In this month’s Alumni Spotlight, Dr. Omar Escalera, who was named the inaugural Executive Director of the Broetje Family Trust, reflects on his journey, the values that guide his leadership and his vision for transforming communities across Washington and beyond. Read Dr. Escalera’s Q&A.

For UW senior Felix Long, education is about more than academics — it’s about emotional growth, connection and impact. Majoring in Sociology and Education Studies (Wellness and Social Emotional Learning), Felix brings his passion for supporting youth into everything he does, from coaching an after-school pickleball program to studying the role of SEL in student wellbeing.

In partnership with Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families, UW’s Cultivate Learning is co-creating a free, multilingual, customizable curriculum for children from birth to five. Designed with educators statewide, it will be adaptable, culturally responsive, and easy to use—ensuring every child and teacher has access to high-quality learning tools. Launching in 2026, it’s a bold step toward closing early education gaps across Washington.

In Tulalip, a powerful partnership between the online Early Care and Education (ECE) program at the University of Washington College of Education and the Tulalip Tribes is decolonizing early childhood education through place-based pedagogy. Designed collaboratively across Washington State and deeply rooted in culture, the ECE’s first Native teacher cohort is reconnecting students to language, land and learning. More than a pathway within the ECE program, it’s a movement for educational sovereignty and a promise to future generations.