Kirsten Koetje, assistant professor of teacher education, and Jorge Preciado, professor of teacher education, have been awarded a Developing Educators Workforce (DEW) state grant to support ten educators each year from the Kent and Issaquah school districts in earning their teacher certification.
This two-year grant, spanning 2026–28, totals $280,000, with the majority of the funds dedicated directly to student scholarships and grants.Koetje has coordinated this grant — formerly known as the Alternative Routes Block Grant — since 2016. Including this new award, the grant has supported or will support a total of 114 graduate students in earning their teacher certification with cumulative funding of $1.56 million.
Koetje says this continued investment is a powerful testament to the program’s impact and to the commitment of faculty and community partners to strengthening the educator workforce.
Posted: Thursday, February 19, 2026