Lunchtime LEVinars
Welcome to Lunchtime LEVinars, free, interactive, online webinars on important and timely issues hosted by the League of Education Voters (LEV). These lunchtime webinars are designed to share information and build knowledge about the issues at the core of LEV’s policy priorities.
LEV will host each 30 to 60-minute webinar, which will include a 20–30 minute presentation by an expert from the field and 10 minutes of Q&A. Each webinar will be recorded and archived on our website.
Most Recent LEVinar
Washington state Teachers of the Year on Maintaining Strong and Welcoming Public Schools
Executive orders at the federal level are targeting students who are undocumented, students who identify as LBGTQ+, students who come from low-income backgrounds, and students with disabilities. Now more than ever, it is crucial to maintain strong and welcoming public schools.
In this webinar, Washington state Teachers of the Year share what they are hearing from students, families, and colleagues in their community about how the current school year is going and what students need now, especially as we face massive changes at the federal level. Students from across Washington state offer their feedback.
Panelists:
- Minal Gowda, a junior at Lincoln High School in Seattle Public Schools and a member of the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL)
- Naomi Elsing, a junior at Lincoln High School in Seattle Public Schools and a member of the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL)
- Leonel Perez Valenzuela, a senior at Summit Atlas Public School in Seattle
- Kim Broomer, the 2025 Washington state Teacher of the Year and Kindergarten Teacher at Ruby Bridges Elementary School in the Northshore School District, which is part of the Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network (IPTN)
- Jerad Koepp, the 2022 Washington state Teacher of the Year and Native Student Program Specialist at North Thurston Public Schools
- Brooke Brown, the 2021 Washington state Teacher of the Year, Instructional Equity Specialist at Franklin Pierce Schools, and Board Member of the Washington State Board of Education
- Amy Campbell, the 2020 Washington state Teacher of the Year, special education teacher at Helen Baller Elementary School in the Camas School District, and Board Member of the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board
- Mandy Manning, the 2018 Washington state Teacher of the Year, the 2018 National Teacher of the Year, and Digital Content Specialist for the Washington Education Association
- Lyon Terry, the 2015 Washington state Teacher of the Year and Principal at Midway Elementary School in Highline Public Schools
Moderated by League of Education Voters CEO Arik Korman.
Watch Now (captioning is available in English, Spanish, and Somali)
Upcoming LEVinars
Equity in Education: From Research to Action
Join us for a dynamic 60-minute webinar exploring the latest research on student homelessness in Washington state and how data-driven insights can drive meaningful policy change. With the state legislature looking to renew its commitment to our K-12 education system, it’s critical to remind policymakers that good policy is informed by data. This discussion will highlight key research efforts and explore how they can be leveraged to create equitable educational opportunities for all students.
- Learn key findings from Building Changes’ latest K-12 report.
- Learn about the prevention work of Upstream through Chapin Hall.
- Hear from experts on bridging research and policy to address educational disparities.
- Ask questions and explore solutions through an interactive Q&A.
Panelists:
- Betsy Naymon, Senior Research Associate at Building Changes
- Dr. Forrest Moore, Policy Fellow at Chapin Hall
- Aaron Yared, MA, JD, Director of Policy & Advocacy at Building Changes
Moderated by Neal Morton, Western Education Reporter at The Hechinger Report.
This is a must-attend event for researchers, funders, policymakers, and advocates dedicated to advancing equity in K-12 education. Save your spot today!
Spanish interpretation and captioning in English will be provided.
Thursday, April 3, 2025
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Register Now
Budget Priorities Across the Education Ecosystem: From Early Learning to Higher Ed
The upcoming state budget decisions in Washington will have a far-reaching impact across every level of education, from early learning through higher education. The choices made in Olympia will affect children and families in different ways, with key investments shaping opportunities for equity, access, and success for young people across the state.
In this free webinar, we will examine how budget and investment priorities across various sectors of the education ecosystem are connected and how they influence equity for students. We will explore how decisions in areas such as early learning, inclusive practices, youth diversion programs, and higher education funding can drive meaningful change for students of all backgrounds.
Key questions include:
- What impact will proposed cuts in early learning and higher education have on access, equity, and outcomes for students, particularly those from underserved communities?
- What is needed to ensure sufficient funding for inclusive practices and equity in Washington’s schools?
- How can investments in youth criminal justice and diversion programs improve outcomes for young people involved in the justice system?
- How do new revenue proposals support sustainable investments in education across all levels?
Join us for a conversation with experts across these sectors to explore how budget priorities intersect to impact Washington’s students, and how these decisions can help promote a more equitable and inclusive future.
Panelists include:
- Lilly Deerwater, Economic Inequity & Health Program Manager at Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility and steering committee member of the Balance Our Tax Code Coalition
- Roxana Gomez, Director of Policy and Systemic Advocacy at Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC)
- Chris Korsmo, Executive Director of the Washington State Charter Schools Association
Moderated by League of Education Voters CEO Arik Korman.
Spanish interpretation and captioning in English will be provided.
Thursday, April 10, 2025
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Register Now
Previous LEVinars
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