K-12 Education Webinars
Snoqualmie Tribe Education Department
Parents and guardians: tune into the K-12 Education Webinars for information and resources that you can use throughout your student’s education, from kindergarten to senior year. Experts and guest speakers will join the Education Department to dive into our line-up of topics for the Tribal Academic Year.
In addition to our K-12 families, we are excited to welcome Snoqualmie Valley community experts to speak to our Snoqualmie Tribe families with infants, toddlers, and children under 5 years old. The Early Learning Benefit webinar and bonus webinar, Early Support for Infants and Toddlers, will provide helpful information and resources that can be used in addition to Snoqualmie Tribe Education Department benefits.
For any questions about the webinars, please contact education@snoqualmietribe.us, or the Education Youth Advocate, Sela Heide, at 425-571-0435.
Click the buttons below to see each webinar’s summary and speakers.
Early Learning Benefit
Date: July 7th, 2026, 3PM
Summary
The early learning benefit is offered to Snoqualmie Tribe youth, providing them with education opportunities before kindergarten. This webinar will feature professionals from diverse learning centers who will discuss their unique teaching philosophies that help young learners thrive.
Speakers
The Snoqualmie Education Department, Jarrod Da, Jerry Warren, and Sela Heide, operate and administer the Early Education Benefit. This program is available for all Snoqualmie Tribal members, ensuring that children pre-kindergarten receive essential development and learning support.
The Childcare and Development Team, Aubrie Brooks and Logan Dickey, operate the Childcare and Early Development Grant, which provides financial assistance to help qualified applicants obtain high quality childcare and early learning.
The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Child Development Center and Bright Horizons serve Tribal families, providing childcare and early learning programs for infants, toddlers, preschool-aged children and those preparing for kindergarten.
Ms. Jen and Ms. Tricia are the founders and directors of Rooster Valley Farm School, the only school in the Snoqualmie Valley where students interact daily with farm animals, work and play in a productive garden, and engage in a strong academic program.
IEPs & 504s
Date: September 24th, 2026, 3PM
Summary
Snoqualmie Valley School District and the Arc of King County will explore the process of initiating and maintaining an Individualized Education Plan or 504s plan for students. An IEP is a roadmap tailored to a student’s education from K-12, while the 504 plan is a blueprint for how the school will provide accommodation.
Speakers
Kim Mackey is the Executive Director of Student Services at Snoqualmie Valley School District.
Hillary Spears is the Deputy Director of Strategic Innovation at the Arc of King County.
BONUS: Early Support for Infants and Toddlers
Date: November 2026. Time and date to be announced.
Summary
This bonus webinar is for our families with children, ages ranging from 0 to 3, who have, or show signs of developmental delays or disabilities. In collaboration with Encompass who offer ESIT services, families will understand the kind of support they can access, regardless of location.
Speakers
Tara Brinker-Cullen, M.Ed., ECSE, is the Director of Early Supports for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) at Encompass. ESIT offers home- and community-based services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities, working alongside families in the places where everyday life happens. Tara’s background is in early childhood special education, and she leads a team focused on coaching caregivers and strengthening relationships at the heart of a child’s development. She is passionate about partnering with families and community organizations to ensure all children have access to the inclusive, relationship-based support they deserve.
Youth Mental Health
Date: January 2027. Time and date to be announced.
Summary
Join us to learn tools for parents to use to support youth and their mental health through the many stages of life between K-12. These strategies will provide parents with the skills they need to create open communication and emotional well-being that evolves with their child.
Speakers
Maddy joined Empower Youth Network as the Communication Coordinator in October of 2023 and became the Communication and Engagement Coordinator in September of 2024. The engagement component of her work is her Pathways to Employment Success program. Maddy also has vast experience working in the education field, whether she was providing academic advising remotely to students around the world at an ed-tech start-up in Boston or teaching in-person at an after-school program with the Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS).
M’Liss Moon serves as the Youth Resilience and Community Resources Manager with the TRACE Care Team. M’Liss volunteered in the community serving 12 years on the City of Carnation Planning Board, initiating the PTSA at the Riverview Learning Center, and most recently serves at the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Chair on the PTSA Council at the Riverview School District.
For over twenty-five years, Jessie has centered her work on supporting individuals, as an educator in the elementary classroom to seniors in assisted living, and now with teens. Along with her background in education and grief recovery certification, Jessie is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work. She currently works with Snoqualmie Valley youth at The Trail Youth Coffee Home as a certified domestic violence and sexual assault advocate, offering trauma-informed support with an emphasis on empowerment. Jessie lives in North Bend with her husband, their three teenagers, and their doodle furball, Harlow.
JoAnna Dickinson, MSW, is a seasoned social work professional with 34 years of experience supporting children, youth, and families across mental health, crisis response, and community systems. She currently serves as a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate Support Specialist, providing trauma-informed care, safety planning, and resource coordination for survivors through Brave Spirits at Trail Youth. JoAnna brings a multidisciplinary background that spans clinical settings, counseling, research, and prevention education. JoAnna lives locally, has 2 grown children, 2 Goldendoodles, and loves to explore nature, read & travel.
More speakers to be announced.
Kindergarten Readiness
Date: March 2027. Time and date to be announced.
Summary
To help parents with the transition to kindergarten, this webinar is an in-depth look at navigating this transition, focusing on cognitive development and the ideal timing for this big step. We will also touch on strategies for how to prepare for testing into Highly Capable or Gifted programs.
Speakers
Diana Summers is the Program Supervisor for Encompass Early Learning Preschool. She oversees the teaching staff and supports key program areas, including curriculum implementation, health and safety compliance, classroom quality, family engagement and student enrollment. With more than 35 years of experience in early childhood education, including 20 years in leadership and administration, Diana has worked with diverse populations and communities, including children receiving special education services. Her passion is supporting high-quality early learning programs, developing strong educational teams, and fostering meaningful partnerships with families and the community.
More speakers to be announced.
Staying Active and Extracurriculars
Date: April 2027. Time and date to be announced.
Summary
This webinar provides an overview of how Snoqualmie Tribe youth can utilize their benefits to fund their child’s sports, clubs, and array of extracurriculars. Join us to learn about to seamlessly accessing resources to support your child’s passion, and social and physical health all year long.
Speakers
The Snoqualmie Education Department, Jarrod Da, Jerry Warren, and Sela Heide operate and administer the Early Education and the K-12 Education Benefit programs.
The Childcare and Development Team, Aubrie Brooks and Logan Dickey, operate the Childcare and Early Development Grant, which provides financial assistance to help qualified applicants obtain high quality childcare and early learning.
More speakers to be announced.
Big Picture Schools
Date: May 2027. Time and date to be announced.
Summary
The Big Picture Learning Model is a student-centered approach designed to move beyond the traditional “one-size-fits-all” schooling. In partnership with local Big Picture Model high schools, join us to learn about how students can engage in a personalized education.
Speakers
Catherine Freudenberg is the principal at Two Rivers Big Picture School. Catherine comes from multiple years of experience in teaching and school administration. Two Rivers School is a 9th-12th grade school that is a part of the Big Picture Learning Network located in the Snoqualmie Valley School District.
More speakers to be announced.