Congratulations to the regional and state awardees of Washington Teacher of the Year 2025 and Classified Employee of the Year 2024! CSTP and OSPI cohost the awards ceremony at Capital High School in Olympia on Saturday, September 28, after a week at ASHHO Community Cultural Center.

• Student Growth Goal Colloquium, 11/14: Register here!
• Apply for a CRE Residency for 2024-25 here
• Starting October 2024: National Board Component Support: Online and Olympia In-Person
• October: WERD book study on CRE in the Classroom
• January: WERD book study on Brilliant Teaching

Washington Educator of the Year

Congratulations to all regional and state winners of Teacher of the Year and Classified School Employee of the Year!

Teachers:

• Teena Vanderholm, ESD 101
• Lauren Gettman-Thomas, ESD 105
• Rachel Lake, ESD 112
• Andrew Landowski, ESD 113
• Kristyne York, ESD 114
• Kim Broomer, ESD 121 and State Winner
• Kristy Bishop, ESD 171
• Kelly Guilfoil, ESD 189

Classified School Employees:

• Tammy Ward, ESD 101
• Erica Aparicio, ESD 105
• Zach Claypool, ESD 112
• Kathi Dahlstrom, ESD 113
• Carrie Johnson, ESD 114
• Julia Herdt, ESD 121
• Maria Valle, ESD 171
• Carla Shanks Morales, ESD 189 and State Winner

CSTP is proud to be part of your journey and advocacy. We look forward to continuing to support you and celebrate your accomplishments.

Student Growth Goals Colloquium: Registration is Now Open!

Don’t miss this just in time opportunity to get your questions about student growth answered and learn about how to implement the new student growth rubric language!

Join us for a Student Growth Goal Colloquium to hear from OSPI staff, building administrators, and teachers about how they are implementing the new rubrics into their practice. We will explore available resources to support the implementation and conversations around the new rubrics. We will wrap up with a Q&A to ensure all of your implementation questions are answered.

When: November 14, 8:30 a.m -3:00 p.m.

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

Location: Doubletree Suites Southcenter, 16500 Southcenter Pkwy, Seattle, WA 98188

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 – Q & A and Closing

See our website here and register here! Contact Anzara@cstp-wa.org with any questions.

WERD Book Studies: Registration is Still Open

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 Facililitators 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.

CRE Residency Experiences: Applications are still OPEN!

Click here to apply to bring a CRE residency to your district.

Culturally Responsive Teacher Experiences (formerly known as CRE Teacher Residencies) are a unique and intensive professional development experience in which your team receives coaching, facilitation and technical assistance from Dr. Adeyemi Stembridge, author of “Culturally Responsive Education in the Classroom” and “Brilliant Teaching: Using Culture and Artful Thinking to Close Equity Gaps”.

Residencies are designed based on the needs of your educators and their students, and include 18 hours of in-person learning, coaching and technical assistance around the mental model that serves as the foundation for a culturally responsive classroom. The 18 hours are covered in three consecutive days using a sub release model. The dates and schedule will be mutually agreed upon once your team is selected and approved. We anticipate selecting up to 25 schools or districts for this one-of-a-kind professional development training.

If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please contact anzara@cstp-wa.org.

See our website for more information and FAQs.

CSTP's National Board Component Support is Open for Registration

Registration is open for two CSTP-sponsored National Board Component Support cohorts, with potentially more on the way.

For the 2024-25 school year, we are partnering with the following facilitators:

• Online cohort: Faciliated 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.
• In-person cohort for music teachers: Stacy Brown will be hosting an in-person cohort for music teachers in the Olympia area. Components 2 and 3 will be offered in 24-25, with components 1 and 4 offered the year after, with 12 clock hours available for each section. Read more and register here.

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

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.

Center of Excellence and Website Development

As the CCW Sector Lead for Education, we've subcontracted the Center of Excellence on an exciting project that aims to support prospective students to learn about pathways and opportunities for a career in education!

This summer, the Center of Excellence officially launched the Washington State Careers in Education Website Development Project by selecting their web developer, Trio Group, to create a user-friendly, central hub for education career pathways in Washington. Initial stakeholder meetings have begun, and content curation is underway, focusing on clear and accessible information for students, parents, and educators.

Over the next several months, they will outline the site structure, explore design concepts, and refine content with input from subject matter experts. This is a much-needed resource and we're so looking forward to what it will be able to do!

RFP Application Window is Open

On behalf of Career Connect Washington (CCW), the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) is conducting a Round 13 Request for Proposals (RFP) for CCW Program Builder Funding.

We seek proposals from highly qualified entities capable of building or expanding Career Launch, Career Prep, and Career Explore programs. To develop industry-aligned programs for Career Connected Learning (CCL) opportunities in targeted counties and industry sectors.

Our vision is that every young adult in Washington will have multiple pathways toward economic self-sufficiency and fulfillment, strengthened by a comprehensive state-wide system for career connected learning. In order for every young adult to succeed, we must intentionally focus on populations kept furthest from opportunity, especially students of color, Indigenous students, low-income students, rural students, and students with disabilities. Women- and BIPOC-led organizations and organizations specifically serving young people of color and people with lived experience in historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

To catalyze the development and expansion of programs statewide, $4,000,000 of the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Statewide Activities funds will be made available. ESD targets award amount for each grant is $100,000 – $175,000, No single award will exceed $250,000. ESD expects performance periods will begin in February 2025 and end in September 2026.

