e-Newsletter

February 2026

On February 19, more than 80 educators, advisors, counselors, and teachers gathered together virtually for the High School & Beyond Community of Practice Winter Convening to share best practices about Strengthening Family Engagement within High School and Beyond Plans! Read more about the event and access the video recording.

Register Now! You are invited to join us for the next High School & Beyond Community of Practice in-person event coming up May 28 from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at the new Mount Vernon Library Commons! Learn more and register by May 13. We'd love you to join us!

Career Connect NW connects industry, education, and
community partners to
meet career development
needs of Northwest
Washington’s youth in
an equitable and
accessible way. 

We focus on increasing awareness and access to High Wage/High Demand
career opportunities in the 5-county region.

We use data to ensure we are connecting young people to careers in an equitable way, including people who are historically underrepresented in
STEM fields, students of color, women, students living in rural areas, and students living in poverty.  

Communities of Practice bring people together from K-12, post-secondary training, colleges, and workforce. Learn more about our Curriculum Communities of Practice on our webpage. 

Check out three new Communities of Practice that will kick-off this Spring!

Cover page to the latest 2025 CTE Dual Credit Legislative Report Summary. 

First, the 2025 CTE Dual Credit Legislative Report Summary offers a deep dive into key accomplishments and policy recommendations stemming from the CTE Dual Credit Pilot Program. For highlights, read our blog  "Strengthening CTE Dual Credit for Washington Students".

Second, Big Blur, Bigger Impact: Expanding CTE Dual Credit Opportunities  details how we are partnering with Skagit Valley College, Edmonds College, and the Northwest Workforce Council to participate in the national Big Blur Initiative, led by Jobs for the Future. 

Teachers for the People Program is designed to support students—particularly Indigenous students—in exploring careers in education while engaging deeply with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and teaching.

The Teachers for the People Program is diversifying the education workforce starting with preparing teachers who understand the power of community, identity, and belonging.

Be a Part of the Teachers for the People Pathway details on how this program can grow educators and strengthen culturally grounded teaching at your school and within your districts. 

Want to learn more? Attend one of our free 1-hour virtual info sessions:  

Career Connect NW's Donovan Tate presenting Demystifying Nursing virtually to students at Sehome and Lynden High Schools. 

Our Career Connected Learning Specialists at Career Connect NW hosted at the Northwest Educational Service District 189 are excited to offer virtual and in-person student seminars to help students learn more about apprenticeships and healthcare careers. 

Read New Offering: Student Seminars including Apprenticeship 101 and Demystifying Nursing to find out more about content covered, costs, and how to request a seminar. 

Report cover for the Port of Bellingham's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2025 Progress Report. 

In February, the Port of Bellingham released their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) 2025 Progress Report.

A key component of the report highlights progress made by community organizations and partnerships, and Career Connect NW was proud to be among them! Read more about our contributions in our blog. 

Students at Blue Tech by the Bay in 2025 learning about welding careers at the Washington State Ferries station. 

Get your high school students registered for Blue Tech by the Bay, happening April 28, at Fishermen's Pavilion in Bellingham!

Students can explore Maritime Careers at this popular hands-on event. Check out the video from last year.

RSVP forms were sent to school counselors, College and Career Readiness staff and CTE staff Feb.16.  Schools that would like to bring students should make sure to submit their RSVP forms by the Friday, March 6 registration deadline.

Want more information about this event? Contact Donovan Tate at dtate@nwesd.org.

Avery Walter wearing a shirt he created in the Money & Business program at Northwest Career & Technical Academy. 

Happy CTE Month! Taking CTE classes made all the difference in Avery Walter's educational journey.

Read his CTE Student Success Story in celebration of CTE Month. 

November 17: CTE Dual Credit Proviso Process Workgroup Meeting at Everett Community College

Left to right: Kimberly Ingram, Tim McLain, Heather Hill, Anna Labitzke, Jodi Jacobs, Sinead Fitzpatrick Plagge, Ali Holmes, Kelly Dyer, and Donovan Tate

January 20: Coaching and Mentoring Institute (CAMI) Making Things Happen 

Top row (Left to Right Audrey Ageyev, Alexa Lee, Janay Hunter, Jennifer Green, Brian Magraw, Vanessa Woo (CCNW)

Bottom row (L-R) Roberta Schamber, Erin McCarthy, Elvira Perez, Drew Dillhunt (co-facilitator) 

February 7: SkillsUSA "Job Interview Judge" Volunteering 

Career Connect NW staff holding a job interview application at the mock "Job Interview" competition. FuturesNW and industry partners from Microsoft, PACCAR, Aspen Power Catamarans, and more volunteered as judges in various competitions at the 2026 SkillsUSA Puget Sound North Leadership Event.   

Looking for Clock Hours?

Thursday, May 28, 2026

High School & Beyond (HS&B) Community of Practice. "On the Frontier of Education" Spring Convening. 8:30 am - 3:30 pm. In-Person event at Mount Vernon Library Commons.

Up to 7 Clock Hours available. Lunch Included! 

Career Connect NW created two asynchronous Canvas courses related to helping students with High School & Beyond planning:

Participants can earn STEM or equity clock hours.

Learn more about what participants are saying about the courses and register for these clock-hour offerings! 

If you are having an event and would like us to share it widely, you can enter your event in this form. We review each event and then add them to our "Upcoming Events" webpage tab and the next newsletter. It makes it easier to for people see what's happening in the region and when! 

Thank you for reading our newsletter! To learn more, visit our website: www.nwesd.org/ccnw

Sign up for the Career Connect NW e-newsletter here! 

©Career Connect NW Network. All Rights Reserved. 

Career Connect NW

Northwest Educational Service District 189

1601 R Avenue, Anacortes, WA 98221 US