About
WEA-Cascade UniServ Council is excited to offer the opportunity for our BIPOC Classified and Certificated members in Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline to attend a council-focused NAKIA Academy cadre. This is not a "program" but a community of BIPOC educators who are in continuous growth and support of each other. While our state is working to attract educators of color, we know many BIPOC educators feel isolated, frustrated, and are departing their careers within the first few years. Building from a place of abundance, NAKIA Academy, a mentoring and leadership academy by BIPOC and open to BIPOC only, was created. The purpose of NAKIA Academy is to keep newer educators in the field by identifying and training veteran BIPOC educators who can support, mentor, guide, and build with the next generation of BIPOC leaders. Do the following statements accurately describe you?
- I am passionate about guiding beginning educators and I wish I could have connected with people who looked like me as mentors when I was beginning my career.
- I am dedicated to making sure those who are beginning their education careers are going to practice their work through a lens of race, social and economic justice for all.
- I believe that healthy social/emotional support for all educators, but newer ones, is a key indicator of success.
If these descriptions resonate and you are highly motivated to build powerful mentorship skills that will greatly impact the field of education for years to come, NAKIA Academy is for you.
NAKIA Academy will take place over 8 sessions from January 25, 2025 to May 31, 2025 (see below). Sessions will be a mix of in-person and virtual, and will be held on Saturdays from 9:00am-11:30am, with additional weekly homework. Take time to review your calendar to ensure you are available on the scheduled dates before registering. Participants will receive a $500 stipend* after completing the Academy as your wisdom and work are both valued and respected. Participants will also receive up to 24 clock hours for their participation.
General Information:
- There is no charge to attend.
- Space is limited and preregistration is required.
- You are registering for all NAKIA Academy sessions noted below.
- The first and last sessions will be held in person at the WEA-Cascade Office (22522 29th Dr SE, Suite 205, Bothell, WA 98021). The Zoom link for the virtual sessions will be in the reminder emails for each session.
- A light, continental breakfast will be provided at the in-person sessions. A vegetarian option will be available.
- Participants will need to have a laptop, tablet, or other device to use at all sessions. One won't be supplied for you.
- All communications regarding this training will be sent to home emails only.
- Seminar is only open to BIPOC educators of the WEA-Cascade UniServ Council in the Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline school districts who are WEA members.
- *Attendance at a minimum of 6 sessions is required to receive stipend.
Courses
NAKIA Academy (Equity) (24hr)
Clock Hour
Course Description
Educators understand themselves as cultural beings so that they may serve students and families responsively and responsibly. Participants will evaluate personal and organizational beliefs that promote the humanity and collaboration between and among diverse stakeholder groups. Growth occurs when you know who you are, and you can assess and improve your practices. In this course, you will explore your attitudes, actions and behaviors, and reflect on how they affect the work environment. As you unpack your identity, you will boost your courage for addressing oppression. You will be better able to meet the needs of students and families. The skills taught in this course will also give you the confidence to work with anyone and be ready to support and promote an inclusive environment. Participants will address issues concerning perception, reality and objectivity in relationship to accurately assessing the learning environment. They will examine the role that trust plays in the perception of reality, risk, and relationships. Analysis of observation using multiple tools provides an opportunity for an inclusive environment.Course Objectives
This course will help educators connect to their students and communities by integrating the students’ history, and the human diversities present in the classroom, school, district, and broader community into their classroom activities and curriculum. The course will also have educators facilitate courageous conversations around racism, equity, and microaggressions in classrooms, schools, and the community. Educators create specific action plans that prevent one's own culture, identities, and biases from harming others.
Waitlist Limit: 0/50