As part of our ODE STEM Innovation funding and in partnership with East Metro STEAM Partnership and South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership, we received funding to develop a STEM Leadership Academy for Administrators. The STEM Leadership Academy is envisioned as 12-month professional learning opportunity for school district administrators, specifically elementary principals and the district administrator who supports them. The goal of this experience is to deepen their knowledge and understanding of STEM teaching and learning through an Equity Lens so that they may more effectively support STEM education. This opportunity would connect education leaders across three regional STEM Hubs (Portland Metro STEM Partnership, South Metro-Salem STEM, and East Metro STEAM Partnership) to learn broadly across key issues impacting elementary STEM education. We envision approximately 20-30 participants meeting approximately five times over the 12 months to learn together on topics and issues relevant to STEM education in the region, in their buildings and connected to issues of Equity. Topics may include how to increase time on science; effectively using evidence and data to drive classroom, school and program improvement; leadership approaches that support school transformation; and how to support ongoing, collaborative learning of teachers.
Professional Development learning outcomes for the participants may include:
- Deeper understanding of the NGSS and how to provide meaningful coaching and feedback to teachers
- Identifying the key “instructional look-for’s” in the classroom
- Strategies for building effective partnerships with industry and community-based organizations
- Designing systems and structures to support STEM learning for all students, with particular focus on addressing marginalized or underserved students
- Social Emotional Learning and its connection to academic achievement
For more information, contact:
Jerian Abel, Co-Director, Portland Metro STEM Partnership (Jerian.Abel@pdxstem.org)
Landen Zernickow, Director, East Metro STEAM Partnership (landen.zernickow@mhcc.edu)
Melissa Dubois, Director, South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership (melissa.dubois@oit.edu)
