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

How to Support Washington state’s Undocumented / Mixed Status Students and Families in Schools

In a time of heightened xenophobia, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and threats of mass deportations, we must create safe schools for students who are undocumented or come from families with mixed status.

In this webinar, immigration experts and advocates discuss which immigration laws, executive orders, and revoked memos are impacting students and families who are undocumented / mixed status and which measures school boards and schools can take to protect our students.

Panelists:

• Malou Chávez, Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
• Kathy Mulkerin, Electoral Pipeline Manager at OneAmerica
• Angelica Alvarez, Director of Student and Family-Centered Improvement Initiatives at the Puget Sound Educational Service District
• Abby Chien, Associate Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the Washington Student Achievement Council

Moderated by League of Education Voters Chief Engagement Officer Eric Holzapfel.

Watch Now (captioning is available in English, Spanish, and Somali)

Resources for Supporting Students Who Are Undocumented

• Resources from the Puget Sound Educational Service District

• Know Your Rights (from Northwest Immigrant Rights Project)

• WSAC Statement on Financial Aid Applicant Privacy:
  • www.wsac.wa.gov/statement-2025-01-29-financial-aid-applicant-privacy
  • www.wsac.wa.gov/statement-2025-01-29-financial-aid-applicant-privacy-es

• WSAC information to support students who are immigrants, are undocumented, or have DACA

• Should you complete a FAFSA or WASFA?

• WAISN Deportation Defense

• Learn more about OneAmerica and how they support our immigrant and refugee communities

• School district policies:
  • Policy 4300 – Limiting Immigration Enforcement in Schools
  • Policy 3226 – Interviews and Interrogations of Students on School Premises
  • Policy 4310 – District Relationships with Law Enforcement and other Government Agencies
  • Policy 5010 – Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action

• Protections for Immigrant Students in Washington’s K–12 Public Schools

• Guidance and Model Policies to Assist California’s K-12 Schools in Responding to Immigration Issues

Upcoming LEVinars

Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in Schools: Advocacy and Policy Updates

Students and families who identify as LGBTQ+ are facing challenges in schools, but there are ways we can all step up to support them. Join us for a free, essential webinar on how to create safe, affirming, and inclusive learning environments for LGBTQ+ students.

This session will provide:

• Practical strategies to support LGBTQ+ students and families
• Insights on the latest executive orders and policy changes impacting schools
• Resources for educators, administrators, and community advocates

Now more than ever, our students need strong allies in their schools and communities. Join panelists from around Washington state to learn about best practices and tools to support our students.

Panelists include:

• Colleen Melody, Wing Luke Civil Rights Division Chief at the Office of Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown
• Felisciana Peralta, Executive Director of Equity in Education at the Puget Sound Educational Service District

Spanish interpretation and captioning in English will be provided.

Moderated by League of Education Voters CEO Arik Korman.

Thursday, March 20, 2025
12:30 – 1:30 pm

Register Now

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 our free webinar on Thursday, March 27 at 12:30 pm, Washington state Teachers of the Year will share what they are hearing from students, parents, 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.

Panelists:

• Kim Broomer, the 2025 Washington state Teacher of the Year and Kindergarten Teacher at Ruby Bridges Elementary School in the Northshore School District
• 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, Instuctional Equity Specialist at the Franklin Pierce Schools, and Board Member of the Washington State Board of Education
• 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 the Highline School District

Spanish interpretation and captioning in English will be provided.

Moderated by League of Education Voters CEO Arik Korman.

Thursday, March 27, 2025
12:30 – 1:30 pm

Register Now

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

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.

Moderated by Neal Morton, Western Education Reporter at The Hechinger Report.

Thursday, April 3, 2025
12:30 – 1:30 pm

Register Now

Previous LEVinars

Love what we do? Support our work

Want to find out the latest in education news in Washington? Subscribe to our newsletter

Want to learn more about League of Education Voters? Find out here