Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

"We built everything up," said Taholah School District teacher Jerry Walther of the District's Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in Natural Resources. Walther and his students initially raised salmon using homemade fish incubators made of PVC pipe. Now, they have access to underwater drones, 3D printers, and a state-of-the-art fish hatchery. Walther estimates that nearly a million salmon have been released into local waterways on the Quinault Indian Reservation since the program's inception. Walther and his students partner with the Quinault Indian Nation on different projects, including monitoring the invasive European Green Crab. The crabs destroy habitats that are important for salmon and other species. The work being done at the Taholah school has not gone unnoticed. The NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and the Cascadia Research Collective have worked with students on projects. #WAedu Washington State Department of Natural Resources

Recent MUKILTEO SCHOOL DISTRICT grad Trillium Keith is off to college in Scotland soon. The budding aeronautical physicist looks forward to the next phase of her life. First, Keith looks back on her K-12 education in her latest article as part of OSPI's Student Stories program. #WAedu Read Trillium's story: https://lnkd.in/gjmPtm2v

"I enjoyed being in mariachi. I was able to connect with my Mexican American culture and ended up learning to play the music I grew up listening to," said Eduardo Cortes-Solorio, Mariachi Director at Wenatchee High School. Wenatchee High School (WHS) began offering mariachi classes 30 years ago in 1994. "We were the first school-based mariachi program in the state," said Cortes-Solorio, who graduated from WHS and participated in the program. The Wenatchee School District offers mariachi classes at its three middle schools as well as its high school. The high school program is split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. Students in the program have the opportunity to play at festivals, fairs, and competitions. The group, known as Mariachi Huenachi, recently earned first place at the Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque national conference in New Mexico. #WAedu

Did you know that in the 2022–23 school year, 71% of Washington’s younger teachers were graduates of Washington’s public high schools? This is just one of the interesting pieces of data from a report released by the Education Research and Data Center about Washington high school graduates who went on to become teachers. Look through the graphics to learn more. #WAedu Educational Service District 123 EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICT 105 PUGET SOUND EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICT 121 NEWESD 101 (NorthEast Washington Educational Service District 101) Capital Region ESD 113 North Central ESD Northwest Educational Service District 189 Educational Service District 112

July is Disability Pride Month! Disability Pride Month celebrates people with disabilities and their contributions to society. It is celebrated in July to commemorate the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability. In Washington's public schools, it's about more than prohibiting discrimination. The goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive learning environment for all students. Join OSPI in learning more about inclusive education, and find additional information about the Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network here: https://lnkd.in/gXgW-_Kz #WAedu

This year's Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) runs from July 31 to August 2 on the Washington State University campus in Pullman. The conference is a collaboration between different organizations, including OSPI and the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA). This year's theme is "Empowering Excellence: Co-Designing Systems through Instructional Leadership". At the end of the first day of the conference, there will be a special screening of the film "The Ride Ahead". The award-winning film tells the story of Samuel Habib and his journey to move out, start a career, and find love. Watch the trailer: https://lnkd.in/dZkRzdr6 Sign up for the conference: https://lnkd.in/d_xctpJ8 #WAedu

Generations are coming together thanks to a collaboration between Sedro-Woolley High School, Sedro Woolley Senior Center, Central Skagit Library District the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public, and OSPI. Leveling Up Seniors: A Media Mentorship Project connects high school students to seniors. Students present on different topics related to the internet, including bots, algorithms, and reverse image searches. In exchange, the seniors pass on a story or skill, such as how to sew on a button. "I think it's important they [seniors] talk about what they know to the younger generation," said student Luka Murcray. Sedro-Woolley utilized computers attained from OSPI's Digital Navigation grant for the event. #WAedu SEDRO-WOOLLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Meet Sam, Bash, and Scout! These therapy dogs provide "unconditional love and support" to students, teachers, and staff in the Sunnyside School District. Doug Rogers, Director of Student Support Services for the Sunnyside School District, says the dogs have lessened the stigma associated with talking about mental health. "It just builds a bridge." Watch the video to learn more about Sam, Bash, and Scout. Each dog has their own story, and at least one has a daily routine that includes helping students get from the bus to the classroom. #WAedu

An innovative 12-day summer class in the Kennewick School District teaches essential skills to high school students new to the United States. The course covers various topics, including budgeting, insurance, job applications, and understanding medical labels. Students in the course came from different countries, including Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, and Syria. #WAedu

An out-of-this-world opportunity for Washington state students! NASA's TechRise Student Challenge is open to students in grades 6–12. Participants in this year's challenge develop a science or technology experiment idea for either a NASA TechRise High-Altitude Balloon or a NASA TechRise Rocket-Powered Lander. This year's challenge opens August 1. #WAedu