According to the federal McKinney-Vento Act, every school district is required to designate a liaison to identify, enroll and provide services to children and youth who are experiencing homelessness. School district homeless liaisons are required to attend professional development activities to better understand the rights of the homeless children and youth, improve identification, and heighten awareness regarding the specific needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness. This half-day McKinney-Vento workshop will cover the required duties of the homeless liaison, the responsibilities of the district to identify and serve students experiencing homelessness, strategies for implementing effective local practices, tips for locating useful resources, and opportunities to network with school district staff who are already getting the job done! (Please bring your laptop/notebook to access online information during the training.)  Format: lecture, slides, panel presentations, interactive group activities and Q&A.  

Melinda Dyer: Melinda Dyer has been an advocate for the educational rights of homeless students for more than two decades as the Washington State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Melinda oversees the implementation of the federal McKinney-Vento Act in school districts across Washington state, providing training, technical assistance, grant management and resource development. She has worked to inform state and federal education policy related to the educational rights of homeless students, partnering with local, state and national colleagues to improve the educational outcomes for children and youth in homeless situations. Prior to taking her post at the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Melinda was a public high school and junior high school teacher, focusing efforts to support vulnerable and at-risk youth. Melinda earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Oregon State University in Health Education, graduating with honors.

Jess Lewis: Jess Lewis is currently serving as the Homeless Student Stability education Program (HSSeP) Supervisor at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. During her tenure at OSPI, Jess has worked in Homeless Education, Equity and Civil Rights, Behavior Intervention, and K-12 Discipline.  

Jess has her BA in Social Welfare from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Public Administration from Grand Canyon University. She is currently working on her Educational Doctorate in K-12 Leadership. She is a trained mediator, crisis intervention specialist, and restorative justice facilitator.  

Ella DeVerse: Ella DeVerse is the Program Specialist for McKinney-Vento, Education of Homeless Children and Youth at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. In this role, she provides training and technical assistance to district liaisons throughout the state. Prior to working at OSPI, she served as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison for the Aberdeen School District. Ella has a BA from Pacific Lutheran University in Anthropology with an emphasis in the cultural anthropology of transitional peoples and Latin American cultures. She received her Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in Government and Policy from Grand Canyon University.