January 22, 2020 – SEATTLE – Seattle-based nonprofit TAF (Technology Access Foundation), has been approved to partner with Seattle Public Schools (SPS) to implement TAF’s STEMbyTAF academic model at Washington Middle School (WMS) effective for the 2020 – 2021 school year. The vote concluded at the John Stanford Center on January 22nd, with the Seattle Public School Board of Directors approving partnership. TAF’s Executive Director Trish Millines Dziko and SPS Superintendent Denise Juneau signed the Joint Operating Agreement that will govern the partnership. 

Through this new partnership between TAF and Seattle Public Schools, WMS will be an environment that encourages innovation, pushing the limits of what is expected. The school will deliver the curriculum in a way that is relevant to real-world challenges and goals of students, and create a space that promotes academic success for all students.

“We’re excited to be back in Seattle working with the district, the teachers, and the community to bring opportunities for students to innovate and create during school,” commented TAF’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, Trish Millines Dziko. 

WMS will implement the STEMbyTAF Model starting with 6th-grade for the 2020 – 2021 school year and expand one grade each year through the 2022-2023 school year. 

About TAF (Technology Access Foundation) 

TAF is a nonprofit organization based in Seattle, WA that focuses on building collaborative relationships with public education to create access to transformative systems of learning for students and teachers of color to eliminate race-based disparities in an increasingly diverse society. Their targeted approach aims to transform entire classrooms within public schools to cultivate leadership and citizenship in all students toward equity. Learn more at https://www.techaccess.org