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

Department of Education and Early Learning

Profile of an SPP Scholar–Teacher Tiffany

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Tiffany is a lead teacher at Causey’s MLK site. She has taught at Causey’s for 14 years. When Causey’s Early Learning Center joined the Seattle Preschool Program Tiffany became eligible to take part in the SPP Scholars program. SPP Scholars is a program within the Seattle Preschool Program that provides teachers with funding and support to start or complete their degree in Early Childhood Education.

Tiffany only need a few more credits to complete her degree, and with the support of the SPP scholars program she was able to graduate from Goddard College with a Bachelor’s degree in Dual Language PreK-3rd Education. Congrats!

Here’s a little more about Tifany

Are you a native of Seattle? If not, where are you from and how long have you lived and worked at Causey’s in Seattle?

 I am a native of Seattle and I have worked at Causey’s Learning Center 16 years.

How long have you been teaching Preschool?

 I have been teaching preschool for 14 years

What is your favorite children’s book to read to your class?

I love reading Dandelion by Don Freeman (Even though this is a book that is over 30 years old it sends a great message to myself and children…You’re great just the way you are…don’t change…just be yourself)

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What is your favorite activity or subject to teach to your class?

I love teaching and having children explore the arts (Introducing different types of music, songs, dance, acting, painting, drawing)….I believe this helps children find their voice and it promotes self-awareness.

Now that you have your degree how do plan to spend your free time?

 Free time?  What’s that?  I can’t sit still…I want to get back to volunteering and helping people in my community, I miss the interactions and conversations. Also…I really want to go back to school to work towards my teaching certificate.

What is your most favorite thing about teaching preschool?

Giving children opportunities to explore, be free, and enjoy the experience of learning.

If you wish you can also include a few words of appreciation or thanks to someone or a list of folks that have supported you on your journey to complete your degree.

I want to thank my family for their unwavering support and for giving me a solid foundation to become a very strong woman.  Thanks to all of my coworkers who have been very supportive and to the City of Seattle/SPP for helping me complete one of my educational goals.

Summer School in Seattle

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Denny International Middle School’s Summer of Learning

 

As August begins, the Westside Scholars at Denny International Middle School are finishing up five weeks of academics and enrichment classes. DennySummerLearning5

Over 200 scholars participated in Denny’s summer program this year which is funded by the City of Seattle, Families and Education Levy. The Westside Scholars Program is intended to offer extra academic support to incoming 7th and 8th graders as well as serve as an introduction to middle school for incoming 6th graders from all of Denny’s feeder elementary schools. The program is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with the building and future teachers as they transition to the next level of their education. Amongst the many enrichment opportunities such as Mariachi, Cooking and Cartooning, sixth graders participated in a unique Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) class twice a week that made science alive and active.  A tremendous staff of educators and community partners led and guided the scholars’ instruction and development.

Congratulations to our scholars and thank you to our staff and partners for making this happen for our community!

Go Dolphins!

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DEEL Manager, Sonja Griffin, awarded Weikart Award at 2016 HighScope International Conference

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IMG_1189We would like to acknowledge our very own Early Learning Manager, Sonja Griffin who deservingly received the Weikart Award at the Annual 2016 HighScope International Conference in Detroit, Michigan!

Former Department of Early Learning (DEL) Director, Bette Hyde and HighScope Certified Trainer, Kay Rush presented Sonja with this amazing award.

Congratulations Sonja on this award—wonderful work!

“I share this honor with all of our programs using HighScope in Seattle!”-Sonja

We’re so proud!

 

Looking for summer activities and learning opportunities for your student?

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Our belief is that high-quality summer learning is critical to closing the achievement gap.

Summer learning opportunities are focusing on students who meet some of the following criteria:

  • Children with no prior preschool experience
  • Children who have been identified as not meeting standards on
    • Teaching Strategies GOLD
    • Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA)
    • Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
    • Washington English Language Proficiency Assessment (WELPA)
  • Students who failed at least one core course during the first semester
  • Students who received more than 5 absences during the first semester

In Summer 2016, the Families and Education Levy will invest a total of $2.3 million in high-quality summer learning programs that serve more than 2,000 of Seattle’s students.

