Washington Just for the Kids
Professional Development

Sponsored by The Boeing Company

Just for the Kids (JFTK) is a web-based program designed to assist schools in their school improvement efforts. This site allows schools to compare their students' achievement with the most successful schools serving equally or more disadvantaged student populations.

NOTE: At this time we are in the process of reviewing our seminar dissemination strategies, and seminars/ presentations are not available through the Research Center at this time. However, if you would like, we could send you a copy of our research publication A Decade of Reform, the respective PowerPoint presentation on CD and a copy of the appropriate seminar materials. Please call if you have any questions.

Current Professional Development Opportunities

Educator Presentations and Seminars
As part of the Washington Just for the Kids program, the WSRC provides presentations and seminars for groups of educators, school boards, and others interested in the use of data and data analysis for the improvement of schools and student learning. The following four seminars are now available:

Seminar #1 -- Just for the Kids Data Analysis System
Seminar #2 -- First and Second Order Change
Seminar #3 -- Effective School Practices
Seminar #4 -- Effective Classroom Instruction

Just for the Kids Data Analysis System
2 - 3 hour seminar
Training is provided free of charge to school districts during the 2004 - 2005 school year courtesy of The Boeing Company. The seminar consists of a history of Just for the Kids, a review of the types of data available for Washington schools, and a presentation of individual school data. During the session principals and teachers will learn to set realistic goals for student improvement and have an opportunity to ask clarifying questions regarding their own individual school data. This seminar is organized at the district level and includes the principal and teacher leaders from each school. Workshop Dates for 2004- 2005
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Aug. 31, 2004 (Central Washington Univ. - Teachers)

Sept. 2, 2004 (Omak School District - All Dist. Staff)

Oct. 27, 2004 (NWESD 189 - Cont. Impr. Conference)

First and Second Order Change
3 - 4 hour seminar
This seminar is provided free of charge to school districts during the 2004 - 2005 school year courtesy of The Boeing Company. Educational reforms that have been superficial in nature and/or arbitrary in their adoption may be among the reasons schools remain unchanged. In this seminar research will be presented around the fundamental shift in educational purpose in Washington State since 1993 and around the type of responses that result in greater student achievement. What must happen is the philosophy and ideas driving teacher actions in the classroom must be replaced before the "first order" change can be effective. First order changes are intended to be means to accomplish deeper changes based on ideas about the school and classroom cultures and teaching and learning. A change that provides a qualitatively different educational experience for students and that is based on a different idea or philosophy driving practice is called a "second order" change. The findings are reviewed in "A Decade of Reform: A Summary of Research Findings on Classroom, School, and District Effectiveness in Washington State" starting on page 1 of our recent publication (A Decade of Reform). This seminar is available to multiple school leadership teams organized at the district level or to an entire faculty at the individual school level.
1st & 2nd Order Change: Seminar Dates for 2004 - 2005
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Aug. 4, 2004 (O.S.P.I. Summer Workshop - Yakima)

Aug. 9, 2004 (Richland School District - Admin.)

Aug. 12, 2004 (O.S.P.I. Summer Workshop - Bellevue)

Aug. 23, 2004 (Tonasket Middle School)

Aug. 24, 2004 (Cheney School District - Bldg. Staff)

Aug. 25, 2004 (Sunset Elementary - Cheney S.D.)

Aug. 26, 2004 (Maya Angelou Elem. - Pasco S.D.)

Aug. 30, 2004 (Cheney School District - All Dist. Staff)

Aug. 30, 2004 (Cheney High School)

Aug. 31, 2004 (Central Washington Univ.)

Sept. 2 , 2004 (Omak School District - All Dist. Staff)

Sept. 2, 2004 (Sequim School District - Elem. Staff)

Sept. 2, 2004 (Sequim School District - Secondary Staff)

Sept. 7 , 2004 (Kelso School District - All Dist. Teachers)

Oct. 15, 2004 (Richland School District - Admin.)

Oct. 22, 2004 (Lewis & Clark Elem. "Special Services - Richland S.D.)

Oct. 22, 2004 (Lewis & Clark Elem. "Teachers" - Richland S.D.)

Oct. 27, 2004 (NWESD 189 - Cont. Impr. Conference)

Nov. 30, 2004 (Jason Lee Elem. - Richland S.D.)

Jan. 18, 2005 (Steilacoom School District - Admin.)

Effective School Practices
3 - 4 hour seminar
This seminar is provided free of charge to school districts during the 2004 - 2005 school year courtesy of The Boeing Company. In a high standards environment focused and intellectually demanding classroom instruction is essential for all students. In this seminar research will be presented on school-wide practices that are found in high achievement schools. Classroom instruction is important but it becomes even more effective when it is part of a larger school environment organized in a specific fashion or following certain organizational principles. How adults organize themselves to conduct business, interact with each other on a daily basis, and coordinate their efforts affects student academic achievement and other educational outcomes. The findings are reviewed in section 1 "School-Wide and District Practices in a High Standards Environment: Research Findings" starting on page 31 of our recent publication (A Decade of Reform). This seminar is available to multiple school leadership teams organized at the district level or to an entire faculty at the individual school level.
Effective School Practices: Seminar Dates for 2004 - 2005
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Aug. 4, 2004 (O.S.P.I. Summer Workshop - Yakima)

Aug. 12, 2004 (O.S.P.I. Summer Workshop - Bellevue)

Aug. 19, 2004 (Tacoma School District - Principals)

Aug. 23, 2004 (Tonasket Middle School)

Aug. 24, 2004 (Cheney School District - Bldg. Staff)

Aug. 26, 2004 (Maya Angelou Elem. - Pasco)

Aug. 31, 2004 (Central Washington Univ.)

