths of dragons may have, in some places, been inspired by dinosaur bones.
The two-legged dinosaurs, like the T. Rex or velociraptor, are known as theropods. Four-legged dinosaurs, like the brachiosaurus or apatosaurus, are sauropods. Many reptiles have four legs, like the sauropods, but there is a distinction. Large reptiles, like crocodiles, have limbs that sprawl out to the side. Sauropods’ limbs are positioned directly underneath them. Theropods have two large, upright hind limbs with their knees pointed backwards–similar to, one might say, birds.
Now, you may go look at birds again and come back with questions: Why are birds so small and goofy if they are dinosaurs? Back in the mesozoic era, i.e. dinosaur times, most of earth’s landmass was equatorial, keeping temperatures hot and humidity up, which in turn kept foliage lush and dense, generating more oxygen in the air.
Larger animals need more oxygen. Our large animals today are few and highly specialized to absorb oxygen as efficiently as possible. Dinosaurs had an excess of oxygen, meaning they could afford to be less efficient, and more of them grew to large sizes. As the planet shifted and some manner of extinction-level event occurred, smaller theropods began taking to the skies with hollow bones and wings. The sauropods had less luck in adapting and have no modern equivalent.
Then there is the question of the feathers. Looking at other rock formations around fossils, there is ample evidence of dinosaurs being feathered. This was rejected for a long time by the paleontological community for one reason alone: People didn’t want dinosaurs to have feathers. They wanted them to be big scary lizards, not birds.
I, on the other hand (as supported by the modern scientific community) can take comfort in the idea that dinosaurs–at least the two-legged ones–are still among us. In fact, Americans have a whole tradition of eating one very silly-looking dinosaur for dinner! So, for anyone celebrating thanksgiving and eating a turkey this month, enjoy that little taste of prehistory.
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