Bellevue School District

The Yakima Herald-Republic published an informative article highlighting the efforts of superintendents and leaders across the state to address the current funding system for school districts. Currently, districts derive a significant portion of their funding from local property taxes. This means districts with higher property values can raise more money, while districts with lower property values struggle, even if they try to raise taxes, resulting in an unequal model that doesn’t serve all students well. Programs like Local Effort Assistance help, but they don’t solve the problem completely. To improve the situation, Superintendents Aramaki and Trevor Greene from Yakima initiated a collaborative group comprising over 20 superintendents from across Washington. With help from the University of Washington, they’re working on a plan to make school funding fairer. Their goal is to ensure schools receive funding based on students' needs, rather than just the number of students enrolled. This would help students who need extra support, like those learning English or living in poverty. The group’s five-year plan focuses on key areas such as transportation, special education, and school operating costs. State lawmakers are joining the conversation, sharing their ideas and helping the group understand how laws are made. The coalition is preparing for the 2026 legislative session and collaborating with other committees to advocate for funding changes. Bellevue School District is committed to working with others to ensure every student receives the support they need, regardless of their location or the challenges they face. How You Can Help We encourage parents, staff, and community members to stay informed and get involved. Your voice matters! Here’s how you can support our schools: Learn more about school funding and the challenges districts face. Stay informed through school board meetings and community forums to share your ideas and concerns. Contact your state legislators to express your support for fair funding for all students. Join district advocacy efforts and stay connected with updates as we work toward positive change. Together, we can help ensure every student receives the support and opportunities they deserve. https://lnkd.in/gSnVZr9t

🚍 Drive the Future with Bellevue School District! Are you looking for a meaningful way to serve your community while enjoying flexible hours, great benefits, and a supportive team? Bellevue School District is hiring school bus drivers — and we’d love to have you on board! Whether you're returning to the workforce or seeking a rewarding part-time role, this is your chance to make a difference in the lives of local students every single day. 🎥 https://lnkd.in/gzGfqJrS ✅ Paid training ✅ Competitive wages ✅ Health & retirement benefits ✅ School schedule = more time for YOU ✅ No experience needed — paid training is available. All you need is a heart for kids and a good driving record! 📞 Apply today and help us keep our students moving forward: https://lnkd.in/gmgj7d6b

From student to specialist, Karen Chubb’s journey is a celebration of coming full circle in the Bellevue School District. As an attendance specialist at Sammamish High School and a proud BSD graduate, Karen brings warmth, compassion, and experience to her work with students and families. She reminds us that education is not just about showing up, but about belonging, connection, and finding joy in the journey. Her story reflects the very best of BSD: a community where former students return as colleagues, where relationships are the foundation of learning, and where every student is supported to thrive. Read more about Karen’s inspiring path and the difference she makes every day: 

In honor of National Custodian Day, we’re highlighting three incredible custodians who go above and beyond for their school communities. Brandy Martinez – Lake Hills Elementary: Brandy is known for her big smile and bigger heart. Whether she’s chatting with students in the lunchroom or making sure the school shines for families, Brandy creates a sense of belonging every day. Doug Gladsjo – Highland Middle School: Even in retirement, Doug returns to Highland daily as a volunteer! From helping with lunches to supporting reading in the resource room, Doug shows what it means to serve with love and humility. Phong Tran – Newport High School: Called “Superman” by his colleagues, Phong is the heart of Newport. Always cheerful, quick to help, and deeply dedicated, he embodies joy and service — even after a full knee replacement. Custodians play a vital role in our beloved BSD community. They make our schools safe, welcoming, and full of pride — and we are grateful for each and every one of them. Thank you to all our BSD Custodians! #WeAreBellevue #BSDWeBelong #BSDWeLead #NationalCustodianDay

🩺 Are you an RN ready for a new chapter? Inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals! 🍎 Bellevue School District is hiring a Nursing Assistant Teacher to lead our high school Nursing Assistant Training Program—an OSPI-approved program that prepares students for CNA certification through classroom instruction and supervised clinical hours. This is a great opportunity for a Registered Nurse looking to move from clinical care into education, make a lasting impact, and help build the future healthcare workforce right here in our community. ✅ Use your clinical experience in a meaningful new way ✅ Enjoy school-year schedules and a collaborative team ✅ Inspire students exploring careers in healthcare Position closes August 8, so please share widely with any RNs who may be interested. 📍 Sammamish High School in Bellevue, WA 📅 2025–2026 School Year 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/gZEV8EAB

