Her passion for the classroom comes naturally.

Growing up in Tumwater, Analisa McCann accompanied her mother to school every Sunday. Yes, Sunday.

Her mother, Kathy McCann, still a teacher in the Tumwater School District, visited her classroom every Sunday to prepare for the coming week. Kathy’s example left an indelible mark on her daughter, who now leads her own classroom at Broadway Elementary in the Central Valley School District.

Now, a couple of decades later, Analisa is a first-grade teacher earning her own rave reviews. “Analisa has been an active member of our school leadership team and a driving force to spearhead the Readiness to Learn initiative in our School Improvement Plan,” says Principal Lori Johnson. “She has led book studies to support trauma-informed practices and she created a welcome day for new teachers.”

So, what do you call a teacher who exudes energy, inspires colleagues and promotes rigor in the classroom?

The beginning of a new school year. As one of the finest educators I have ever known – Dr. Gary Livingston – said, very few professions entail the opportunity to annually begin anew.

So again, we do.

As the education professionals who serve the more than 100,000 students who attend public, private or public charter schools in our shared region, it seems wise that we think deeply about what we owe them over the course of this, and every, school year. Read more...

It was probably inevitable that Jerry McDermott would eventually find his way into education. It was in his blood, though he didn’t realize it until his first career was already under way.

Growing up in the Yakima Valley, education was a common topic in the McDermott household. His dad was a chemistry and physics teacher in Prosser, while Jerry was a student in nearby Grandview.

As high school graduation neared, nightly dinner conversation turned to college. It was not a question of if; only a question of where. Jerry voted for Western Washington University. Dad voted for Washington State University and Mom voted for Gonzaga University. Mom won.

Jerry packed his bags for Spokane, figuring it would be a temporary, four-year stop on the way to an accounting career. Then, four years somehow became 40. Read more...

Starting with the 2019-20 school year, school districts are required to provide training on the Fundamental Course of Study (FCS) for all instructional paraeducators.

Four days of training are required, with the first two (paid by the state) completed in 2019-20.

NEWESD 101 will offer five trainings throughout the year:

Sept. 26-27, 2019: Chewelah Peak

October 28-29, 2019 and November 25-26, 2019: Both at NEWESD 101

March 2-3, 2020: Jennings Elementary in Colfax

May 26-27, 2020: Davenport School District

Please visit https://www.pdenroller.org/newesd101/catalog for registration.

The Spokane chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma is offering stipends to first-year teachers for the purchase of games, books, art supplies, manipulatives and other classroom items. Awards of $200 are available.

The application (found at www.dkgetaspokane.weebly.com) is easy to complete; deadline is November 1, 2019. If you have questions, contact Connie Jay at 509-747-0988, conniejay1112@msn.com or text 509-688-4244.

Graduates in the Northport High School Class of 2019 headed off to college this fall with an extra spring in their step – thanks to some extra dollars in their school accounts.

At graduation last spring, the Northport Dollars for Scholars program gave more than $27,000 to 14 grateful students. In addition, another $8,000 was awarded to previous graduates in their second year of college and beyond.

The Dollars for Scholars program, composed of alumni and community volunteers, has been presenting scholarships to local students since 1990. Northport again shows it is a community that cares.