What’s the DEEL? Department of Education and Early Learning

Department of Education and Early Learning

Kingmakers of Seattle Expands to Franklin and Cleveland STEM High Schools for 2021-2022 School Year

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This summer, the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) announced that the Kingmakers of Seattle (KoS) program, part of the Culturally Specific and Responsive investments area under the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy, will expand to two additional schools beginning in the 2021-2022 school year. Franklin High School and Cleveland STEM High School will join the program’s four pilot schools—Interagency High School and Aki Kurose, Asa Mercer, and Denny International Middle Schools—bringing the total number of schools offering Kingmakers to six. Kingmakers of Seattle offers positive identity development, academic knowledge, and social-emotional skills for Black male students by expanding access to culturally responsive programming.

“We are excited to offer the Kingmakers program to more of our Seattle students starting this fall,” said DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle, “especially at a time when students need greater connection and the support of positive role models who understand the challenges they are facing. This expansion to Franklin and Cleveland High Schools also creates new connections from middle school to high school for students of color who’ve already engaged in the Kingmakers program, strengthening the pathway to graduation and students’ college and career readiness.”  

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Partner Chat: Rory Gill, Seattle Preschool Program Teacher

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SPP Teacher Rory Gill in a fist-up pose
Photo: Rory Gill, Seattle Preschool Program Teacher (Photo provided by Rory Gill)

In celebration of DiscoverU 2020, a week of college and career exploration, we’re featuring an interview with Rory Gill, Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) Teacher at Daybreak Star Preschool and recipient of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy funded SPP teacher scholarship.

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Fall 2020 DEEL Newsletter

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DEEL logo

A brand-new DEEL newsletter has launched! This department resource will provide a closer look at the investments the City of Seattle is making in education—from early learning to postsecondary.

In this first issue, we’re covering how our investments and our partners are pivoting for a school year unlike any other we’ve known. As our city continues to navigate COVID-19 and build toward recovery, DEEL is working with our partners to adapt to the challenges before us with innovation, collaboration, and a sharp focus on racial equity. 

Here’s a closer look at what’s in the Fall 2020 issue:

  • Director’s Welcome Letter
  • Investment Features
    • Seattle Preschool Program
    • K-12 Investments
    • School Based Health Centers
    • Kingmakers of Seattle
  • Community Partner Features
    • ACE Academy
    • Seed of Life: Emergency Child Care Provider
  • Department Features
    • DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle Reconfirmed
    • Staff Spotlight: Communications & External Affairs
  • Student and Family Resources
    • Home Learning Resources for Early Learners
    • School-Age Child Care
    • Teen Resource Hubs
    • Seattle Public Schools Resources: Student Meals, Technology Support, and Drive-Thru Flu Clinics
    • Remote Learning Resources from Seattle Public Library
  • Calendar and Events of Interest
    • Upcoming Trainings for Preschool Teachers and Providers
    • Upcoming Funding Opportunities for Seattle Preschool Program

To receive future issues of the DEEL newsletter, sign up on DEEL’s mailing list.

A King’s Journey: 2020 Black Male Graduates Rise to Excellence in the Kingmakers of Seattle Program

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Interagency Academy’s graduation ceremony, held the evening of Juneteenth—a holiday celebrating the ending of slavery in the United States—was a tribute to heritage, tradition, and hope over struggle, and it included an air of royalty.

DeMarcus Belle was one of the proud “Kings” who graduated Friday, June 19, as part of the 2020 Interagency graduating class. These young men were part of the Kingmakers of Seattle program, first launched in 2017 at four pilot schools within Seattle Public Schools—one high school (Interagency) and three middle schools (Aki Kurose, Asa Mercer, and Denny International). The program is implemented in partnership with the SPS Department of African American Male Achievement (founded 2019) to intentionally focus on improved outcomes for Black male students. It is currently funded under the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) levy.

Modeled after the Oakland Unified School District’s Office of African American Male Achievement (AAMA) program, Kingmakers is an elective class specifically designed for Black male students (called Kings) taught by Black male educators (called facilitators). Classes follow the Khepera curriculum—a culturally relevant African-centered curriculum that is both engaging and academically rigorous. The curriculum emphasizes Black history, cultural knowledge, positive self-identity, literacy, and academic mentoring.

Continue reading below > > >

“A King’s Journey “- Video by Leslie Daniels
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Suspension of DEEL’s Culturally Responsive Mentoring Co-Design

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On April 14, 2020, DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle informed the community partners we have worked with on the Culturally Responsive Mentoring Co-Design of the suspension of the process due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

Seattle is facing an unprecedented challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic and the City is taking aggressive measures to slow its spread in our region. We are working diligently to support our residents in partnership with Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) in this response. All residents are encouraged to regularly check PHSKC for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Seattle.

In response to COVID-19, DEEL is temporarily suspending the Culturally Responsive Mentoring Co-Design Process under the FEPP Levy. As the extent and duration of COVID-19 outbreak remains unknown, the City is taking immediate measures to help mitigate the impact of this crisis. The top priorities for the City at this time are to keep our workforce and members of the public safe and healthy, to maintain essential public services, and to address the needs of the City’s most vulnerable populations.

Participating schools and mentoring organizations in the FEPP Levy Mentoring Co-Design are encouraged to check DEEL’s website in the coming weeks for the most up-to-date information on this funding opportunity. New information will be released as the situation continues to develop.

DEEL Suspends Culturally Responsive Programming Request for Investments

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On April 13, 2020, DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle informed Seattle Schools about the suspension of a Culturally Responsive Programming Request for Investments:

Seattle is facing an unprecedented challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic and the City is taking aggressive measures to slow its spread in our region. We are working diligently to support our residents in partnership with Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) in this response. All residents are encouraged to regularly check PHSKC for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Seattle.

In response to COVID-19, DEEL is temporarily suspending the Culturally Responsive Programming (Kingmakers) Request for Investment (RFI) process under the FEPP Levy. As the extent and duration of COVID-19 outbreak remains unknown, the City is taking immediate measures to help mitigate the impact of this crisis. The top priorities for the City at this time are to keep our workforce and members of the public safe and healthy, to maintain essential public services, and to address the needs of the City’s most vulnerable populations.

High schools interested in applying for the FEPP Levy Kingmakers RFI are encouraged to regularly check DEEL’s website for the most up-to-date information on this funding opportunity. New information will be released as the situation continues to develop.

Our Growing Roster of Mentors

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The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) has updated and expanded the Culturally Specific and Responsive (CSR) Mentoring Roster. DEEL created the roster to advance the overarching goals of the voter-approved Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy. Dollars awarded through the CSR Mentoring funding strategy aim to foster healthy identity, provide cultural knowledge and build academic success for Black/African American males and other historically underserved student populations.

The roster is a diverse list of mentoring community-based organizations (CBOs) of color, majority Black-led, and approved through DEEL to provide culturally relevant mentoring services to the focus population. Roster selection entailed a panel process that included youth, staff from Seattle Public Schools (SPS), community organizations, and DEEL staff. The roster includes:

  • El Centro de la Raza
  • 4C Coalition
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound
  • Project M.I.S.T.E.R.
  • West African Community Council
  • M.U.S.T. Mentoring
  • Life Enrichment Group
  • Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement
  • Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
  • ACE Academy
  • Seattle Parks and Recreation

NOTE: The roster is not a comprehensive list of CBOs providing culturally relevant mentoring services in Seattle.

Applications for the CSR Mentoring Roster will re-open on every two years. Organizations interested in learning more about the roster process can visit DEEL’s website.