The Bellevue School District will soon celebrate one of the most cherished traditions on the academic calendar — graduation season. From elementary moving up ceremonies to high school commencements, students and educators will celebrate and reflect on the culmination of another school year. Behind every graduate is a dedicated team who have invested countless hours in student success. We are privileged to work with outstanding individuals who support our students through nutrition services, transportation, school psychology, counseling, nursing, mentoring and coaching. District leaders like Dr. Heather Sánchez, building principals, and of course every classroom teacher, plays crucial roles in creating environments where students thrive.  This year, BSD launched Washington state's first elementary Korean Language Program at Newport Heights Elementary. Building on the excellence of our Arabic Language Program, led by Tina Ying Bogucharova and Yusra Obaid, BSD will next launch a new Japanese language program in 2025. Also this year, the district added maritime welding to our Career and Technical Education course offerings, opened a new building for our Evergreen Transition Program, and launched an innovative way to communicate with our community through our Voices of Bellevue School District podcast. Thank you to district leaders like Genisha Branch and Freedom Johnson who support our educators and staff to feel seen, valued and empowered. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our leadership team, led by superintendent Kelly Aramaki, in partnership with districts across the state, who brought together educators, business leaders and community stakeholders to increase school funding during the 2025 legislative session.   We extend our gratitude to Bellevue LifeSpring, Bellevue Schools Foundation, City of Bellevue, Washington, Jubilee REACH, Rainier Athletes, Eastside Pathways and countless more partners who demonstrate our community's investment in the future of our students.  Celebrations kicked off this past week as the BSD honored the achievements of graduating seniors during community and cultural celebrations including Black Student Graduation, Latino Student Graduation, and celebrations hosted by the Eastside Native American Education program and the Sammamish High School Filipino Student Club. “Coming together for community, laughter, mourning, learning, joy, and resistance was an amazing way to welcome in our upcoming student leaders,” said William Jackson, Ed.D, BSD Executive Director of Teaching and Learning. Each transition reflects all that came before and conjures hope for all that is yet to be. Best wishes to the Class of 2025! Learn more about BSD's dedicated team of educators and staff by reading our LinkedIn posts and visiting bsd405.org.

It's not too late to join us at the Advanced Placement Summer Institute this June! Starting June 23, the Bellevue School District will host this popular training program led by experienced AP educators. Offered online, the Bellevue AP Summer Institute will prepare AP teachers with new teaching strategies, instructional materials, and a supportive teacher community. The institute consists of four days of professional development focused on improving student success in an AP course and provides educators with a toolbox of instructional strategies, student learning activities, fine-tuned lesson plans, and assessments. AP Summer Institute is a great opportunity for both middle and high school teachers to receive extra training and learn about upper-level course standards in a subject area, even for those who are not current AP teachers.     Educators can select one of 32 different sessions, each focused on an AP course. Some courses may be targeted to teachers new to teaching AP with a separate session for experienced teachers coming back to learn more. 30 clock hours are available for Washington state teachers, a College Board certificate of attendance is given to all attendees, and STEM hours are awarded for specific course work.    Event Details  Date: June 23-26, 2025  Time: 7:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m., PDT  Location: Online via Zoom.  Register through The College Board website.     Visit the Bellevue AP Summer Institute webpage to learn more https://lnkd.in/gD6jDKaB. For questions, contact the AP Summer Institute team at 425-456-4161 or email apsi@bsd405.org.

Recently the Bellevue School District held its second annual Day of Champions event for students with special needs. This non-competitive day of fun took place at Interlake High School and brought together volunteers, sponsors, students, community partners and members from the City of Bellevue, Washington. We are grateful to Amazon, Bank of America, The Bellevue Collection, Bellevue PTSA, Dick's Drive-In Restaurants, State Farm, Guild Mortgage, and Honda of Kirkland, as well as Trader Joe's. All contributions help our special education students realize their fullest potential and gain skills that build independence. Special Education teacher, Heather McLean, created and organized this event for the past two years. Initiated through community input, Heather has helped to galvanize the entire BSD community. A passionate advocate for students, Heather set out a goal to "create an inclusive celebration that highlights every student's strengths and potential while reinforcing a culture of belonging and pride throughout our community. The mission was simple: to create a day filled with a million smiles." Thank you to BSD students, families and educators for the incredible outpouring of support and indeed, creating a day filled with a million smiles.

Congratulations to Kelle Hansman for her dedication to the safety and security of students in the Bellevue School District! Kelle, a Newport High School graduate, serves as the district's Emergency Management Coordinator - who along with Douglas James, Shane Williams and other distinguished members of our Safety and Security Team, establish a culture of preparedness and awareness so that all students can acquire an exemplary education. Thank you for your dedication to the Bellevue School District learning community! Learn more about the work of our Safety and Security Team in Episode 3 of our Voices of Bellevue podcast: https://lnkd.in/gc8rWsbt

The Assistive Technology Team from the Bellevue School District recently participated in the King County, WA Developmental Disabilities and Early Childhood Supports Resource Fair, as well as the Roots2Wings family workshop. Over these two days, our experienced team engaged with educators, advocates, and families to discuss innovations in assistive technology that help transition-age youth with disabilities and their families access vital services and resources. The mission of BSD's Assistive Technology Team is to empower students with accessible learning experiences by leveraging the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). We believe every learner deserves an environment tailored to their unique needs, enabling them to thrive both academically and personally. The Bellevue School District supports educators in building inclusive classrooms that embrace diversity. The Assistive Technology Team offers consultations, training, and state-of-the-art equipment to educators designed to enhance capacity to implement assistive technology solutions for students. Thank you to vendors and community partners like Sensory Tool House, LLC, Open Doors, And Still We Rise, LLC, Special Education Technology Center, CWU and Microsoft for the opportunity to connect and showcase BSD's exceptional Assistive Technology services. Learn more by visiting our Assistive Technology page: https://lnkd.in/e-gHTFcN