Superintendent's Message
Everything we do at ESD 105 is to create efficiencies for public education, help districts build capacity among their staff so that they can best serve their constituents, create healthy and safe learning environments, and close the achievement gap so we can break the cycle of poverty that currently exists across our region and give students the skills they need for a promising future.
ESD 105 makes a major contribution to preK-12 funding in our region. With our $555,862 core allocation from the Washington State Legislature, we generate more than $16.8 million in services to schools and students (which includes the Ready by Five program). This includes funding that would not have been available to our schools without the work of ESD 105. Additionally, we act as a liaison between OSPI and education associations to assure our region has access to their expertise and services.The school work force is the most important asset to ensure student success. ESD 105 provides direct training for both certified and classified staff. Utilizing grants and cooperative agreements with our districts, we prioritize professional development needs to provide ongoing training. Currently our services focus on building skills for transportation coordinators, fiscal officers, technology staff, paraeducators, special education directors and teachers, migrant education staff, elementary teachers of science and mathematics, counselors and classified staff working with student records, nursing and substance abuse prevention staff, and leaders responsible for improving student learning.
Children of color and children of families living in poverty are making positive gains in academic achievement. However, the gap in achievement between these children and more affluent white children has not decreased. Specific programs we have designed to address this challenge include: school improvement planning, parental involvement programs for migrant families, administrative leadership academy, and science LASER programs, and the ArtFusion program. We facilitate regular meetings for school officials to assure ongoing conversations focused on the special learning needs of students in South Central Washington.
Your ESD 105 staff members are dedicated to the needs of our local districts and that focus will ensure that we will remain a vital partner in the delivery of the education for the 60,000 students in our region.
Dr. Jane Gutting
ESD 105 Superintendent
jane.gutting@esd105.org
