WSAME Workshop Aims to Help Close the Achievement Gap

What strategies ensure equity and high achievement for all students? Based on her doctoral research, Dr. Johnnie McKinley presented her findings in a timely, interactive WSAME workshop in December, Closing the Achievement Gap: Strategies that Ensure Equity and High Achievement for All Students.

Sharing the results of her study and research on Seattle school educators who successfully closed the Black-White achievement gaps, McKinley presented strategies to address five main factors found to effectively close the gap. They included: effective culturally responsive instruction, positive interpersonal relationships, cultural congruence in student backgrounds, constructive teacher attitudes and beliefs, and a social activist approach in addressing racism, disparate conditions, expectations and opportunities to learn.

Life is Good: The 2009 WSAME Fall Conference

Rain City Seattle pulled back from its watery reputation and the sun was out in full force to welcome participants to the 15th Annual WSAME Fall Conference. Teaming with Life is Good, the theme this year was Life is Good with Diversity! Iconic caps were worn by staff and presented to major conference guests. Over 20 volunteer students from the Business Information Technology program at Seattle Central Community College donated time to assist with the conference this year!

Held this year at North Seattle Community College, participants enjoyed keynote speaker, Dr. Hua Hsu, of Vassar College/Harvard University whose talks touched on the “end of White America” and working with the” Obama generation”.

Mexican-American Dr. David Acosta, Associate Dean for Multicultural Affairs at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine was honored with the organization’s Multicultural Excellence Award for his leadership in the development and implementation of a cultural competency focus in our state’s largest higher education medical training facility.

Local star youth group, Massive Monkees, brought conference attendees to their feet in a standing ovation for their high energy performance.

Great breakout sessions, the always exciting annual Silent Auction to raise funds for scholarships, multicultural vendors, and drawings for prized WSAME t-shirts, global cookbooks and resource directories rounded out the day’s activities.