
Students taking part in the program work with elementary students on site at Columbia Elementary School
Woodland Public Schools partners with the Cascadia Technical Academy to offer the Teaching Academy, a program which prepares students with the skills and knowledge to become Washington State Certified Paraeducators upon graduating high school.
Students taking part in the program work with elementary students on site at Columbia Elementary School where they learn professionalism, teamwork, effective communications, time management, project management, how to deal with safety issues, and much more. In addition to being certified paraeducators upon graduation, students who successfully complete the Teaching Academy can earn college credits towards their Bachelor of Science degree in Education. The program serves high school juniors and seniors from Kalama, La Center, Ridgefield and Woodland school districts.

“Teachers and paras are not only educators, but also mentors, role models, advocates, and change agents,” said Asha Riley, assistant superintendent for Woodland Public Schools. “They have the power and responsibility to inspire, motivate, support, and challenge their students to achieve their full potential, and to prepare them for the opportunities and challenges of the future.”
The partnership between the Cascadia Tech and Woodland Public Schools helps lower costs for all involved school districts. “By sharing costs, the financial burden of programs like these are distributed fairly between all the districts utilizing the program,” said Riley “This cost-sharing makes programs accessible to a broader range of students, inclusivity that is essential for promoting social equity for students throughout our region.”

In addition to the Cascadia Tech’s Teaching Academy currently offered at Columbia Elementary School, Cascadia and Woodland have teamed up to offer the Pre-Electrician Program beginning this August. For more information about the Teaching Academy or the Pre-Electrician Program, visit Cascadia Tech Academy’s website at www.cascadiatechnicalacademy.org. Students can apply online for any of Cascadia Tech Academy’s programs at: http://tinyurl.com/CascadiaTechApplication2024-25.
Learn more about how Woodland Public Schools educates our students and serves the community by visiting our dedicated news webpage at www.woodlandschools.org/news/wsd
Information provided by the Woodland School District.
Also read:
- Nighttime work on I-5 between Ridgefield and Woodland will replace damaged concrete panels Sept. 14-19Granite Construction will close right and center lanes nightly on I-5 between mileposts 9.5 and 21.5 through Sept. 19.
- Pilot, passenger escape injury after emergency landing in Gifford Pinchot National ForestAn 18-year-old pilot and his passenger survived a Cessna crash-landing in the Cispus River after engine trouble at 4,000 feet.
- Free in-person workshops help residents reduce waste and save moneyClark County’s Composter Recycler program offers nine free workshops on composting, food waste, and green cleaning this fall.
- County seeks volunteers to serve on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory CommitteeClark County seeks two volunteers, including one youth member, for its Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; deadline is Oct. 11, 2026.
- Commission on Aging to confirm 2027 work plan at annual retreatThe nine-member volunteer Commission on Aging meets Sept. 21 to set its 2027 work plan and review Silver Citizen nominees.
- Opinion: Don’t fall for the illusion of voter control on income tax expansionA House amendment requiring a referendum before any income threshold change was voted down 45-51.
- Opinion: Don’t fall for the illusion of voter control on income tax expansionA House amendment requiring a referendum before any income threshold change was voted down 45-51.







