CSTP is proud to be a part of the state framework convening each year to bring together the state framework specialists for Danielson, Marzano, and CEL 5D+. Pictured here are the specialist leads from the convening hosted mid-March.

• Camp CSTP, July 27-31: Early Bird Registration is Now Live!

Camp CSTP 2026: Early Bird Registration is Open Now!

Spend a night or two with us during the week of July 29-31! This summer, CSTP is hosting two sessions in-person at the Rainbow Lodge Retreat Center in North Bend, WA, including “Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in Practice” and "Teacher Leadership: Leading from Within."

Our intimate sessions are limited to 22 attendees and focus on connecting educators while diving into important topics. These sessions are an excellent opportunity for educators to retreat and recharge in community while getting ready for the new school year, with options to register for one or both learning sessions. Be sure to register by May 31 to take advantage of Early Bird pricing.

Claim your spot here!

If you are a National Board Certified Teacher, enter code "NBCT" (or, if this is your first year, "NewNBCT") at checkout for an additional discount!

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in Practice

• Dates: 12:00 PM on July 29, 2026 - 11:30 AM on July 30, 2026
• Early Bird Price April 14-May 31: $195.00 plus tax (or combine with another session for $375 plus tax)
• Regular Registration Price June 1-July 16: $220.00 plux tax (or combine with another session for $400 plus tax)
• Clock Hours: 6
• About: This professional development will empower educators to shape their culturally responsive pedagogical practices through intentional planning, reflection, and anticipation of student needs rooted in cultural awareness.

Teacher Leadership: Leading from Within

• Dates: 12:00 PM on July 30, 2026 - 11:30 AM on July 31, 2026
• Early Bird Price April 14-May 31: $195.00 plus tax (or combine with another session for $375 plus tax)
• Regular Registration Price June 1-July 16: $220.00 plus tax (or combine with another session for $400 plus tax)
• Clock Hours: 6
• About: This professional development session is designed for teacher leaders at any stage, whether you hold a formal role, aspire to lead, or lead from within your classroom, school or district. Using CSTP’s Teacher Leadership Framework, participants will explore the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to strengthen their leadership practice while reflecting on their own strengths and areas for growth.

Read more and register here!

Washington's 2026 Legislative Session Has Ended

Our 2026 legislative session is now finished!

Read the last updates from our Legislative Update Coordinator, Samantha Miller, here on our Stories From Schools blog!

Read prior weeks and even review past years!

Bring CSTP Expertise to Your School or District's Professional Learning

As the school year continues on and you are considering what professional learning you need for the year, CSTP is ready to collaborate with you! We provide consultation, facilitation, and coaching to support teacher leadership, teamwork, and customized professional learning in your school or district. 

We bring expertise in:

• Teacher Leadership Development, helping educators step into influential roles and contribute meaningfully at the school and district level. 
• Supporting Teacher Teams, offering structures and strategies that enhance team communication and empower collaborative, equity-focused reflective practice 
• Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, equipping educators with tools and mindsets that support all students to access rigorous, engaging work while honoring all students’ identities 

Let CSTP help you design meaningful learning experiences, launch leadership frameworks, or amplify teacher-led initiatives—whether virtual or in-person. Interested in exploring how CSTP can support your school or district? Reach out to Linsdey@cstp-wa.org. We’re ready to collaborate with you!

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

National Board Events and Supports Through OSPI

Next Steps for New NBCTs Webinar

Attention NBCTs who certified in the 2025 score release! OSPI will host an online session to offer a deeper dive on your next steps and answer your questions. 

• Who? Any NBCT who achieved certification in 2025 (or in recent years).
• What? Information session hosted by OSPI on next steps for newly certified NBCTs. Learn more about maintaining your state teaching certificate, accessing clock hours, the annual bonus payment, future opportunities as a teacher leader, the MOC process, and addressing any other questions. 
• When? Tuesday, April 21 @ 4:30 PM
• Where? Register on Zoom here.

Initial Candidate Information Sessions

To support Washington state candidates through this process, OSPI will be hosting information sessions open to all educators looking to begin or continue their National Board journey. These sessions will cover considerations for why National Board Certification is right for you, the assessment process, and supports and resources to help along the way.

