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
School-Led Strategies to Help Washington Students Complete Financial Aid Applications
In this webinar, we spotlight effective practices from Washington high schools that are leading the way in helping students complete financial aid applications. In alignment with Governor Bob Ferguson’s Washington Completes FAFSA Executive Order, this event features:
- High schools sharing innovative, equity-driven strategies to boost FAFSA/WASFA completion
- Student voices from across the state offering feedback on what works — and what doesn’t, and
- Remarks from Governor Ferguson on the importance of financial aid access and his vision for the statewide campaign
Whether you’re a student, school leader, counselor, educator, or community partner, this webinar provides actionable insights and inspiration to help more students access the financial aid they deserve.
Meet the panelists:
- Aanchal Batwara, a senior at Tesla STEM High School in the Lake Washington School District and member of the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL)
- Mason Grose, a senior at Toutle Lake High School in the Toutle Lake School District and member of AWSL
- Meisha Situ, a senior at Kentridge High School in the Kent School District and member of AWSL
- Danielle Denney, Principal at Neah Bay Junior/Senior High School
- Jasmine Aldaco, Senior Class Counselor at Granger High School
- Dan Effland, Senior Director of Innovation at Summit Public Schools
- Raul Sanchez, Regional College Access Manager at College Success Foundation
- Sarah Weiss, Director of College Access Initiatives at the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)
Moderated by Arik Korman, CEO of League of Education Voters.
Watch Now (captioning is available in English, Spanish, and Somali)
Links from the Washington Student Achievement Council:
Upcoming LEVinars
Bridging the STEM Gap: How Science on Wheels Drives Hands-on Science Learning Across Washington
Join us for an inspiring look at Science on Wheels, Pacific Science Center’s flagship outreach program and Washington’s largest provider of outreach science education. Since 1974, Science on Wheels has brought interactive, standards-based STEM programming to youth across Washington. This past year, Science on Wheels served over 116,000 learners across 48 legislative districts — 87% of these programs provided at little to no cost in low-income schools and community centers.
With only 55% of Washington students meeting standards on the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS), it’s more important than ever to invest in science education. In this free webinar, we’ll explore how Science on Wheels is making hands-on science learning accessible, fun, and engaging. Hear from educators who will share how their classrooms benefited from the program, with students actively engaged in scientific practices like experimentation, critical thinking, and deductive reasoning.
We’ll also discuss the program’s ambitious goal to provide free STEM learning to every K–8 low-income school in Washington, and how legislative support is crucial to providing direct support for 52,000+ students in 2027. Whether you’re a policymaker, educator, funder, or STEM advocate, this session will show how mobile science education can be a game-changer for equity and engagement.
Meet the panelists:
- Patricia Beathard, Superintendent of the Brinnon School District and Executive Board Member of the West Sound STEM Network
- Shawn Kocher, Principal of Woodmont K-8 in Federal Way Public Schools
- Jennifer Malwitz, STEAM Specialist at Robertson Elementary in the Yakima School District
- Zeta Strickland, Director of Education at Pacific Science Center
- Holly Duskin, Senior Manager of Outreach Education at Pacific Science Center
- Braden Sigua, Government Affairs Manager at Pacific Science Center
Moderated by Arik Korman, CEO of League of Education Voters.
Spanish interpretation and English closed captioning will be available.
Thursday, December 11, 2025
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Register Now
FutureReady: Modernizing Washington’s High School Diploma for a Changing World
Is Washington’s high school diploma preparing students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world?
Throughout 2025, the Washington State Board of Education has been exploring this question through FutureReady, a statewide effort to modernize high school graduation requirements.
In this free webinar, members of the State Board and FutureReady partners will share what they’ve learned so far from students, families, educators, and community organizations across Washington. Together, they will cover:
- How FutureReady is identifying the academic knowledge and real-world skills students need to succeed in today’s world.
- Where Washington’s current graduation framework falls short in meeting students’ needs, and how it can be made easier to navigate and more meaningful for every student.
- The work ahead as the Board develops its proposal for the legislature’s 2027 session.
- How the public can engage in the process and provide input.
Meet the Panelists:
- Jen Chong Jewell, Board Member, Washington State Board of Education
- Nicol Walsh, FutureReady Task Force member and Communications Specialist at PAVE – Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment
- Alissa Muller, Director of Policy, Washington State Board of Education
- Arielle Matthews, Associate Director of Policy, Washington State Board of Education
Moderated by Arik Korman, CEO of League of Education Voters.
Spanish interpretation and English closed captioning will be available.
Thursday, December 18, 2025
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Register Now
Previous LEVinars
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