Kodiak Cubs Showcased as Learning Opportunity for Educators

Washington’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in conjunction with the University of Washington’s Haring Center, selected Kodiak Cubs Preschool among sixteen schools across the state to serve as demonstration sites for inclusionary practices. Inclusionary practices are those which increase grade level core instruction for students receiving special services.

Lindsay Camp, Kodiak Cubs teacher, gave a recent webinar sharing the program’s methods and benefits. Educators statewide tuned in to learn so they could possibly adopt some of the best practices.

Camp began by sharing the Kodiak Cubs’ motto, which is “Learning, laughter and love.” Nurturing was a thread throughout Camp’s presentation, which also highlighted educational rigor.

The preschool’s transformation and partnership with the high school was born of a desire to meet the needs of all students and families spread across a geographically large district. Planning began in 2010 and involved many stakeholders, including district staff across all departments, city council members, day care providers and families.

Tim Lawless, former CSD special education director, provided a video clip cameo in the presentation, recalling the launch. “We dreamed of how we could pull this off. What we didn’t know was how big of an impact this would have on high school students.”

The program evolved from a small traditional preschool into a program with three ways for high school students to be involved. Child Development represents one area of Career and Technology Education (CTE), with a level 1 class that covers theory and fundamentals. The level 1 students have a chance to observe and interact with preschoolers. The level 2 class serves as a practicum. Students become teaching assistants and get to know the preschoolers through weekly interactions.

The third way that older students are involved is through transition opportunities for special education high school students. A short video clip of teacher Jesse Klanke showed her saying, “It helps my students find their place, where they have leadership roles and responsibilities. They seem more confident, comfortable and proud after they return from helping with Kodiak Cubs.”

Camp shared the story of recent graduate, Ethan, who labored over three versions of a “Tiny Town,” built at preschooler height. One of the most elaborate was a summertime boardwalk and carnival scene, complete with spinning rides. It was momentous when Ethan led excited preschoolers on a field trip to see “Tiny Town” and tasked them with an I-spy challenge.

One key to the success of Kodiak Cubs is staff professional development. Camp and others work with both preschoolers and high school students, and must craft developmentally appropriate lessons.

The program also requires an agreement with Wenatchee Valley College about the college equivalency credits for the Child Development courses. For it to be meaningful and stable for both young and older students, the class schedules have to match, not perfectly, but with enough overlap for quality and consistency.

At first, Camp and administrators had to recruit students. Now the program is established with clear expectations, so recruitment is not necessary.

There are benefits to running a preschool this way. With CTE students, the program is eligible for extra state funding. The ratio of small person to big person is 4:1 pre-COVID-19 and even better now. “A lot of intervention and targeted learning happens,” said Camp. “I can work with the kids that need the most help while the high schoolers are doing enrichment for other students.”

Additionally, these high schoolers become early learning advocates and future teachers.

Camp spoke of the need to craft solutions to racial inequities in all levels of society. “Role models are fundamental,” she said. “I can give a nurturing space for all high school students, so they serve as role models of what community can and should look like.”

Camp values this opportunity. “As a participant in the Haring Center Demonstration Sites project Kodiak Cubs Preschool staff are receiving professional development and network connections,” she said. “And through the introspective work of crafting the webinars we’ve been able to articulate our story. We’ve clarified our goals and objectives, learned more about the well-connected system of support we have created, and drilled down to the bedrock of our core values.”