• Who? Any teacher or counselor interested in pursuing National Board certification.
• What? Information session hosted by OSPI, in partnership with WEA and CSTP. Attend to find out what National Board certification requires and the timeline options.
• When? Tuesday, May 19 AND Tuesday, June 9 @ 4:30 PM-6:30 PM. 2 Clock Hours available per session
• Where? Register here! Registration will close the day of the session. A Zoom link will be emailed upon completing the registration survey.

For questions, please reach out to Steven Mueller, National Board Program Supervisor at OSPI: Steven.Mueller@k12.wa.us.

WEA National Board Information and Support

All WEA sessions are available for WEA members only. Visit the WEA National Board Certification webpage for more information and more course availability.

National Board Information Session Series

Session 1: Overview

• Wednesday, April 29, 2026 - 4:30 to 6:30 pm

Session 2: Standards & Process

• Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - 4:30 to 6:30 pm

Session 3: Support & Next Steps: Session 3

• Wednesday, May 13, 2026 - 4:30 to 6:30 pm

WEA National Board Maintenance of Certificate (MOC) Work Sessions

In order to maintain National Board certificated educators must complete and submit a Maintenance of Certificate (MOC) every 5 years. WEA offers three Work Sessions to help you pursue your National Board MOC. Each Session offers a different focus to guide you through this process.

• Work Session 3: 4/23

OSPI State Learning Standards Updates

Find all released documents, surveys, and up to date information on learning standards review and revision processes for all content areas currently under review at the OSPI website here.

English Language Arts

The Washington State K–12 Learning Standards for English Language Arts were released for Initial Adoption March 12, 2026. These standards are a result of over two years of development and collaboration with educators and partners in education, communities and workforce, including CSTP.

The initial adoption of learning standards allows educators to review and begin to use the standards in instruction. A survey is available until May 3, 2026 to collect feedback on the learning standards that will be considered in the Final Adoption of the learning standards which is planned for summer of 2026. 

Find the survey and open office hours on the webpage.

The Arts

The Washington State K–12 Learning Standards for The Arts were scheduled to begin the review and revision process in 2026. The National Core Arts Standards (NCAS), the standards that our WA Arts standards are built from, are also beginning the review and revision process.

OSPI is going to postpone the review and revision of the WA Arts standards until the NCAS have completed their process. The timeline for NCAS to complete their review is estimated to be 2-3 years. OSPI's timeline has been adjusted to reflect this change.

Interview with Gabriela Whitemarsh

Gabriela Whitemarsh, 2026 Washington State Teacher of the Year, recently did an interview with ReadyWA! She spoke about her work at Pasco High School, including the Advanced Multilingual Mathematics Program she created and other work with multilingual students.

Read it here!

Let's Talk Education: Teacher of the Year Panel

Come together with eight Washington and National Teachers of the Year to discuss issues that impact education today! Join WATOYEvents on April 22 6-8 pm for a panel discussion moderated by Erin Jones and Q&A session to follow. Admission is free!

It's a great chance to hear their stories, ask questions, and build community. Whether you're a student, parent, or just love learning, this casual evening is for you. Register right here.

Sounders FC Educator Appreciation Nights 2026

Join the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, April 18th for Education Appreciation Night to celebrate the impact educators make in our communities every day! Each Ticket purchased includes a Sounders FC branded tumbler. This offer is open to all – You don’t have to be an educator to purchase.

Purchase tickets here!

For more information or questions, contact Reagan@soundersfc.com

Washington State STEM Signing Day 2026

Do you know a Washington high school senior who plans to pursue a future in science, technology, engineering, or math? Encourage them to apply and be recognized for their commitment to a STEM pathway.

Applications for Washington State STEM Signing Day 2026 are now open. This annual celebration honors graduating seniors across the state who are taking the next step toward a STEM degree or training program after high school.

Modeled after signing days for student athletes, STEM Signing Day recognizes high school seniors who are committing to pursue a degree or training program in science, technology, engineering, or math. Whether students plan to attend a four-year university, enroll in a community or technical college, begin an apprenticeship, or pursue another postsecondary training pathway, STEM Signing Day celebrates the next step in their STEM journey.

