NAKIA Academy

Background
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in Washington State intends to award a sole source contract to the Washington Education Association (WEA) to provide mentor and leadership development specifically for educators of color.

This initiative aims to create a Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Mentor Cohort known as the NAKIA Academy, which will be led by Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) Mentor Faculty who identify as BIPOC. The contract aligns with the mission of OSPI to enhance educational equity and support underrepresented populations in the education sector.

Work Details
The contractor will perform the following services:
1. Recruit and select up to 120 BIPOC participants for BEST’s specialized Mentor Academy 101 cohort collaboration, which will consist of 4-8 scheduled sessions.
2. Provide stipends of $600 each to participants who complete at least four of the eight scheduled sessions, totaling up to $72,000 for participant stipends.
3. Engage in ongoing collaboration with BEST Program Staff regarding communication with participants and training dates.
4. Track participation of BIPOC participants in collaboration with BEST Program Staff.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for this contract is from August 26, 2024, through March 31, 2025.

Place of Performance
The services will be performed within the state of Washington, specifically targeting educators across various school districts.