The CSTP kids are back to school. Thank you to all of the classified staff, educators and administrators for all of your hard work in preparing schools for students. Have a wonderful school year! | |
CSTP Welcomes Saara Kamal as Project Manager and Learning Facilitator | |
 |  | CSTP is thrilled to welcome Saara Kamal (she/her) to the staff as our new Project Manager and Learning Facilitator. Saara is an antiracist educator whose pursuit of liberation stems from her own lived experiences as a multiracial woman of color who grew up in and navigated predominantly white spaces and the harms of racism, sexism, and classism. As a facilitator, she has deep experience working with BIPOC educators, BIPOC leaders, and white leaders as they unpack the ways their racialized and intersecting identities and has a particular skill in creating spaces that center BIPOC voices, needs, and experiences through a lens of healing from racial trauma. Saara completed her Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and most recently served as the Program Manager for the Martinez Fellowship, which serves BIPOC early career educators across Washington State. Saara lives in Burien with her dude and her dog and can usually be found taking "nature baths" by hiking and running the beautiful nature trails.
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CSTP's 20th Anniversary Monthly Giveaway | |
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In celebration of CSTP's 20th Anniversary, we are giving away two $20 gift cards each month until June 2024!
Read CSTP's monthly newsletter or follow our social media for the link to enter each month for a chance to win that month's gift card. Winners will be able to choose gift cards from popular retailers like Amazon, Starbucks, Disney, Target and many others.
Enter CSTP's September Giveaway
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Student Growth Goal Emerging Practices Conference | |
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Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, all Washington state districts will be required to use the revised student growth goal rubrics with their teachers. OSPI has revised the student growth goal rubrics to promote instructional practices that are culturally responsive, socially and emotionally literate and include each and every student. Come to the Student Growth Goal Emerging Practices Conference to hear from OSPI staff, District and Building Administrators and teams about how they are implementing new practices and shifting conversations to better meet their growth goals and changing needs of teachers and students.
Cost to Attend: $25
Included in Registration: Session materials, coffee, and lunch
Who Should Attend: District Administrators, Principals,
Instructional Coaches, PLC Leads, Teachers and Educational Leaders
Draft Agenda:
8:30 - Sign in and Coffee
9:00 - Welcome and Opening
10:15 - Workshops Session One
Lunch
12:20 - Workshop Session Two
1:30 - Job Alike Conversations
2:15 - Keynote and Closing
Register Now
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Register Now for the WERD Online Book Study on Brilliant Teaching: Using Culture and Artful Thinking to Close Equity Gaps by Dr. Adeyemi Stembridge | |
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You are invited to register for a free virtual book study on Brilliant Teaching: Using Culture and Artful Thinking to Close Equity Gaps by Dr. Adeyemi Stembridge. 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 13.5 equity clock hours will be available upon completion based on live attendance. Book Study registrants will purchase and read the book on their own and then attend the live sessions (recordings will not be available).
Meetings will take place weekly on Thursday afternoons from 4:30-6:00 PM. Below are the dates for each meeting:
- October 5, 2023 – Chapters 1 & 2
- October 12, 2023 – Chapters 3 & 4
- October 19, 2023 – Chapters 5 & 6
- October 26, 2023 – Chapters 7 & 8
- November 2, 2023 – Chapter 9
Learn More and Register
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Apply Now for Culturally Responsive Teaching Experiences | |
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Is your team, school or district interested in participating in a free on-site 2023-2024 Culturally Responsive Teacher Experience?
CRE Experiences (formerly known as CRE Teacher Residencies) is a unique and intensive 18-hour professional development experience in which educator teams receive coaching, facilitation and technical assistance based on the needs of the educators and their students from Dr. Adeyemi Stembridge. We will be selecting 23 schools this year to participate.
Learn More and Apply
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Hurry! Early-Bird Pricing for the 2023 NBCT Leadership Conference Ends September 20 | |
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After a six-year hiatus, the NBCT Leadership Conference is back! The Washington National Board Network (CSTP, OSPI and WEA) is thrilled to bring this unique conference experience designed by Washington NBCTs for NBCTs with the conference theme of Rejuvenating Leadership through Justice, Joy and Equitable Practices.
Attendees will enjoy guest speakers, NBCT-led presentations, and access to helpful resources all while enjoying gourmet meals in a retreat-like environment at the Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, Washington. Register now to learn, plan, reflect and connect with other NBCTs to define your leadership journey and make a difference in Washington’s schools.
Who Can Attend: All Washington NBCTs
When: 12:00 PM on October 21, 2023 -1:30 PM on October 22, 2023
Where: Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, WA
Included in Registration:
- Four gourmet meals during the conference (Lunch and Dinner on Saturday, Breakfast and Lunch on Sunday)
- Saturday night lodging at Semiahmoo Resort (single room-not shared with other participants)
- All materials and supplies for each session
Lock in our early-bird pricing of $175 until September 20, 2023.
Learn More and Register
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Register Now for CSTP's National Board Cohort Support | |
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Are you a national board candidate looking for cohort support? CSTP is supporting online Washington national board candidates with a cohort held over Zoom with OSPI-trained National Board Facilitator Ranice Innocent. Candidates are encouraged to register early as our small cohorts fill up quickly and must register at least two weeks before the first meeting.
- Foundations starts October 19, 2023
- Component 1 starts March 7, 2024
- Component 2 starts October 26, 2023
- Component 3 starts December 5, 2023
- Component 4 starts November 9, 2023
Learn More and Register
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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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OSPI National Board Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Information Sessions | |
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Are you a NBCT planning to maintain your National Board certification during the 2023-2024 school year or next year? You will want to sign-up for this free informational webinar hosted by OSPI National Board Regional Coordinators.
