Seattle classrooms need Roots of Empathy Instructors!

The primary way that people volunteer with Roots of Empathy is to train as a Roots of Empathy Instructor. It is an incredibly rewarding experience - often, you can see the changes in the students over the course of the year. Although we’re unsure at the moment of the exact timeframe of our training and program start-up dates for the 2026-2027 school year, I am currently looking for people who might like to become new Instructors this fall.

Here is a quick overview of the application process/role of the Instructor:

• Applicants complete an online application and interview process
• In the fall, approved applicants attend 3 consecutive days of training to prepare them for their role in the classroom.
• One additional day of training is required midway through the school year
• Instructors lead 27 lessons in their assigned classroom over the school year (about one lesson per week)
• Preparation for each lesson can take up to 45 minutes to an hour (especially true for a first-year instructor)
• Because of the significant investment made in training new instructors, we ask that volunteers be willing to participate for a minimum of two school years

After the first year of instructing Roots of Empathy and becoming certified in the curriculum, Roots of Empathy Instructors have the opportunity to attend professional development workshops annually. These are typically 2-3 hours and cover a wide range of topics that support our work in the classroom, such as emotional literacy, temperament, and neuroscience.