Professional Development

We are committed to providing principals with professional development opportunities to effectively lead their schools. To support instructional leadership, we partner with the Association of Washington School Principals to offer regular training and collaboration opportunities. Our Director of Assessment supports data literacy and analysis, helping principals use data to inform instructional decisions. Through these partnerships and ongoing professional learning opportunities, we aim to equip our principals with the tools and resources needed to create positive, inclusive learning environments that promote academic excellence and prepare all students for high levels of achievement.

The Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) supports novice educators in Washington through comprehensive induction. The goal of the program is to support and retain beginning educators to ensure equitable access to high-quality education for every student in Washington. When we set up our novice teachers for success, we set up their students for success.

OSPI Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) Website

Certificated staff are offered training in the Marzano instructional framework and district-adopted curriculum. New teachers receive mentorship to support their growth as early career educators.

YCS teachers engage in weekly professional learning communities (PLC) to monitor student progress and adapt instruction to meet student needs. The PLC process, outlined in the book PLC+, defines five focus questions for professional learning communities:

1. Where are we going? (What do we want students to learn?)
2. Where are we now? (What do students know already?)
3. How do we move learning forward?
4. What did we learn today?
5. Who benefited and who did not benefit?

Paraprofessionals receive comprehensive training through ESD 113, starting with the Fundamental Course of Study as mandated by the state of Washington. Additionally, they have access to digital training modules on the district half-days.