Speaker Name: Hosted by Nate Pelton
Speaker Info: Associate Principal K-5
Date/Time: March 1, 2023 - 8:15 - 10:00am
Brief Event Description:
Whitworth pre-service teachers visited Spokane International Academy to learn about their program offerings and to gain awareness of an innovative approach to education.
On March 1 st , facilitated a conversation between Spokane International Academy (SIA) and
Whitworth University’s school of education students. The participants were enrolled in the “Introduction to Teaching” by Dr. Hoxie. This class at Whitworth introduces aspiring teachers to the vast opportunities in education. AIER introduces both the students and the Whitworth faculty to alternative education resources in the Spokane region.
Attendee Feedback:
"This experience impacted me as a future teacher by showing me the versatility of education. It inspired me to further consider alternative schools as places of student teaching or career seeking."
"This was a great experience! I wish this school was available when I was a student.”
“The Spanish Language classroom was really impressive – so many young kids all speaking
Spanish at one time”
"The idea of teaching about different cultures and recent events challenged my thinking because I never had thought about the importance of teaching that to the students at such a young age. I have only ever thought about that being taught at a higher level."
SIA has grown rapidly over the past 9 years. After starting with 3 classes K, 1, 6, Travis
Franklin, Nate Pelton and their team of teachers and advisors have executed an amazing vision.
One of the first Charter Schools in Washington State that has successfully scaled to serve over 600 students in a non-traditional public K-10 school, offering an International Baccalaureate (IB), which rivals all schools in the region.