Assess Readiness
Cultivate's District Readiness Tool is a practical, research-informed planning tool designed to assist school and district leaders in determining whether the essential structures are in place to successfully launch and sustain professional development for classified staff—especially educational assistants. This tool will help identify strengths, anticipate barriers, and make informed decisions that increase the likelihood of long-term impact and sustainability.
Cultivate’s team can walk you through the tool, help you develop a game plan, and support you in creating a practical and sustainable PD plan for the future. You can access the digital version here, or print it to use at your next leadership meeting.
Design a Scope & Sequence
Work with Cultivate's team to co-develop a practical professional learning roadmap aligned to your district or school priorities and capacity. Choose from over 70 lessons within the following categories:
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) Core Skills
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) Instructional Practices
- k12 Educational Assistant Core Skills
- Instructional Support Strategies
- Foundations of Early Literacy (K-3)
- Climate, Culture & Wellness
- Building Relationships
- Positive Behavior Support
- Foundations of Trauma
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Implement with Support
Cultivate's flexible online platform supports a number of training delivery options for professional development including Train the Trainer, Professional Learning Communities and Asynchronous Options—each with access to MicroPDs, facilitator guides, coaching, and implementation tools. Cultivate will work closely with you to ensure the method chosen is aligned with your strengths and needs.
Evaluate & Refine
Listening and responding to participant feedback is essential to improving implementation and strengthening sustainability over time. Cultivate's evaluation tools will help guide you toward impactful PD.
Training Topics
Cultivate's catalog of over 70 lessons include MicroPD videos and supporting materials to make facilitation as simple as possible including English and Spanish agendas, slide decks, and quick guides which can be downloaded and modified if necessary. Each lesson includes research and evidence-based strategies specific to a topic or skill our school partners have identified as important.
Watch an example!
Flexible Delivery Options
Depending on your strengths and needs, Cultivate offers a variety of ways to deliver training including light touch and high support Train the Trainer, Virtual Professional Learning Communities and custom or preset Asynchronous Learning Courses.
For an example of a self-paced asynchronous series, check out Cultivate Connection, a FREE 5-Part Series for Educators, Parents, Caregivers & Community Members designed to deepen your understanding of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and how these principles apply in educational and community settings.
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Paraeducators are among the most undertrained, under-supported, underpaid, and underappreciated staff members in a school. Yet, they are often the adults working most closely with students who need the highest levels of support. If we want paraeducators to be effective and confident in their roles, we need to provide them with more intentional, practical, and ongoing training.
This year, NWRESD piloted Cultivate across several school districts and grade levels. These 45- to 60-minute trainings focused on topics such as leading small groups and understanding student behavior. The sessions are especially helpful for paraeducators who are just beginning their journey in education, while also serving as valuable refreshers for those with years of experience.
One of the greatest benefits of the training is the discussion it creates. Paraeducators are able to talk through real situations, share strategies, and learn from one another about how to respond to challenging moments in ways that best support students.
Kelly Thayer, MA, MS - Northwest Regional ESD, Diverse Educator Pathway Navigator