The 2026 celebration will take place on June 5 at the Seattle Seahawks’ training facility in Renton, WA, creating a memorable setting to recognize these future innovators. Students selected as honorees will sign a letter of intent and participate in a celebration that includes:

• STEM-themed swag
• A gift card, to help with the cost of books and supplies
• A visit from Seahawks mascot Blitz
• Opportunities to connect with STEM leaders and fellow students

Who Can Apply?

Any Washington high school senior graduating in 2026 and planning to pursue a postsecondary pathway in a STEM field is invited to apply! Students can apply right here.

LEV Youth Advocacy Hub

The League of Education Voters (LEV) is inviting Washington students and youth to take part in the Youth Education Advocates Series on their Youth Advocacy Hub!

Students are the people most impacted by education policy and advocacy, and LEV wants to create more space for youth voices in this important work. LEV is committed to leveling the advocacy playing field and empowering young people to become our state’s key thinkers, advocates, and leaders in the education space.

More info on their website, hub.educationvoters.org.

ReadyWA Student Storytellers

Podcast about Running Start: Ready WA Storyteller Lauren K. sat down to share her experience in the Running Start program, including what surprised her, what challenged her, and what she wishes she knew before starting. If you are thinking about Running Start, this story is for you. Listen here.

Blog Post about being a first-generation student: Ready WA Storyteller Carina M. shares what she’s learned about navigating college as the first in her family to pursue higher education — and the resources that can make the journey easier. Read it here.

Story about being "the only one in the room:" Ready WA Storyteller Nahomi S. N. shares how growing up in a small rural town shaped his beliefs about school, ambition, and higher education — and how he learned to challenge those limits. Find it here.

April is Arab American Heritage Month

From the Arab American Foundation:

"During the month of April, the Arab America Foundation formally recognizes the achievements of Arab Americans through the celebration of National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM). Across the country, cultural institutions, school districts, municipalities, state legislatures, public servants, and non-profit organizations issue proclamations and engage in special events that celebrate our community’s rich heritage and numerous contributions to society.

Arab America and the Arab America Foundation launched the National Arab American Heritage Month initiative in 2017, with just a handful of states recognizing the initiative. Each year, our grass-roots network of over 250 Arab American volunteers in 26 states gathers hundreds of proclamations from their states, counties, municipalities, and local school districts."

Read more HERE.

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

Auroras: Pretty Lights, Old Myths

In the mid-1600s, French astronomer Pierre Gassendi looked up and saw brilliant bands of color stretching across the sky. He wanted to tell people what was happening, so he did some research and found the writings of Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. Galileo described similar paths of light by alluding to a Greek deity: Aurora, the goddess of the dawn. Gassendi then invoked Boreas, Greek god of the north wind, to detail what he then named the Aurora Borealis: The light of the dawn blown down from the north.

Auroras are not caused by dawns and winds, but by interactions between the earth’s magnetic field and particles from the sun. These particles enter the atmosphere and collide with charged gas atoms, producing bursts of energy and light. Different gases and levels of charge produce different colors, including greens, purples, and reds.

These interactions occur most in areas around the globe’s poles where the magnetic field is stronger. Auroras coming from the north pole are also known as the Northern Lights. The Southern Lights are the same phenomenon centered around the south pole. Their more poetic name is the Aurora Australis, named for Auster, the Roman god of the south wind.

They might not be scientific, but the use of Greek and Roman gods’ names is evocative and describes the power of the natural world–for people who know their myths. For the rest of us, aurora is just a nice name for beautiful phenomena. We can still use words without fully knowing their etymology, but the original references may be lost. It is interesting to note just how many common words and phrases come from ancient stories.

There is the Achilles tendon in your ankle, named for Greek warrior Achilles’ only weak spot. Are you looking for a collected book of maps? That’s an atlas, which is named for the Titan who carried the world upon his shoulders. Think back to the last time you were in a museum; were you there for the original purpose of honoring the Muses through art and research?

Language is inseparable from the history in which it was developed. The ways Germanic and Romance language speakers interact every day rests just as much on ancient Greek and Latin history as it does on grammar and spelling. We can communicate without knowing the allusions, but we can miss that depth of history. Is that sending a siren of alarm through your brain? That would be appropriate, because a siren was originally one of the sea nymphs who used their song to lure sailors into the depths. Whether it’s in the ocean or high up in the magnetosphere, you never know where a mythical allusion might pop up next.