Participants will learn about the MOC process and understand the next steps in maintaining their certificate, gain valuable information about completing MOC and have space to ask pertinent questions related to the assessment. While these sessions are not a series, NBCTs are more than welcome to attend multiple dates.
- Tuesday, September 19 at 4:30 PM
- Tuesday, November 14 at 4:30 PM
- Tuesday, January 16 at 4:30 PM
- Tuesday, February 6 at 4:30 PM
- Tuesday, April 3 at 4:30 PM
Register Now
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Save the Date - WEA National Board Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Fall Trainings | |
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WEA is offering three modules to help those completing National Board MOC work. Registration will open soon on the WEA website.
Module One
Overview of the MOC process and introduction of Professional Growth Experiences (PGEs). The homework is to draft PGEs and share them in Module Two.
- Thursday, October 12, 2023: 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm
- Saturday, October 14, 2023: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Module Two
Details of the MOC process. Participants will share possible PGEs and dive into the prompts for Components One and Two.
- Thursday, October 26, 2023: 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm
- Saturday, October 28, 2023: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Module Three
Feedback and Support for your MOC work. Participants will share a draft of one PGE and give and receive feedback on their work.
Learn More on the WEA Website
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2023-2024 OSPI Conditional Loan for National Board | |
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OSPI provides National Board candidates an opportunity to receive financial support for their component purchases. This loan covers 3 of the 4 initial component purchases for a candidate, no more and no less – it does not cover registration, renewal, or retake fees.
Candidates must have no more than one component purchased out-of-pocket (using the NBPTS payment plan is OK) and loan funds must apply to at least one other component purchase in the year they receive them. They also must be enrolled in an OSPI-approved National Board cohort. NBCTs are encouraged to recommend the loan application to colleagues interested in the National Board process.
Learn More and Apply
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Free NBCT Portfolio Writing Webinars | |
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OSPI and the NBCT Regional Coordinator team will be offering free 1-hour Candidate Writing Webinars throughout the year. Each webinar will focus on a different topic as it relates to writing and forms included within the portfolio components.
These webinars do not replace the support provided by cohort facilitation. If you need cohort support, please contact CSTP or any of the approved cohort providers.
Webinars take place on Tuesdays from 4:30-5:30 PM on:
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Changes for NBCT Principals and Program Administrators Certification Requirements | |
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Beginning July 1, 2023, the state certificate renewal process changed to the following for NBCT Principals and Program Administrators:
- You must earn ten (10) clock hours focused on national professional standards for education leaders (PSEL) and five (5) clock hours focused on Government-to-Government Relationships with federally recognized Tribes.
- Your National Board Certificate is no longer adequate to cover all renewal requirements.
- Once clock hours are earned, you can log them in the Professional Development tab of your E-Certification profile.
For all other NBCT roles, valid National Board Certification covers the new certificate renewal requirements.
For more information, please review bulletin 022-23 and the Professional Educator Standards Board website.
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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 including Introduction to National Board Certification, Preparing for Your National Board Journey, and Introduction to Maintenance of Certification.
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Educator of the Year Ceremony on September 30 | |
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OSPI's State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal, will be naming the 2024 Washington Teacher of the Year and 2023 Washington Classified Employee of the Year on September 30, 2023. Follow along and celebrate these educators as OSPI livestreams the ceremony on their Facebook page at 10:30 AM that day.
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High School and Beyond Plan Educator Resources | |
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Every student has big dreams, and every educator wants to see these dreams reached. That’s what teachers work toward every day! One way to support students this year: learn more and talk with students about their High School & Beyond Plan process. Ready Washington has resources for educators.
Free Resources for Educators
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Youth Advocacy Summit & Fall Fest on October 8 | |
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Students, parents, leaders, and members of the community are invited to listen, learn, and participate in the events that students are leading. Learn from their experiences with school, see what issues they are passionate about, and listen to and honor their hopes for the future.
This is a free event for youth, by youth, co-hosted by the Community Center for Education Results (CCER), League of Education Voters (LEV), and a team of youth partners from across the state.
When: Saturday, October 8 from 10 am - 4 pm
Where: Highline College - 2400 South 240th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198
Register Now
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Stay Involved with Washington State Education Policy Boards | |
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If you are an educator in Washington state, please take a moment to get to know our state policy boards that set the rules that impact K-12 education and your certification. Board meetings have online and/or in-person access. The public can provide public comment during scheduled times or submit written comment prior to the board meetings. View the board meeting agendas to see available public comment times or contact the board staff for more information.
State Board of Education (SBE)
The SBE meets every other month and oversees public education for K-12 students. Some duties include setting high school graduation requirements, issuing credit waivers, and advocating for student success.
Next Meeting: October 11-12, 2023, 2023
Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB)
The PESB oversees educator standards including certification requirements and assessments, educator preparation program approval and professional development requirements.
Next Meeting: September 28-29, 2023
Paraeducator Board
The Paraeducator Board oversees paraeducator standards including certification and program approval.
Next Meeting: September 27-28, 2023
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2nd Week of School
Kids say the darndest things.
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9/20 Stuff Your Kindle Day
Do you love free books? The Krazy Coupon Lady shares how to find them on September 20.
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Your gift ensures that CSTP continues to support student achievement through a focus on teaching excellence. With you as a partner in CSTP’s mission, you directly make a difference in the lives of youth across Washington State schools. Donations are tax deductible and essential as CSTP works to support educators navigate unique models of student engagement and teacher leadership. | |
Liking and sharing our posts on social media is another way you can support CSTP during these times. Thank you for sharing our message. | | | | |