  • If you are a school or community based organization interested in applying for funding, please see current “Funding Opportunities.”
  • If you are a student or parent interested in summer programs, please see our list below and contact the program directly.

Levy Funded Summer Programs

Elementary  Summer Learning–click here for details

Middle School Summer Learning–click here for details

High School Summer Learning–click here for details

Seattle Speaks: Making the Grade

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SeattleSpeaks

Making the Grade:

A community conversation on education funding

As the state Legislature defers fully funding public education for yet another year, what are the implications for Seattle schools? Are we on the right path to funding and providing a quality education for all students? Weigh in at a live televised conversation.

 
TUESDAY, APRIL 19
Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave.
6 p.m. doors | 6:30 p.m. audience prep | 7 p.m. show
Watch live on Seattle Channel 21 or seattlechannel.org

REGISTER
Admission is free, but seating is limited.
Sign up at seattlecityclub.org or 206-682-7395
Follow the conversation #SeattleSpeaks

Denny celebrates annual STEM fair

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Denny International Middle School STEM fair was a hit this spring.

The event was held on April 1st, and was a chance for Denny students to show off their amazing projects.

The Families and Education Levy provides Denny Middle School with funds to support a Science teacher who organized the STEM fair.

Congrats Denny scholars (and future scientists)!

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Join the Mayor’s Education Summit Community Conversations!

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Mayor Ed Murray is interested in hearing what you and your family want for Seattle’s students and schools. This spring, the Mayor is asking the city to come together to put forward our best thinking on how we can ensure equity and excellence for each and every student in Seattle. The Mayor’s Education Summit is a community process designed to identify ways the City of Seattle can help address long-standing inequalities in our public school system.

 

The Mayor’s Education Summit begins first with a series of Community Conversations and other outreach events happening throughout March and April of 2016. They will take place in schools, community-based organizations, and businesses across Seattle. We’re asking community members, parents and families, students, teachers and school administrators, and business leaders and employers, for their ideas about ways to improve educational opportunities for all children and youth in Seattle.

 

Educating our students is the responsibility of us all. Join the conversation, and make success a reality for all Seattle’s students.

 

Community Conversations are taking place all over the city. Please visit www.seattle.gov/educationsummit to find a gathering near you. If you are unable to attend a Community Conversation, you can also leave your ideas about ways to improve educational opportunities for all children and youth in Seattle here at our survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SEAEducationSummit.

Three new schools awarded Families & Education Levy Innovation Grants

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The City’s Department of Education and Early Learning has awarded Families and Education Levy Innovation grants to three new Seattle Public Schools elementary schools. John Muir Elementary School, Leschi Elementary School, and Viewlands Elementary Schools were all selected to receive funding for the 2016-2017 school year.

The Families and Education Levy was passed by voters in 2011 and annually awards money to schools and community based organizations with the goal of helping all Seattle students enter kindergarten prepared to succeed, achieve academically, and graduate from high school college or career ready.

A review panel consisting of Department of Education and Early Learning staff, as well as community partners and experienced educators, selected these three schools based on the comprehensive applications they submitted detailing how their school team would utilize funding to support student academic achievement and readiness goals.

John Muir, Leschi, and Viewlands join the 16 other Seattle elementary schools that are funded by the Families and Education Levy. City staff from the Department of Education and Early Learning look forward to supporting these schools both through grant funding and technical support as partners in supporting students and closing the achievement gap.

Equity day at West Seattle HS

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Amazing student-led, and student-centered work is happening at West Seattle high school, a school funded by the Families and Education Levy.

The school’s Diversity Club and the ASB are planning to hold WSHS’s first annual Equity Day: Raising Awareness, Inspiring Action. This will be a day of workshops culminating in an all-school assembly on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. 

WSHS’ mission is Every Student Achieving, Everyone Accountable. The Diversity Club and ASB would like to help achieve this mission by making everyone accountable for equity at WSHS and to make every student comfortable in order to allow for every student to achieve.

Check out this video the students made in response to anti-muslim messages in the media.