The Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP (WSA) is excited to offer a new professional learning cohort that will focus on infusing equity into your early learning work! Taught by the nationally acclaimed trainer, equity coach, author, and speaker Erin Jones, this year-long cohort will equip you with the tools to better integrate equity in your early learning program and classroom
Some of the topics that will be covered:
- Emotional/mental postures/practices - gratitude, brave spaces, ground-in, basic terminology: diversity, culturally-responsive practice, equity, 1st step - understanding the role of your personal identities (race, ethnicity, culture, gender, age, socioeconomic background, family structure, religious/faith/spiritual practices, political affiliation. Homework: personal Cultural inventory.
- Unpacking the narratives of “other” and how identities impact how we experience the world and the events around us. Interrogating stereotypes and biases. Terms related to “Self” and “other” - color blind, privilege.
- Reviewing impact of history and systems - big historic events/practices (slavery, reconstruction, Jim Crow, redlining, boarding schools, internment camps, immigration law, GI Bill, etc.), ways laws/systems impact different groups of people - education, health care, banking, policing, food access, transportation, housing, etc.
Frequency and Time Commitment (10 sessions in total!)
This cohort will be meeting over zoom for 90 minutes in March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December, and a final in-person half-day meeting in January/February 2024 at WSA’s Winter Meeting to close out the year long journey. The 1st virtual meeting is Tuesday March 14th from 10:30am to 12noon.
Session dates:
1st session: March 14, 10:30 am - 12 pm.
2nd session: April 18, 10:30 am - 12 pm.
3rd session: May 23, 10:30 am - 12 pm.
4th session: June 20, 10:30 am - 12 pm.
Summer Break
5th session: September 19, 10:30 am - 12 pm.
6th session: October 24, 10:30 am - 12 pm.
7th session: November 14, 10:30 am - 12 pm.
8th session: December 12, 10:30 am - 12 pm.
Winter Break
9th-10th session: (Final Session): January/February 2024, TBD, 3-hour
Cohort Size
This professional learning cohort is perfect for Head Start and ECEAP senior leadership, education and family support managers, and equity leaders. We are limiting the size of the cohort to a maximum of 60 participants so that there are plenty of engagement and discussion opportunities.
Each program would only be able to register a maximum of 5 people during the registration. If your program has more than 5 staff wanting to join this cohort, please submit the registration for the first 5 staff, then you can register other staff on the waitlist. People on the waitlist will be notified as soon as a spot opens up.
Our first priority for this cohort registration is WSA/WSTC members. If you are a non-member, please join the waitlist.
Tuition
Tuition is $599 per person for WSA/WSTC members, and $699 per person for non WSA/WSTC members.
This cohort covers the following:
- All the zoom lectures and discussions (we will also record them as well)
- The 3 hour in-person training in Olympia (includes food and snacks but not lodging or travel)
- Opportunities to engage and receive additional support from Erin every Monday from 6 pm - 7 pm on Equity Fishbowl led by Erin Jones.
About Erin Jones
Erin Jones has been involved in and around schools for the past 26 years. She has taught in a variety of environments, and in some of the most diverse communities in the nation. Last fall she was a candidate for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Erin received an award as the Most Innovative Foreign Language Teacher in 2007, while working at Stewart Middle School in Tacoma and was the Washington State Milken Educator of the Year in 2008, while teaching at Rogers High School in Spokane. She received recognition at the White House in March of 2013 as a "Champion of Change” and was Washington State PTA’s “Outstanding Educator” in 2015. After serving as a classroom teacher and instructional coach, Erin worked as an executive for two State Superintendents. Erin left the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction 5 years ago to work in college-access at the school district level. She left her job to run as a candidate for State Superintendent and was the first Black woman to run for any state office in Washington state, a race she lost by a mere 1%. Erin has two children in college, one who works full-time and plays rugby, and a husband, James, who is a teacher in North Thurston School District. Sample talks: Two TEDx Talks - "Passion for Change" at https://youtu.be/HQ7xY60a6z4 and “Be A Bridge” at https://youtu.be/hFc9axy2ktQ