Bids are due October 16, 2024, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. The RFP can be accessed via the Washington Electronic Business Solutions (WEBS) system (RFP #2024-11). Bidders are responsible for downloading the solicitation document and all appendices and incorporated documents. Questions can be directed to Procurement Coordinator Aaron Pittelkau (esdgpbids@esd.wa.gov).

This grant opportunity is for those in the Educator workforce who want to build a program or expand an existing program that supports more opportunities and access to a career in Education. This could be for paraprofessionals, fully certificated teachers, mentors, coaches working to support pre-service teachers, programs that specifically support BIPOC educators, etc. If you think you might have a program that would be a good fit, please contact the Sector Lead Saara Kamal at saara@cstp-wa.org!

National Board Writing Webinars

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.

WEA Professional Learning on Certification

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. 

Teacher Certification 101. Zoom. 2 clock hours. Courses are held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Register.

Audience: Teachers and CTE teachers   

• Monday, Oct. 14
• Monday, Dec. 9
• Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025
• Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025
• Monday, March 10, 2025
• Monday, April 14, 2025 
• Thursday, May 29, 2025

Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certification 101. Zoom. 2 clock hours. Courses are held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Register. 

Audience: All school ESA roles: behavior analysts, counselors, nurses, occupational therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, speech language pathologists.  

• Wednesday, Nov. 20 
• Monday, Dec. 2
• Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 
• Monday, May 19, 2025

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.

SETC Fall 2024 Webinar Schedule

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

OSPI: HSBP Listen & Learn Stakeholder Events (coming this fall!)

OSPI is hosting High School and Beyond Plan "Listen & Learn" Stakeholder Events in partnership with each ESD during September & October 2024 to elevate awareness of this upcoming statewide transition of the High School and Beyond Plan to a universal online platform.

Join OSPI at one of these informative and engaging events to learn about the OSPI/SchooLinks partnership to develop the new universal HSBP platform, implementation planning and preparation, and to provide important feedback to OSPI to inform the statewide implementation that will begin in Fall 2025.

Separate sessions are scheduled for school staff, community partners, families, and students along with additional virtual session options. Registration is required to attend, and you can do so at this link.

Ready WA: Applying for College and What to Take With You

2023-2024 Ready WA Storyteller Hojoon shares advice for students getting ready to apply to college, on everything from how to approach the essays to reducing stress. Read more and share his video!

2023-2024 Ready WA Storyteller Izzy wrote this excellent blog post sharing her own experience of packing to college. From sentimental items to her favorite pair of jeans, find out what she chose to take with her in her final story as a Ready WA Storyteller!

October is LGBTQ+ History Month; October 11 is National Coming Out Day

In 1994, Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history, and gathered other teachers and community leaders. They selected October because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (October 11), occur that month.

Gay and Lesbian History Month was endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association and other national organizations. In 2006 Equality Forum assumed responsibility for providing content, promotion and resources for LGBT History Month.

Read more here.

Happy Halloween from all of CSTP's staff--and their woebegone animals! Best wishes as leaves continue to fall and our days get shorter.

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

Scales of Wood and Metal

Humans have been hitting objects together to produce sound since the beginning. An object meant to produce music and rhythm when struck is known as a percussive instrument. Idiophones are a specific type of percussion. Where drums use stretched material over a frame or pianos involve striking tightened strings, idiophones are instruments made of solid pieces of material that vibrate when hit.

The xylophone is an idiophone composed of multiple bars made either of wood or synthetic material which are tuned chromatically, so they can play scales. Orchestral xylophones are fairly small and have a dry sound and low resonance, meaning the sound fades quickly. Sometimes “xylophone” can be used as a catch-all term for other wooden idiophones.

The marimba is similar to the xylophone, but the tuning and construction are different. It tends to be larger, with softer tones, lower pitches and more emphasis on its resonator pipes to emphasize the sound.

The balafon is another wooden instrument, primarily from West Africa. The shape and tuning are like the marimba, but the balafon uses gourds instead of resonator pipes to amplify itself.

Sometimes, you may be able to walk into a toy store and buy a child’s “xylophone” that is no xylophone at all: If its bars are made of metal, it’s a glockenspiel. It has a shape very similar to a xylophone, but with the metal construction, these notes are much sharper and harsher, and usually higher pitched. No wonder they make such good toys!

The vibraphone is the metal equivalent of the marimba, being larger and tuned lower. Each bar has a corresponding resonator pipe, at the mouth of which is a spinning disk that closes and opens the pipe periodically. This provides the vibraphone with its eponymous vibrating effect, or tremolo.

Chimes are slightly different in that they are made of metal tubes, omitting the bar entirely and increasing their resonance. They are usually suspended vertically instead of laid flat like their barred brethren. You can also see chimes out in the wild swaying in the breeze and played every half hour in some big fancy clocks.

If you have one takeaway from all of this, it’s to realize we need to see “G is for Glockenspiel” on more elementary school walls to combat the overuse of the word xylophone. Let us celebrate all the different idiophones out there by playing our harshest, most piercing little glockenspiels for the whole world to hear.