Seattle Public Schools

Community Partnerships

Professional Development for Education Partners

Professional Development (PD) for Education Partners

The School and Community Partnerships Department is committed to offering supports that build the capacity of community-based organizations and schools to align their work and effectively and authentically partner.

The planned supports are guided by our Professional Development Advisory Committee, which includes community-based organizations, the City of Seattle, Seattle Public Schools (SPS), and feedback from partners. Some opportunities are designed only for community-based organization staff and volunteers, while others are open to both to school staff and partners.

Please note that we will continue adding trainings and partner check-ins throughout the year, and will announce those updates through our community partner email. If you would like to be added to this monthly email, please send an email to us at communitypartnerships@xlqx.net.

The workshops in Professional Development Calendar for Partners are aligned with the Seattle Public Schools strategic plan Seattle Excellence. You’ll find workshops in the following categories:

  • Racial Equity & Cultural Responsiveness
  • Academic Curriculum & Instruction
  • School Community Partnerships
  • Inclusive & Welcoming Environments
  • Social Emotional Learning & 21st Century Skills & Dispositions
student reading to an adult

As you review the professional learning opportunities, here are some questions to consider:

  • What do I need to know to create a strengths-based learning environment for all students?
  • What are my core beliefs and underlying biases about student learning, and in what ways do I need to shift my beliefs and practices to better serve youth?
  • What skills will support me in building positive and caring relationships with every child?
  • How might I support, facilitate, and contribute to partnerships that are centering students furthest from educational justice?

Our professional development calendar is meant to support the rich diversity of community-based organizations serving SPS youth, including organizations big and small providing services in schools and off site. We encourage each organization to limit your number of registrants to 5 or fewer so that we can be sure that many organizations have the opportunity to benefit from these trainings.

If you represent a large organization and are in need of training for more than 5 of your staff members , please contact Jill Leahy at jkleahy@xlqx.net 

If you or someone from your organization is interested in leading or facilitating a workshop please email Jill Leahy at jkleahy@xlqx.net.

Our School and Community Partnerships team values learning and growing our practice, and we know you do too! Our resource library contains books that we would love to share with partners. Select a book that you would like to borrow and how to best get it to you, and we will reach out through email to confirm the details. Our suggested timeframe for a borrowed item is 6 weeks to accommodate others who may have interest in an item. 

Thank you to the members of the Professional Development Advisory Committee, including representatives from the following organizations that partner with Seattle Public Schools who informed the development of this calendar.

  • City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning
  • City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture
  • School’s Out Washington
  • Seattle Art Museum
  • Seattle Housing Authority
  • Seattle Public Library
  • Seattle Public Schools
  • Southeast Seattle Education Coalition
  • Youth Development Executives of King County
  • youth-serving organizations

2024-25 Professional Development Calendar launching soon!


Looking for more professional development opportunities? If you are looking for other learning opportunities, here are some organizations that often share information about upcoming professional development options for people who work with youth.