2024 ConnectEd Webinar Series
Join us for a series of conversations exploring ways that we can center equity and leverage community voice in service to joyful and thriving generations. Whether you're a teacher, instructional leader, or administrator, you'll come away with practical ideas and inspiration for creating more just learning communities.
Clock Hours
This webinar series is free to attend. 1 OSPI clock hour is available for participation in each webinar for a $15 administrative fee. The clock hour registration link will be made available through your webinar confirmation email and on the day of the webinar.
February Webinar // Schools as Places Where Adults Learn: Using Theories of Adult Learning to Support Teacher Learning
Thursday, February 29th, 4:30-5:30pm PT
This one-hour, interactive webinar is intended for anyone thinking about teacher learning—whether it’s your own or that of others! Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate as we explore the principles of andragogy (adult learning) and theories related to workplace learning. We will discuss how these principles and theories can inform teacher learning opportunities in your school and explore examples of teacher professional development that build on knowledge of adult learning.
Presented by Dr. Maxine Alloway
- About the Presenter
Maxine Alloway is a Teaching Associate at the University of Washington. She began her career as an elementary school teacher and teacher leader in Boston and Philadelphia, as well as England and Israel. She moved to Seattle in 2006 to pursue her doctorate degree, with a focus on teacher learning. For the past thirteen years, Maxine has worked with teacher candidates, teachers, and teacher leaders throughout the Puget Sound area, as both a literacy instructor and an instructional coach. She has served on the organizing committee for the Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference and volunteered with University Beyond Bars. Maxine’s work focuses on literacy and learning for liberation. - Watch the Recording
- Watch Maxine's presentation from the 2023 ConnectEd Webinar Series
March Webinar // Teacher Well-Being: The Heart of Effective Learning
Thursday, March 14th, 4:30-5:30pm PT
When teachers practice care for themselves, they are better able to show up for students in a sustainable and authentic manner. Join us for this interactive panel discussion about the importance of prioritizing teacher and teacher-leader well-being in order to ensure students are thriving. We’ll think together about ways to prioritize well-being in our work and the role self-care plays in our work as teachers and leaders.
Presented by Dr. Sylvia Bagley & teacher leaders
- About the Presenters
Sylvia Bagley (she/her) is Assistant Teaching Professor of Equitable Instructional Leadership in the College of Education at the University of Washington, Seattle, where she directs the Instructional Leadership master’s program. She teaches courses on coaching and mentoring, action research, data use for student thriving, education policy for teachers, building professional community, and supporting equity-focused teacher leadership. Prior to joining the University of Washington, Dr. Bagley was the Fritz Burns Endowed Chair in Instructional Leadership at Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles. She received her doctorate degree in the Philosophy and History of Education from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Bagley previously taught fourth and fifth grade at a culturally diverse elementary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she also served as her school's English Learner Coordinator and Instructional Math Coach. In conversation with Sylvia are teacher leaders Christine Butcher, Yazmín Gil-Preciado, Emily Pierce, Natalee Saber, Andrea Slack, Jessica Sollitt, and Beth Thompson.
- Watch the Recording
- Watch Sylvia's presentation from the 2023 ConnectEd Webinar Series
April Webinar // Fostering an Inclusive Culture from the School District Central Office to the Classroom
Thursday, April 4th, 4:30-5:30pm PT
School district central offices can play a powerful role in creating and growing a culture in which all stakeholders see themselves as learners, leaders, collaborators, and problem solvers with agency and accountability for student wellbeing and success. Join us to hear how leaders in Washington State and across the country are creating the conditions for students, teachers, principals, families and community members to engage together in creating schools where all students are happy and proud.
