The STEM Teacher Leadership Video Showcase features 3-minute videos submitted by teacher leaders and those engaged in creating teacher leadership programs. View their inspiring stories and make sure to leave a comment! Share on social media and "like" your favorites!STEM Network: Growing Leaders, Building Community
Part of my role as a district Innovation Coach is to provide support to STEM and STEAM schools, educators, and classrooms. The driving question of this task: How can we leverage the collective wisdom of STEM/STEAM schools to connect our work and continue to grow?
Starting last year, I created a STEM Network in my district to create a community of collaboration across schools. The network meetings are designed to support schools applying for STEM or STEAM Designation with the Tennessee Department of Education, support schools in maintaining their designation status, and support in preparing schools for redesignation. Participants represent elementary, middle, and high schools and included principals, academic coaches, teachers, and district leaders. Meetings are designed to promote continuous growth and build capacity in educators to take learning back to their schools. We learn together. We provide feedback to each other. We cheer for each other. As a result of these meetings, schools have shared resources, visited each other’s classrooms, and served as thought partners for each other. The STEM Network is continuing this year with three meetings each semester.
Ultimately, the goal is to improve the quality of STEM learning experiences for students. We give and receive feedback on project/problem-based learning units utilizing the PBL Works’s Gold Standard PBL: Seven Essential Project Design Elements. We serve as an audience for students to showcase their learning. We are learners together; we create together. The STEM Network meetings provide time and space for collaboration, growth, and connection. When educators stick around to talk with each other after the meeting has ended, I know the network is on its way to being a self-sustaining community. When collaboration happens beyond the network meetings, it is a sign that others have embraced the mindset of being a STEM community.
Comments
Colleague communication
This project shows the importance of providing teachers a platform to communicate and share with like-minded, motivated colleagues. Well done!
Were the teachers compensated for their participation in the STEM network?
In reply to Colleague communication by Beth Byerssmall
Response to Beth's Question
Hi Beth,
Thank you for your kind words. STEM Network is job-embedded professional development that occurs during work hours, so there is no compensation for participation. Participants do get professional development credit for participation in the network.
Best,
Jessica
Share Your Thoughts -> STEMtastic Educators
Thank you for viewing the video. Hamilton County (TN) Schools STEM Network could not function without the amazing teachers, coaches, and school leaders who bring their wisdom and expertise to these meetings. I am grateful for the support of our district leaders, for our partnership with the Chattanooga Public Education Foundation, and encouragement from the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network. I look forward to the growth of our STEM Network and the amazing accomplishments of students and educators.
I would love for you all to respond and share ideas around: How can we leverage STEM to develop leadership capacity in teachers, coaches, and administrators? Please share your thoughts, questions, and feedback. I look forward to learning from you all as well.
Best,
Jessica Holloway
In reply to Share Your Thoughts -> STEMtastic Educators by Jessica Holloway
developing leadership capacity in teachers
Been thinking a lot about this too, Jessica! Expertise in teaching STEM doesn't automatically lead to expertise in leadership, so similarly to you, I've found success in starting small and slowly building a network of educators who trust one another. Only then would teachers let their guard down for sharing their own practice (vulnerable moments and messiness vs. just what's going well). In my math team, when we've solved problems together in a playing, exploratory way, it created such a better atmosphere for sharing and collaboration than a typical "meeting agenda".
Love the idea - a question
Hi Jessica - I love the idea of this STEM network. I noticed in one of your responses that this is done during the school day, so that means that teachers were not compensated for participating. I was wondering if you had challenges in having members participate over the past year or so because of challenges in getting subs to cover for teachers? I know in our district it was challenging to have PD during the day due to a lack of subs.
That said, I LOVE this idea. Thanks for sharing!
In reply to Love the idea - a question by John Seelke
Answer to John's Question
Hi John,
We have had some participants miss a meeting due to the lack of subs to cover classes. Roughly half of the participants are classroom teachers who require a sub, so most of the time we have coverage for participants. I do my best to avoid scheduling on the same day as other professional development sessions.
Best,
Jessica
The idea of a STEM network…
The idea of a STEM network is something that needs to gain more traction. I really think having connections and not feeling as isolated in our classrooms is critical. I often feel so alone and it can be challenging. Thank you for your work!
