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A New Opportunity For Educators In South Central Washington: Educational Service District 105's LEADER Impact Network Launches RISE Scholarship - 04/01/26
Yakima, WA — After listening to more than 260 educators and community members across South Central Washington, one message came through clearly: educators need support to grow, lead, and stay in the communities they serve.
In response, and alongside the LEADER Impact Network Advisory Council, ESD 105 is launching the RISE Scholarship (Racial Equity and Inclusion Support for Educators), a new initiative designed to support educators as they advance in their careers while helping strengthen and diversify the educator workforce in the region.
The RISE Scholarship will support 20 educators in its first year through two pathways:
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Paraeducators pursuing teaching credentials
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Teachers pursuing administrative leadership
Each participant will receive $3,000 in support, including $1,500 in tuition assistance and $1,500 for leadership engagement through the LEADER Impact Network.
But RISE is more than a scholarship.Participants will join a regional cohort of educators who are building their leadership, connecting across districts, and supporting one another along the way. Through leadership gatherings, networking opportunities, and mentorship, the program is designed to create a strong community of educators who are growing together and lifting others as they go.
[Quote from ESD 105 Representative]:
“This work comes directly from what educators in our region shared with us,” said Alma Castillo, Career Readiness Coordinator at ESD 105. “RISE is about recognizing the leadership that already exists in our schools and creating the conditions for educators to grow, stay, and lead in their communities.”
The RISE Scholarship is part of the LEADER Impact Network’s broader effort to build an educational ecosystem where educators of color thrive and every student sees themselves reflected in leadership.
This work is supported by College Spark Washington, whose investment helps expand opportunities for educators and strengthen pathways into teaching and leadership roles across the region.
Applications for the RISE Scholarship will open April 6, 2026.
For more information, please contact:
Alma Castillo
Career Readiness Coordinator
Educational Service District 105
alma.castillo@esd105.org
About LEADER Impact Network:
The LEADER Impact Network is a regional initiative focused on recruiting, supporting, and retaining educators who reflect the communities they serve. Through community-informed strategies centered on investment, networking, and belonging, the network works to strengthen educator pathways and create more equitable outcomes for students across South Central Washington.