Presented by Max Silverman & district leaders Dr. Kelly An, Dr. Joseph Davis, and Dr. Ivan Duran
- About the Presenters
Max Silverman is the executive director of the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership (CEL) where he provides leadership for improving school systems focused on equitable outcomes for students. Throughout his career, Silverman has served in a variety of leadership positions including classroom teacher, school principal, district leader, and most recently as deputy director of CEL. At CEL, he leads national projects to implement new systems to improve leadership effectiveness. He also partners closely with individual school districts to improve leadership performance at scale. As executive director, he is dedicated to building the know-how and collective efficacy of educators, school systems and states to create a future where every student experiences a rigorous, world-class education.
Dr. Kelly An is Assistant Superintendent of Human Resource Services at Long Beach Unified School District. She provides leadership and support to multiple departments, all in service to ensuring that every student graduates from LBUSD college and career ready. Dr. An’s strategic leadership of Human Resource Services includes the growth of a diverse and inclusive talent development strategy to recruit and retain a highly qualified workforce that is reflective of our students and community. Dr. An’s focus is to cultivate the capacity of all adults in the system in the service of equity and excellence for students. 
Dr. Joseph Davis has been the superintendent of the 11,000-student Ferguson-Florissant School District in Hazelwood, Missouri since 2015. A former middle school and high school math teacher, Davis previously served as the superintendent of the Washington County school system in North Carolina and was also the deputy chief of schools for the Chicago Public Schools. He has earned two master’s degrees in education and holds a doctorate in administration, planning and social policy from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Ivan Duran is the Superintendent of Highline Public Schools. He has served over 30 years in public education and previously served as the Chief of Acceleration and Recovery for the Renton School District (RSD) and Superintendent for the Bellevue School District (BSD). Dr. Duran’s core values include a passionate commitment to educational equity, dedication to continuous improvement aimed at success and a collaborative and transparent leadership style. Dr. Duran holds a doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Study from the University of Denver.- About CEL
- Watch the Recording
May Webinar // EduDesign: Building Justice-Focused Teacher-Led Professional Learning Communities
Thursday, May 23rd, 4:30-5:30pm PT
Join us to learn about EduDesign Learning Communities, a uniquely collaborative approach to teacher professional development. Teaching is complex and relational work. Teachers need spaces to grapple with the important challenges they face. In this panel discussion we’ll explore the EduDesign model as a peer-to-peer education strategy to support ongoing learning, wellbeing, and retention for justice-focused teachers and Black, Indigenous, and teachers of Color in their first years and beyond. We’ll hear from organizers, teacher-leaders, and participants about their experiences in these collective learning communities.
Presented by Deborah Massachi, Gwen Sweeney, and EduDesign teacher participants
- About the Presenters
Deborah Massachi co-directs the UW ConnectEd Office for Professional and Community Learning. Since 2015 she has been co-developing the EduDesign model with P-12, special education, and BIPOC teachers. Deborah's background is in issues related to collaborative teacher leadership, popular education, and justice and equity in public education. Her ten years as a P-12 educator in California school and youth development contexts, as well as her academic foundations in education policy, social thought, and political economy inform her approach to this work.
Gwen Sweeney serves as the Retention and Support Specialist in Teacher Education at the University of Washington. In her roles, Gwen has had the opportunity to work hands on with and advocate for teacher education students and early career teachers. Through teaching high school students in special education and math, Gwen has deepened her understanding of damaging inequity in school systems, intentional inaccessibility, and of the amazing capabilities of students. From teaching community college students math and being part of a Carnegie Foundation teacher network, she learned about the positive impact of persistence with support, belonging, care, and community on student learning. At the UW, Gwen is part of efforts to grow a thriving educator workforce that includes teachers with unrepresented and underrepresented identities.- Learn More about EduDesign
2023 ConnectEd Webinar Series
Catch up on the 2023 ConnectEd Webinar Series with discussions on topics like multilingual science and literacy pedagogies, creating equitable math classrooms, youth identities, and more.
More Learning Opportunities
ConnectEd, the College's professional and community learning office, offers a variety of professional learning opportunities from webinars, clock hour courses, and ongoing professional development contracts. Learn more on the ConnectEd homepage and join our mailing list to stay in the loop about upcoming courses and events.