League of Education Voters Blog - Education in Washington State

Podcast – Betty Peralta on Why Students Need Social-Emotional Learning

September 27, 2021 by Arik Korman

In our Putting Students First podcast, we interview policymakers, partners, and thought leaders to spotlight education policies, research, and practices so that together we can create a brighter future for every Washington student.

In this episode, League of Education Voters Communications Director Arik Korman interviews adult-child interaction specialist Betty Peralta about what social-emotional learning (SEL) is, how students, teachers, and administrators can benefit from SEL, how the state can support SEL in Washington’s 295 school districts, how parents can advocate for SEL in their student’s classroom, and more.

Betty recently led a training on social-emotional learning for educators and staff at South Shore PreK-8 in South Seattle, a close partner of League of Education Voters. Betty’s website is AltaVenues.com.

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Washington Game Changers Podcast – Sage Walund and Lauren Seaton from NAMI WA

September 16, 2021 by Arik Korman

Sage Walund (L) and Lauren Seaton, NAMI Washington

Washington Game Changers with Lauri Hennessey features leaders who give back to our community, drive innovative solutions, and inspire others in making our state more equitable and just. This podcast is a one-on-one conversation with these powerful leaders in a time when we need to hear about more good in the world.

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey talks with Sage Walund and Lauren Seaton from the Washington state chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Sage and Lauren cover everything from the stigma around mental illness to how youth are faring during the pandemic, as well as the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on youth.

Listen:

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker.

Watch:

Watch the League of Education Voters 2021 Virtual Event on COVID’s Disproportionate Impact on Youth Now and Tomorrow

Read NAMI’s Ending The Silence materials, Part 1 and Part 2 Read More

Washington Game Changers Podcast – Leah Griffin, Advocate for Victims of Sexual Assault

August 12, 2021 by Arik Korman

Here at League of Education Voters, we talk a lot about advocacy. In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey talks with Leah Griffin, who tells an inspiring story of advocacy. Leah took her own experience with sexual assault six years ago and turned it into a powerful story of advocacy, taking on the system, and making true and lasting change in protection for victims of sexual assault.

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Washington Game Changers Podcast – Critical Race Theory Scholar Edwin Lindo

July 12, 2021 by Arik Korman

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey talks with Edwin Lindo, a Critical Race Theory scholar at the University of Washington. Professor Lindo addresses the controversy around Critical Race Theory, clarifying what it is and also how incredibly important it is that students learn about our true history. You can find more about him on Twitter @edwinlindo.

Book recommendations from Estelita’s Library:

Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic – Critical Race Theory: An Introduction
Paulo Freire – Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Howard Zinn – The People’s History of the United States

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Podcast – The Washington state Legislative Youth Advisory Council

June 16, 2021 by Arik Korman

Priyanka Mukhara (L) and Kellen Hoard (R)

In this episode, League of Education Voters Communications Director Arik Korman connects with two students from the Washington state Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) about LYAC’s history, how LYAC operates, LYAC’s impact on education policy, and what they would change if they were in charge of the state’s education system. Priyanka Mukhara is a First-Year Councilmember and Kellen Hoard is a Second-Year Councilmember and the Chair of LYAC.

The Washington state Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is codified in law as the official youth advisory body to the state legislature, and its activities are wide-ranging. Throughout the year, 14-to-18-year-old student members of the council actively lobby legislators, testify in committee, advise various government agencies, host events around the state, collaborate with nearly 200 community organizations, and much more. LYAC also spends much time conversing with young people in every corner of Washington about their priorities in order to be a more effective advocate to the legislature.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker

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Mental Health from the Perspective of BIPOC Student Activists

June 16, 2021 by Arik Korman

By The Root of Our Youth – Tara Duong, Diya Kumar, Diya Anoop, Phia Endicott, Marlo Duong, Malavika Santhosh, Zana Stewart, and Molly Reagan
Guest Bloggers

Clockwise from top left: Tara Duong, Diya Kumar, Diya Anoop, Molly Reagan, Zana Stewart, Malavika Santhosh, Marlo Duong, and Phia Endicott

Without tangible mental health support, students—especially BIPOC—have been left to fend for ourselves throughout remote learning. In an attempt to remedy the emotional damage caused by the abrupt closing of schools, the recent switch to hybrid learning has ironically been handled in the same haphazard manner, with the causes of these mental complications remaining unaddressed.

