School Partnerships

By Teachers For Teachers

The UCDS Institute connects passionate educators wanting to create a more dynamic learning environment for their students and colleagues alike.

Why Partner With UCDS?

Collaboration & Consulting

Whether held on our Seattle campus or hosted at your school, UCDS Institute workshops are some of the most informative and fun professional development you’ll find anywhere! Contact us to learn more about how you can host or attend one of our events, courses, or workshops.

Contact us (institute@ucds.org)

In-Person & Virtual Workshops

Customizable interactive workshops designed to engage groups in collaborative, hands-on experiences

Half-day, full-day, and multi-day options available
For groups large and small

Example of previous workshop topics:

Literature Circles: Building reading skills, reflecting on book selection practices, designing experiences for student engagement, examining the developmental progression across PS-5, exploring integrating Social Justice Standards (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) into Literature Circles
Math Workshop: Building Mathematical Understanding with Manipulatives

Coaching

Hands-on, tailored experiences: Classroom Teachers (PS-5), Administrators, Specialist Teachers (Art, Design and Technology, Library, Music, Physical Education, Science, Spanish)

1-on-1 Coaching
UCDS works 1-on-1 with a faculty member for ongoing coaching and/or check in’s. Join us in person or virtually.

Classroom Coaching
UCDS educators join you in your classroom in real time to participate in daily routines, model new strategies, or observe and coach as needed.

Team Coaching
UCDS works with your team (up to 10) for ongoing coaching and/or check in’s around a central topic. Join us in person or virtually.

Educational Partnerships

Schoolwide Partnership: Within a targeted focus we build a proposal for consultation and professional development tailored to your school’s needs. This program includes initial consulting meetings to develop applicable and meaningful professional development.

Example of Partnership Topic:

Math Vitamin: Work with a team of UCDS expert educators to implement Math Vitamin within your school context.

Proposed Yearly Schedule:

February: Initial Consultation with math curriculum leadership to discuss application of Math Vitamin within your school
August: 3-day Math Vitamin Workshop with teaching faculty
September, January, April: Coaching with peer UCDS educators throughout the year to support application of Math Vitamin
- 3 touch points scheduled
- Additional on-demand coaching available
June: Closing consultation: Reflect on implementation, fine-tune strategies for leadership in supporting the goals of the workshop, and set up next steps

Examples of Workshops & Consulting Topics

Building DEI Skills Through Middle School and Upper School Advisory
Class Meeting: Fostering Student Voice through Democratic Practice
Language Arts: Individualizing Daily Writing Skills
Math Workshop: Building Mathematical Understanding with Manipulatives
Mentorship: Fostering Development for All Educators

Who We Have Worked With

Partnerships with UCDS have taken many forms over the years. The consistent thread that runs through each project is a desire to create something impactful and lasting. Whether it’s a partnership with the National Science Foundation and the University of Washington to create dynamic math curricula for local schools, or our ongoing partnership with the Kasegaon Educational Society to create Ascend International School, in Mumbai, India, UCDS strives to team with dreamers, thinkers, and organizations driven to create a bigger, brighter future.

Previous partnerships have included:

Independent Schools
Mountain Academy of Teton Science Schools, Jackson, WY
San Francisco Schoolhouse, San Francisco, CA
Spruce Street School, Seattle, WA

Public Schools
B.F. Day School, Seattle, WA
Thurgood Marshall School, Seattle, WA
Shoreline Public Schools

Higher Education
Seattle University:
College of Education, Professional & Continuing Learning Department

University of Washington:
Applied Math Department
Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences

International Schools
Ascend International School and Kasegaon Education Society, Mumbai, India
Benjamin Franklin International School, Barcelona, Spain

Ascend International School

Partnership Spotlight

From workshops and consulting to seminal school design, UCDS offers individualized partnership to foster excellence in educational institutions.

Check out our long term partnership with Ascend International School in Mumbai, India.

How Our Partnership Began

Ascend International School was established in 2011 as a coeducational international day school and has since expanded its classrooms to range from Pre-K through grade 12. Ascend combines UCDS philosophies of collaboration and inquiry-based curriculum with the International Baccalaureate framework to deliver an innovative and unique educational program.