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

Reclaiming Student Attention: Spokane’s “Engage In Real Life” Initiative & the Momentum for Statewide Cell Phone-Free Schools

Across Washington state — and the nation — educators, families, and students are grappling with a critical question: how do we create school environments that foster focus, connection, and well-being in a world of constant digital distraction?

In this webinar, we spotlight Spokane Public Schools’ innovative Engage In Real Life (IRL) program, a district-wide initiative designed to help students build healthier relationships with technology by limiting cell phone use during the school day. Grounded in student voice, community engagement, and a commitment to academic and social-emotional growth, Spokane’s approach is quickly becoming a model for others exploring the benefits of phone-free learning environments.

This interactive webinar features:

• Dr. Adam Swinyard, Superintendent of Spokane Public Schools, sharing insights on the development, implementation, and early impact of the Engage In Real Life program
• Students from across Washington state, offering firsthand perspectives on how cell phone use shapes their learning, relationships, and well-being
• Statewide policymakers and advocates discussing the growing momentum behind a proposed K–12 cell phone ban in Washington and what it could mean for schools, educators, and families

You will gain a deeper understanding of:

• The rationale and research behind limiting cell phone use in schools
• Lessons learned from Spokane’s implementation of Engage In Real Life
• Student experiences and perspectives on attention, belonging, and digital balance
• The policy landscape and next steps toward a potential statewide approach

Whether you are an educator, policymaker, parent, or community leader, this conversation offers valuable insights and practical takeaways as Washington considers how best to support student success in an increasingly digital age.

Panelists:

• Darsh Patel, a junior at Mount Si High School in the Snoqualmie Valley School District and a member of the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL)
• Isha Supreeth, a sophomore at Bellevue High School in the Bellevue School District and a member of AWSL
• Jaden Hong, a junior at Eastlake High School in the Lake Washington School District and a member of AWSL
• Dr. Adam Swinyard, Superintendent of Spokane Public Schools
• Ben Folgers, English Language Arts (ELA) Teacher and ELA Department Chair at Mount Rainier High School in Highline Public Schools
• Jenny Plaja, Chief Impact Officer at the Washington state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
• Liz Trautman, Executive Director of Stand for Children Washington

Moderated by Arik Korman, CEO of League of Education Voters.

• Hechinger Report story about Spokane’s Engage IRL Initiative
• Education Week story about Spokane’s Engage IRL Initiative
• Info from Stand for Children Washington about K-12 cell phone policy
• Stand for Children’s Cell Phone-Free Schools: A Guide for Educators

Watch Now (captioning is available)

Upcoming LEVinar

Fixing the Broken Marketplace: A Statewide Look at Washington’s Education-to-Career Pathways

League of Education Voters (LEV) partner organization Washington STEM is tackling a growing disconnect: too many students lack equitable pathways from high school to family-sustaining careers, deepening the state’s K-shaped economic divide. Compounding this, there’s no unified statewide scorecard or “north star” set of outcomes across the education-to-workforce continuum, making it hard to know what’s working and where to focus.

With support from the Schultz Family Foundation and in partnership with HarrisX Research, Washington STEM has conducted a landscape analysis — including a deep dive into the King County marketplace — to identify where pathways are working, where they break down, who’s being left behind, and what we can do to fix the “broken marketplace.”

As an advisory member to this work, LEV is excited to host this upcoming LEVinar. Join us to hear these findings and what’s next as we build a statewide system that aligns partners, strengthens data use, and drives accountability for student outcomes.

Moderated by League of Education Voters CEO Arik Korman.

Spanish interpretation and captioning in English will be available.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
12:30 – 1:30 pm

Register Now

Previous LEVinars

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