Announcing the 2026 Communities of Practice Programs
In Spring 2026, PSESD’s Equity in Education team will be hosting three Communities of Practice for educator, administrator, and student leaders. Each series focuses on one of three distinct strategies for diversifying the educator workforce: 1) Cultivating Leadership Communities for Educator Retention & Thriving, 2) Building Youth Partnerships to Strengthen Educator Pathways, and 3) Measurement Systems to Support a Thriving Educator Workforce. All three series are designed to support district teams to learn about specific regional bright spot practices, self-assess their own conditions, and thought partner with other districts and PSESD to design and/or strengthen their own district initiatives.
The registration deadline for all sessions below is February 13, 2026. Cost for each series is $800 per team, or $1,000 with coaching. Scholarships are available!
SERIES 1: Cultivating Leadership Communities for Educator Retention & Thriving
What is a leadership community for education retention & thriving? A space for thriving, created by diverse educators for diverse educators.
Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) has developed an innovative approach to cultivate the conditions for thriving. Now beginning their sixth cohort, the Educator of Color Leadership Community (ECLC) meets monthly to build community and learn from identity-affirming and healing-centered practices where participants develop leadership skills and find inspiration.
How can your own district create leadership communities for educators to thrive? This three-session series will enable district teams to learn about and begin designing their own leadership community.
Session Dates:
- Thursday, Feb 26 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Thursday, March 12 1:00–3:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Tuesday, May 5 12:00–3:00 p.m. at PSESD
Register today, at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_E4TL7ypjh9nqUB081S9c1bR7kHm4aB0FovK3HsPKdDA7vQ/viewform.
SERIES 2: Building Youth Partnerships to Strengthen Educator Pathways
Students thrive when they see themselves in their teachers. When they don’t, they feel the disconnect. Both experiences make youth powerful partners in strengthening educator pathways, retention, and instructional practice, all key conditions for student success.
Highline Public Schools (HPS) is tapping into the potential of partnering with youth to strengthen educator pathways, retention and instructional practice. The Freedom Dreaming Fellowship enables students to reimagine teaching, learning, and educator pathways, with ideas that shape district programs and practices.
Get Puget Sound ESD 121’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
How might your district engage youth for stronger educator pathways? These sessions can point the way.
Session Dates:
- Tuesday, March 3 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Thursday, March 19 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Thursday, May 14 12:00–3:00 p.m. at PSESD
Register today, at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdO2UOlvipDJe4N-_2GRQQgoItXsAx5HO1oP91H8cFUNzIXbg/viewform.
SERIES 3: Measurement Systems to Support a Thriving Educator Workforce
Supporting workforce health is of vital importance — now, more than ever. Thriving educators experience community, agency, abundance, joy, and self-care. Educator thriving is essential for creating and sustaining culturally responsive schools.
To build work environments where all educators can flourish, we need better ways to measure and support thriving. A recent landscape analysis of ten Pacific Northwest school districts illuminated bright spots in measurement practices — as well as collective opportunities to improve.
How might your own district strengthen data practices to support a diverse and thriving educator ecosystem? These three sessions will help district teams reimagine measurements for thriving.
Session dates:
- Thursday, March 5 1:00–3:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Thursday, April 28 1:00–3:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Wednesday, May 20 12:00–3:00 p.m. at PSESD
Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3gd4ORvkGTUkaFsFc6qE-BwYFicu2TSPEPKPw-ugWVnp7iA/viewform.
To learn more about each of these Community of Practice sessions and how to take part, visit https://www.diverseeducatorpathways.psesd.org/2026-communities-of-practice-programs. With questions, don’t hesitate to contact Eileen Yoshina at eyoshina (at) psesd.org.
See you there!
