We are kicking off the 12th year of the Stories from School blog, where Washington teachers write about the intersection of district, state and national policies with their classrooms. Their posts are about a range of topics including cupcakes causing chaos in the classroom, passage of new state laws or how privilege is taught and used within a school.

We are thrilled to welcome back teacher bloggers:

Learn more about them and read their posts on the Stories from School Blog.

We are always looking for interested educators who want to be guest contributors to the blog. If you've got a policy and practice issue or idea that you want to write about, contact Nasue Nishida.

Register now for our informational webinar regarding the Professional Growth Plan PLCs on October 6 at 4:00 PM.

Participating educators may submit their PGP for 25 clock hours to use towards certification renewal, salary advancement or towards the General Paraeducator Certificate renewal and will receive a $200 stipend for participating.

More information and the application for our Professional Growth Plan PLCs is currently available on the CSTP website.

CSTP's Happy Hour is returning in October! We hope you will join us on Sunday, October 25 at 6:30 PM to hear from Washington NBCT and author of Teach and Still Have Time to Pee, Jamie Johnson, who will walk us through a self-care exercise.

Date: Sunday, October 25 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM

CSTP is offering statewide online component facilitation for National Board candidates in 2020-21. Priority access will be given to candidates who do not have access to a local cohort or to those with extenuating circumstances. Note: many local cohorts are hosting courses online this year. Check with your local cohort for more information.

We will be offering:

Cost: $115 + fees

Class Dates: TBD

Facilitators: Lynn Cooke and Sarah Applegate

Cost: $115 + fees

Class Dates (4:00 PM - 5:15 PM): January 11, 2021, January 25, 2021, February 8, 2021, February 22, 2021, March 8, 2021, March 22, 2021

Facilitators: Shairlyn Fish and Jodie Carlile

Cost: $205 + fees

Class Dates (4:00 PM - 5:15 PM): November 5, 2020, November 19, 2020, December 3, 2020, December 17, 2020, January 7, 2021, January 21, 2021

Facilitators: Lynn Cooke and Sarah Applegate

Cost: $205 + fees

Class Dates (4:00 PM - 5:15 PM): January 27, 2021, February 10, 2021, February 24, 2021, March 10, 2021, March 24, 2021, April 14, 2021

Facilitators: Shairlyn Fish and Jodie Carlile

Cost: $205 + fees

Class Dates (4:00 PM - 5:15 PM): November 3, 2020, November 17, 2020, December 1, 2020, December 15, 2020, January 5, 2021, January 19, 2021

If you are interested in joining CSTP’s statewide component facilitation, please fill out this survey.

The state is facing some major financial challenges - specifically a large revenue shortfall estimated at over $4 billion. The National Board Certification incentives - $5,505 for the base incentive each year for the life of the certificate and $5,000 each year you work in a challenging school with a valid NB certificate - is a sizable budget line item in the state’s budget that could be impacted this coming session. Because of that, we want to start preparing NBCTs with the knowledge and skills to advocate and message about the critical capacity and positive impacts NBCTs bring to their communities and education contexts with their students, their colleagues, within their buildings and district systems, and far beyond. NBCTs Joanna Barnes (North Thurston Public Schools) and Sarah Applegate (Wenatchee School District) will facilitate the session.

Where: Two part online session

When: November 14 from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM and November 18 from 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Clock Hours Available: 7

The EdTech Evidence Exchange is a nonprofit whose mission is to help educators make better-informed decisions about education technology. They are offering teachers and administrators a $25 e-gift card to complete a 30-minute survey about education technology contexts such as professional learning for technology or how technology is selected. They are also seeking input on the survey questions themselves. If you are interested in participating in this professional activity, please click on this link to begin the survey.

Questions? Contact Kate at EdTech Evidence Exchange.

Congratulations to Omar Escalera, principal and the ESD 123 2016 Regional Teacher of the Year in Pasco School District, for being appointed to the Paraeducator Board. You can learn more about Omar in this PESB bulletin.

The Paraeducator Board is responsible for setting the certification and employment qualifications for paraeducators in our state.

If you are interested in serving on this board, visit Washington's Boards and Commissions website for more information.

Washington teachers, Mackenzie Adams and Garrett Talcott, were featured on Inside Edition as their Tik Tok videos showing remote learning went viral. Mackenzie packs her patience as her kindergarten student struggles with the unmute button. Celebrity Chrissy Teigen tweeted the video with her kudos saying, "I hate that kids are losing so much valuable social time out in the world but man, love teachers so much. Making it work."

Garrett can be seen singing and dancing during his remote lessons to keep his students attention. Check out more videos from Mackenzie and Garrett on Tik Tok.

You have asked and we have listened! Badges and clock hours are now available for those completing any of the 16 available asynchronous modules in the Teacher Tech Project. Each completed module is worth one clock hour.

Learn more on the CSTP website.

We launched CSTP's Teacher Tech Project, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Over the summer, 36 Washington state teacher leaders, made up of NBCTs, classroom teachers, instructional coaches, and Regional Teachers of the Year, created free resources and learning opportunities in preparation for remote learning in the fall.

Access to these resources and more available now Teacher Tech Project.

This week we are bringing back an oldie but a goodie. Way back in 2017, when Zoom life wasn't a thing, this dad's TV interview is interrupted when his young children enter the room. I'm sure we can all empathize now.

Need a brain break? Labrador Stella shares her joy as she plummets her way through enormous piles of leaves.

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 during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Liking and sharing our posts on social media is another way you can support CSTP during these times. Thank you for sharing our message.