What we’re especially proud of this month…

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) was in town this month for a program review of ESD-U.  The day-long session involved answering a multitude of questions asked by the PESB review board, which will evaluate and decide if ESD-U will be approved as a permanent provider of teacher certification. Currently ESD-U serves 49 candidates in its second cohort of aspiring teachers. In addition to numerous district leaders, the following ESD staff shared information with the board: Curtis Ellis, Patty Pepin, Alissa Jolly, Mike Esping, Kathy Whitlock, Chelsea Jacobson, Tim Merlino. Mike Nerland, Molly Daley, Katherine Livick, Kristina Wambold, Effie Triol, Pranjali Upadhyay, Vickei Hrdina, Jeffrey Niess and Janelle Tuttle.

Our region’s own Teacher of the Year received the state honor during a ceremony in Seattle in September! Amy Campbell, a special education teacher in the Camas School District, will go on to represent Washington at the National Teacher of the Year award ceremony. Kathy Whitlock, Mike Esping, Effie Triol and Lori Oberheide selected Campbell for the regional award after an extensive application review, interviews and a classroom observation. The Columbian just published a great article about Campbell and her work yesterday – read it here.

Cabinet and board members visit with DC congressional delegation

This week, several ESD Cabinet and board members are in Washington DC for the “AESA Call to Action” conference. As part of the annual visit, they meet with state’s congressional representatives about important education priorities and urging support for legislative bills and funding mechanisms that help children and families. Among the ESD priorities shared with Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Jamie Hererra-Buetler were:

  • Addressing the child care crisis and supporting investments and supports for childhood trauma
  • Supporting student mental health through both school-based and outpatient programs
  • Fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)
  • Supporting Stem AND Career Connected Learning
  • Acquiring federal funds for school safety and security

New AESD Executive Director gets to know 112

Jessica Varus, the new leader of the AESD Network, spent a day at ESD 112 to learn more about the programs, services and staff that make our agency so successful!  She met with Cabinet members and visited various departments and programs during her visit. Among her many priorities at the state level will be working on legislative asks on behalf of Washington’s ESDs