Throughout Washington, the Communities In Schools (CIS) network brings the CIS model to life by responding directly to the unique needs of the schools, students, and communities it supports. To do this effectively, the network depends on shared tools, practices, and language that help ensure students receive targeted support wherever they are.
In conjunction with this year’s back-to-school season, Communities In Schools of Washington (CISWA) took another step toward strengthening this foundation with the launch of its new Train the Trainer workshop series.
Developed by the CISWA Program Team in partnership with program leaders across the network, the series equips affiliate staff with ready-to-use training materials they can bring back to their own teams. The goal is straightforward: build local training capacity while strengthening consistency and fidelity to the CIS model across Washington. This first training series focuses on two essential parts of delivering individualized student supports: setting goals and monitoring student progress over time.
Training the People Who Train Their Teams
Rather than offering traditional full-staff training, CISWA designed the Train the Trainer series specifically for affiliate leaders who are responsible for onboarding, coaching, and training school-based staff. Participants may include Program Directors, Data Administrators, Executive Directors, Site Coordinators, and others who support professional learning within their affiliate.
Participants had the opportunity to learn the curriculum firsthand, practice facilitating it, and explore how they can use the materials within their own organizations. By the end of each workshop, participants left with a complete set of resources, including a training guidebook, PowerPoint presentation, activities, and additional materials, all ready to help them deliver the training locally. CISWA’s Program Team intentionally designed the curriculum to be practical and easy to implement. Facilitator guidance, discussion prompts, and hands-on activities are built in.
One participant shared, “I love the plug and play feature and telling me what to say. Right now with my capacity, this is SO helpful!” Another noted, “We have been wanting a curriculum like this for years.”
Strengthening Consistency While Supporting Local Leadership
Every CIS affiliate serves a distinct community, and local teams know their students and schools best. The Train the Trainer model leans into this local expertise while creating a stronger shared foundation across the statewide network.
The materials incorporate best practices from both the Washington and National Communities In Schools networks and align with CIS Accreditation Standards. By giving affiliate trainers a common curriculum to work from, CISWA is helping ensure that staff across the state receive consistent information about core elements of the CIS model.
“I found everything useful and am excited to use this at back-to-school training,” a participant mentioned. “I love knowing that all of us in Washington will be delivering a similar message.”
The approach creates a multiplier effect. Rather than relying on the State Office to build the capacity to train every member of the network directly, the CISWA Program Team can equip affiliate leaders with the knowledge and materials to bring what they’ve learned back to their teams.
Among those who completed the post-training survey, 100% agreed or strongly agreed that the curriculum would be useful to their affiliate. Additionally, 100% agreed or strongly agreed that the training and materials increased their capacity to do their jobs, with 60% strongly agreeing.
Participants also highlighted the intentional design of the experience and its emphasis on active learning. One commented that it was “very intentional” and that they “appreciated the content and built-in hands-on activities.”
Building a Stronger Network Together
The Train the Trainer series grew directly from conversations with Program Management teams throughout the CISWA network. It’s part of the State Office’s ongoing commitment to developing resources in response to needs identified by affiliates.
With practical, high-quality resources, a new Site Coordinator can receive strong, consistent onboarding. These resources also provide experienced staff with shared language and tools for coaching their teams in an efficient and sustainable way. With resources like the Train the Trainer series, affiliates across Washington can continue learning from one another while maintaining the standards that make the Communities In Schools model effective.
Strengthening the people who support students strengthens the support students receive.
The goal of the Train the Trainer series is to give affiliate leaders more of what they need to lead learning locally: practical tools, research-informed practices, shared standards, and training resources that are ready to put into action.
And when capacity grows across the CIS network in Washington, so does our collective ability to show up for students across the state.