WASHINGTON ALLIANCE FOR BETTER SCHOOLS

TEACH2CONNECT EDUCATOR PROGRAM IS A SIX MONTH LONG EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER EMPLOYER MENTORS AND EDUCATORS TO STRENGTHEN STUDENT LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH AUTHENTIC AND RELEVANT WORKPLACE CONNECTIONS. PARTNERING TEACHERS WITH INDUSTRY MENTORS ENSURE THAT CONTENT BROUGHT TO THE CLASSROOM IS RELEVANT TO REAL-WORLD CAREERS AND ENHANCES STUDENT KNOWLEDGE OF CAREER PATHWAYS. TEACHERS VISIT THEIR INDUSTRY MENTORS' WORK-SITE AND ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS AND ACTIVITIES OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM TO LEARN ABOUT INDUSTRY NEEDS, TRENDS, CHALLENGES AND CAREER PATHWAY INFORMATION THAT THEY BRING BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM TO SHARE WITH THEIR STUDENTS. EDUCATORS TAKE THEIR CLASSROOM ON A FIELD TRIP TO AN INDUSTRY EMPLOYER TO HELP STUDENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE RELEVANCE OF CLASSROOM LEARNING TO THE WORLD OF WORK. THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, TEACHERS INTEGRATE CAREER CONNECTED LEARNING (CCL) INTO INTERACTIONS WITH STUDENTS AND COURSE CURRICULA WHILE ENSURING INCLUSIVE, EQUITY-CENTERED DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION.EQUITABLE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IS ABOUT CREATING A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL FAMILIES FEEL VALUED AND EMPOWERED TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND OR CIRCUMSTANCES. AN EQUITABLE APPROACH TO FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING IS NOT MERELY ABOUT INVITING FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN PRE-DETERMINED ACTIVITIES. IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING AND VALUING FAMILIES AS ESSENTIAL PARTNERS IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS, AND ACTIVELY INVOLVING THEM IN SHAPING THE VERY PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN. FURTHERMORE, WE EMBRACE AN ASSET-BASED APPROACH TO FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, RECOGNIZING FAMILIES' INHERENT WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND CULTURAL STRENGTHS. OUR PROGRAMMING SURFACES THESE ASSETS, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE AND BECOME RESOURCES FOR ONE ANOTHER, ENRICHING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND FOSTERING A STRONGER, MORE SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY.AFTER-SCHOOL STEM ACADEMY - AFTER SCHOOL STEM ACADEMY IS A HANDS-ON STEM AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FACILITATED BY INDUSTRY VOLUNTEERS BUILD STUDENTS' 21ST CENTURY SKILLS (COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, CRITICAL THINKING, AND CREATIVITY) BY WORKING DIRECTLY WITH INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR ALL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM AND THOSE FURTHEST FROM EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE.BCS: BUILD COOL STUFF IS A PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. BY EXPLORING STUDENT-GENERATED PROBLEMS, EACH GROUP MEETS AFTER SCHOOL TO ENGAGE WITH STEM EDUCATORS AND VOLUNTEERS IN THE ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS. AS PART OF A 6-WEEK SESSION, THESE EXPERIENCES PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS TO CAREER-CONNECTED LEARNING FOR BIPOC (BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR) AND UNDERSERVED MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN DOING SO, WE WILL STRENGTHEN THE DIVERSITY OF OUR REGIONAL WORKFORCE BY ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN STEM FIELDS.