Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Mentor Cohorts

The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) plans to award a sole source contract valued at up to $100,000 to the Washington Education Association (WEA) to develop and manage mentor and leadership programs specifically for educators and counselors of color in Washington State. The contract, set to run from November 2025 through June 2026, focuses on establishing two BIPOC Mentor Cohorts: the NAKIA Academy and a BIPOC School Counselor Mentor Cohort. These initiatives aim to enhance the retention, professional growth, and leadership capacity of educators of color by providing culturally responsive mentorship opportunities. WEA's longstanding partnership, extensive statewide reach, and proven capacity to deliver this targeted support make them the only practicable source for this service, aligning with OSPI’s goals to promote equity and address the critical needs of BIPOC educators. The procurement process invites other capable entities to submit capability statements by October 29, 2025, but emphasizes WEA’s unique qualifications and established infrastructure as justification for the sole source award. This effort supports the state's broader objectives of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the education workforce.