Features

A child care director when the pandemic hit, Denise Ellenwood got a call from her early learning coach about Early Achievers, Washington State's voluntary quality improvement program.

University of Washington’s Banks Center for Educational Justice research assistants Alayna Eagle Shield, Jazmen Moore and Doua Kha are anchored by their fierce dedication to their communities. They carry this dedication across their work as they seek to disrupt a society built on racism by centering healing and equity-driven scholarship that creates possibilities for a more just world.

“How do we allow our students to be their true, authentic selves?”

That’s the question on the mind of Grandview School District’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, Jose Rivera, who is at the forefront of intentionally listening to student stories and experiences to guide leadership practices. This work of centering student experience was started in Grandview during the 2019-20 school year, using tools created by the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership (CEL), and continues to this day.