Trainings and webinars for education support professionals

ESP Sparks_0547

The WEA ESP Professional Development 'TEAM' program aims to provide transformative engaging applicable meaningful training that supports all students.

Winter 2024 Courses

All classes will be held virtually and will begin at 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted. It is highly recommended that members attend Part A prior to attending Part B to ensure content relevancy and continuity.

Clock hours: 4 clock hours are available for each class unless otherwise noted.

Contact Cristi McCorkle and Lama Chikh if you have questions about course offerings.

ELL - Culture, Language and Equity for Paraprofessionals

Offered Feb. 24 (9 a.m.), 3 clock hours
This course is for paraeducator substitutes, new to the profession, and those who are considering a paraeducator career.

To close the opportunity gaps and help all students succeed, schools need a new vision of the English language learner students that recognizes their strength-based assets both culturally and linguistically.

The Culture, Language and Equity Training Module for Closing the Achievement Gaps uses research-based, classroom-focused instructional and advocacy strategies to help paraprofessionals engage and support all students. This ELL training module is offered as a WEA member benefit to support and assist paraprofessionals in understanding how to apply the best research-based ELL, culture and equity practices in the classroom.

Register for Feb. 24 course

Educator Wellbeing

Offered March 16 (9 a.m.), 2 clock hours
This course helps educators understand compassion fatigue when working to support students in a challenging time. This course will help educators recognize symptoms commonly associated with compassion fatigue and its impacts. This course will help educators to promote the calm, relaxed, but enlivened classroom environment that children need to learn.

This training will also help educators be more effective at reducing internal stress, decreasing conflict and developing more positive ways of relating in the classroom, which can contribute to higher levels of job satisfaction.

Register for the March 16 course

Keeping the Wheels on the Road -- Transportation and Student Success

Offered March 16 (9 a.m.), 7 clock hours
To close the opportunity gaps and help all students succeed, schools need to expand classroom cultural practices, policies, and strategies to transportation employees.

Transportation employees are critical to the student's success. They are the first educator that students see in the morning and may be the last one they see in the afternoon. Setting the tone for the day, creating relationships, safely transporting students, and managing behavior are the keys to success for any bus driver.

Register for the March 16 session

PD 4 Paras -- Specialized on-demand training for paraprofessionals

Four-part series offered Jan. 20 and 27, Feb. 10 and Feb. 24 (9 a.m.), Up to 14.5 clock hours
WEA's Inclusionary Practices Project and ESP Program will provide paraeducator-specific professional development sessions live via zoom to complement four online asynchronous modules.

Synchronous sessions are facilitated by WEA paraeducators and are designed to allow participants to collaborate, connect and reflect with colleagues. This series includes sessions about going beyond the label, helping kids become independent, decoding the ABCs of the IEP, and dealing with big emotions.

Up to 14.5 clock hours will be provided for this four-part series.

Register for the series

Embracing Diversity True Colors

Offered March 16 (9 a.m.), 4 clock hours
In this training, participants use the True Colors system to focus on embracing diversity in the classroom and in the larger school community to improve learning opportunities for all students and enhance communication between student, teacher, staff and parents.

The True Colors system identifies intrinsic values, motivations, self-esteem, sources of dignity and worthiness, causes of stress, communication styles, listening styles, non-verbal responses, language patterns, social skills, learning styles, environmental motivators, cultural appeal, negative mental states, relationship orientation, and ethical behaviors.

Register for the March 16 session

Special Education Law for Paraeducators

Offered March 16 (9 a.m.), 6 clock hours
In this course, participants will review the definition of the paraprofessional and the minimal qualifications needed to perform this job. They will navigate through the beginning of special education law and many components that are utilized by paraeducators to effectively support students and staff in instruction and data collection.

Finally, participants will apply knowledge to understand power struggles, escalation cycles, behavior intervention plans (BIP) and how these elements contribute to safety in the work environment.

Register for the March 16 course.

New Discipline Rules -- Moving Away from Exclusionary Practice

Offered March 14 (5:30 p.m.), 2 clock hours
Participants explore and understand the new student discipline rules adopted by OSPI in July 2018. Participants review the rationale for the new rules and the requirements the rules place on classroom-level educators. They also problem-solve and review resources to support best practice implementation in the classroom in order to enhance student learning.

Register for the March 14 course.


If you missed one of NEA's monthly professional development webinars for education support professionals, you are in luck. Watch NEA's archived ESP webinar recordings.


NEA ESP Professional Growth

To ensure a great public education for every student, education support professionals (ESPs) want and deserve opportunities for professional growth throughout their careers. Visit NEA's listing for ESP professional development opportunities.