Our education system teaches students that academic success holds greater value than our health. We’re in a position where we must suppress our mental and emotional needs to survive. When the pandemic hit, we suddenly had the time and space to express ourselves freely, leading us to recognize the severity of our struggles and the damages imposed by the education system.

While the school environment has its faults, isolation has made the management of mental health and academic success increasingly difficult. Numerous elements of in-person school cannot be recreated online, such as connecting and collaborating with peers, and effective communication with teachers. There is little to no opportunity for teamwork, a skill we’ve been conditioned to depend on since primary school. We were taken out of an environment rich in support and dropped into seclusion. Read More

LEVinar Recap: The Fair Start for Kids Act

May 18, 2021 by Arik Korman

By Lizzeth Mancilla
Engagement and Policy Intern

Early learning matters for our families, our businesses, and our future. Children, families, and early childhood professionals are celebrating the signing of the Fair Start for Kids Act and its historic investments in early learning. These strong investments in child care, quality pre-K, and other birth-to-5 services will help ensure that all children are thriving — and help Washington get back to work.

In this webinar, Washington state Representative Tana Senn and Senator Claire Wilson, prime sponsors of the Fair Start for Kids Act, along with early childhood education providers Luc Jasmin III from Parkview Early Learning Center in Spokane and Susan Yang from the Denise Louie Education Center in Seattle, explained how the newly signed omnibus legislation takes strong steps to address affordability, access, and the economic crisis. They also answered your questions.

What is in the final version of the Fair Start for Kids Act?

Here are some key components of the Fair Start for Kids Act, Senate Bill 5237: Read More

Washington Game Changers Podcast – Seattle Leader Tim Burgess

May 14, 2021 by Arik Korman

Washington Game Changers with Lauri Hennessey features leaders who give back to our community, drive innovative solutions, and inspire others in making our state more equitable and just. This podcast is a one-on-one conversation with these powerful leaders in a time when we need to hear about more good in the world.

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey interviews Tim Burgess, who has been a policy officer, a nonprofit manager, an advertising executive, a Seattle City Councilmember, and the Mayor of Seattle. Lauri and Tim talk about his own observations about racial equity while he was a police officer in West Seattle, his passion for early learning, and why he fiercely believes in public service.

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Advocacy Profile: Dr. Suzann Girtz of the Spokane Advisory Council

May 7, 2021 by Arik Korman

By Kenji Linane-Booey, Spokane Regional Field Director

Dr. Suzann Girtz, a professor in the School of Education at Gonzaga University and Spokane Advisory Council member, brought advocacy into the classroom this year with her class, “Policy and Advocacy.” Through the spring semester, her students spent time learning the ins and outs of the legislative process in Washington state and how to advocate for issues they feel passionate about.

This class harnesses the power of language and engagement with communities through the lenses of inquiry and advocacy with a focus on action to bend the arc of the universe to become more moral and just. In it, we learn the basis for types of advocacy, advocacy planning, and how to take action based on your plan. Dr. Girtz says, “Throughout we ask you to imagine the possible and consider your role in the world.” Read More

Partners in Action – The Spokane Future Teachers of Color Consortium

May 7, 2021 by Arik Korman

By Maria Esther Zamora, English Language Development teacher at Spokane Virtual Academy
Guest Blogger

How can we reduce the disparity between the number of students of color in our community versus the educators of color across the K-12 and higher education systems? This has been the question that I have posted to colleagues, administrators, and community leaders when having courageous conversations.

I have been a proud educator of color in Spokane for 26 years. I am a first-generation immigrant from Mexico, who has worked in various educational systems, from being a professor at Graduate School and University level to now being in the K-12 public education system. I had to reinvent myself when I moved to this area, learn English, and go back to graduate school to get my Teaching Certification credential while raising my family and working full time. It was a difficult endeavor, but not as challenging as to survive in a predominantly white professional field. I have persevered through all kinds of barriers to achieve my most important professional goal, which has been to inspire my students to believe in the power of education to achieve freedom.

I have always felt that there is no better way to transcend than to teach what you know, which is how to maintain your cultural values and contribute to building a multicultural community that embraces minorities in this noble professional field. As a mother of bicultural children and an advocate for immigrants and refuge students and families, I have believed that it is imperative to have more role models and educators that look like us. Furthermore, I have seen the greatness that comes from demonstrating our excellent standards and work ethics to collaborate hand in hand to educate our community. Read More