Sept. 2 , 2004 (Omak School District - All Dist. Staff)

Sept. 7 , 2004 (Kelso School District - All Dist. Teachers)

Sept. 24 , 2004 (Richland School District - Sec.Teachers)

Oct. 11 , 2004 (Richland School District - Elem. Teams)

Oct. 27, 2004 (NWESD 189 - Cont. Impr. Conference)

Nov. 12, 2004 (Sequim School District - Elem. Staff)

Nov. 12, 2004 (Sequim School District - Secondary Staff)

Feb. 15, 2005 (Steilacoom School District - Admin.)

Effective Classroom Instruction
3 - 4 hour seminar
This seminar is provided free of charge to school districts during the 2004 - 2005 school year courtesy of The Boeing Company. "Good" or "high quality" classroom instruction is the most important factor for student learning. In this seminar we will discuss the reasons based on research why some teachers produce more learning in their students than do other teachers. Instructional strategies or activities will be shared that seem most appropriate for preparing a student to perform the appropriate intellectual activity and performance necessary to accomplish the task and demonstrate the learning. Research also shows that often times changes in instructional practices are part of a larger change in educational philosophy that adults in the school follow. The findings are reviewed in section 2 "Classroom Instruction in a High Standards Environment: Research Findings" starting on page 19 of our recent publication (A Decade of Reform). This seminar is available to multiple school leadership teams organized at the district level or to an entire faculty at the individual school level.
Effective Classroom Instruction: Seminar Dates for 2004 - 2005
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Aug. 4, 2004 (O.S.P.I. Summer Workshop - Yakima)

Aug. 10, 2004 (Richland School District - Admin.)

Aug. 12, 2004 (O.S.P.I. Summer Workshop - Bellevue)

Aug. 19, 2004 (Tacoma School District - Principals)

Aug. 23, 2004 (Tonasket Middle School)

Aug. 25, 2004 (Sunset Elementary - Cheney S.D.)

Aug. 26, 2004 (Maya Angelou Elem. - Pasco S.D.)

Aug. 30, 2004 (Cheney High School)

Aug. 30, 2004 (Cheney School District - All Dist. Staff)

Aug. 31, 2004 (Central Washington Univ.)

Sept. 2, 2004 (Omak School District - All Dist. Staff)

Oct. 15 , 2004 (Tapteal Elementary - Richland S.D.)

Oct. 22, 2004 (Lewis & Clark Elem. "Special Services - Richland S.D.)

Oct. 22, 2004 (Lewis & Clark Elem. "Teachers" - Richland S.D.)

Oct. 27, 2004 (NWESD 189 - Cont. Impr. Conference)

Nov. 30, 2004 (Jason Lee Elem. - Richland S.D.)

Jan. 14, 2005 (Sequim School District - Elem. Staff)

Jan. 14, 2005 (Sequim School District - Secondary Staff)

Jan. 18, 2005 (Steilacoom School District - Admin.)

Jan. 24, 2005 (Maya Angelou Elem. - Pasco S.D.)

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If you are interested in participating in any of the above seminars please contact us to determine space availability.

If you are interested in sponsoring a seminar in your district or school, please contact us. Seminars will be arranged on a first come first served basis. The location of the seminars is generally within the district requesting the training.

How to sign up?

If your district is interested in organizing a seminar please click the Register for Training link below and provide the following information:

	District name
	District contact person organizing the training
	Contact person's e-mail and phone number
	Names of schools to be involved in the training
	Anticipated number of participants
	Date(s) for which training is requested
	Click here to register for training.

Washington Just for the Kids
Approved Workshop Presenters

Duane Baker, Ed.D.
Carol Stuen Brown, Ed.D.
Bill Prenevost, Ed.D.
Ray Houser, M.Ed.
Don Schmitz, M.Ed.
Alison Olzendam, Ed.D.
John Richardson, M.Ed.
Jeanette Bowers, M.Ed.
Shirley Riley, Ed.D.
Clayton Mork, Ed.D.
Craig Bowman, M.Ed.
Alan "Ace" Bulger, MA, MS Ed.
Mike Murphy, Ed.D.
Candace Gratama, M.Ed.

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What Educators Say About JFTK

"Wow! I can really use this data to plan programs for improvement."

"Just for the Kids helps focus on how to get better rather than blaming circumstances."

"Just for the Kids silences the excuses for why we're not doing well, forces us to accept the fact that we can and must improve, and truly forces us to think of what's possible for our kids."

"This is what I've been wishing for for the last 10 years that I have been teaching."

"Just for the Kids will change mental models about what is possible for our students."

"This is truly a much better way to look at the data. I think we can make some real changes."

"Just for the Kids is a no-excuses approach."

"Just for the Kids levels the playing field."

"Just for the Kids is informative, useful and applicable. It is so clear and easy to interpret."

"Just for the Kids helps set a clear and realistic target for improvement."

"Just for the Kids allows you to compare your data to schools with similar make up and helps to show if your school is really improving, or not."

"Just for the Kids will be beneficial for our school to help us set realistic and attainable goals."

"It's about time these factors were considered!"

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