In reply to The idea of a STEM network… by Yujia Ding
Isolated Feeling
Yujia,
We intentionally plan various ways to network during the meetings, so participants can connect with a variety of educators. The feeling of isolation is real, and we aim to prevent that feeling in our STEM Network schools. Several schools have connected in between network meetings, which is what I hoped to see as a result of the network.
Thanks for your kind words.
Jessica
"We do not have to do this…
"We do not have to do this alone... to come together and grow together..." Great quotes!
I am interested in learning more about that photo of the STEAM showcase. Is this your district or at a visit to another? When in the school year was that done? Was it organized like a science fair?
In reply to "We do not have to do this… by Kathleen Donovan
Response to Kathleen
Excellent observation, Kathleen! Several of our schools host showcase events to celebrate STEM/STEAM learning in their schools. Families, community partners, and stakeholders are invited to these showcase events. Often student work is displayed in hallways, classrooms, and community spaces like the gym and cafeteria. I also enjoy attending these to see how proud students are to show off their projects and artifacts of learning.
I love the idea of school…
I love the idea of school tours. What a wonderful way to share ideas and learn from each other.
In reply to I love the idea of school… by GLORIA KREISCHER GAJEWICZ
Response to Gloria
Agreed, Gloria! We learn so much from each other by visiting each other's schools and exchanging ideas. It is inspiring to see how other educators are designing learning experiences and spaces for learning.
This is SO wonderful!
Hi, Jessica!
What a terrific program with so many cool components -- school tours PLUS authentic connection and collaboration with other teachers PLUS the actual work you all are doing together. I love when programs like this not only build leadership but also community, and you're clearly doing that in a powerful way.
Thanks for the video -- it was a great afternoon pick-me-up!
:) Kirstin, who also has a video in this showcase
In reply to This is SO wonderful! by Kirstin Milks
Response to Kristin
Such kind words, Kristin! There is intentional planning for networking opportunities so that we build a community. It is difficult to grow around people you do not trust. STEM Network meetings are a place for honest reflection, constructive feedback, and collaborative problem-solving.
I look forward to viewing your video!
Interesting
Love the idea of the STEM Network. We need more interaction with other STEM educators to increase our creativity and ideas. How did you get it started?
:) Diana
In reply to Interesting by Diana Aston
Getting started
Hi Diana,
It started with schools working on applying for STEM Designation with the Tennessee Department of Education. It was a support system to learn from each other and complete the application. It expanded to include both designated and working on designation schools because I did not want designation to be the destination. Rather, earning designation should propel schools into the next phase of growth in STEM. We initially did half-day meetings to limit time out of the building; however, we realized that some wanted more time for networking, collaboration, and planning. In getting started, consider who would come together, for what purpose, and how often. Ask for input and feedback on what would be valuable for the participants. That will give direction on what to include in the meetings.
Best,
Jessica
Great work!
Jessica,
Great work with building such a strong STEM network in your community within the last few years! I find collaboration invaluable and am grateful when someone leads and facilitates productive collaboration centered around professional development.
I wonder, do you have teachers of all levels (K-12) together? Since some teachers address different development needs, how do you facilitate conversations across all levels when they work together?
In reply to Great work! by Elegan Kramer
K-12 conversations
Hi Elegan,
Thank you for your kind words and great question! I'll admit I was worried about how conversations and collaboration would go with such a wide range of grade levels/ages of students. I have been in awe of the connections and conversations that happen. It has also prompted collaboration with high school students and elementary students on projects. These conversations can be helpful to provide insight into what learning happens before or after you have a student in a particular grade. It can be challenging to give feedback when one is less familiar with age-appropriate skills and grade-level content; however, feedback can also come without preconceived expectations and limitations of what it should be. Overall, the teachers are open to learning from each other regardless if they teach the same grade/age/content.
Best,
Jessica
In reply to K-12 conversations by Jessica Holloway
cultivating the community
I love how you mention that most "teachers are open to learning from each other regardless of if they teach the same grade/age/content." I think one must intentionally cultivate a community that learns from one another and think you are doing a wonderful job if you are able to say that. Keep up the great work!
We are learners together, we…
We are learners together, we create together.
Perfect!!
Collaborating in this way is an essential model for students to see that there are no barriers. All ideas are relatable and accessible. Thank you for sharing this and for all of your hard work. Having the meetings in different settings to allow for the tour and sharing of ideas is another way to help everyone to feel "at home and as one."