The College of Education & Human Development at the University of Nevada, Reno, is one of five institutions awarded the prestigious Digital Promise and the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) grant to support its development of an OpenSciEd-enabled grant proposal. The project, led by Elizabeth de los Santos, Ph.D. and Li Ke, Ph.D., both in the College of Education and Human Development, in partnership with a diverse team of educators and experts, aims to develop teacher leaders capable of championing equitable science teaching and learning.

With collaborative efforts spanning across campus and district lines, the project involves key stakeholders, including, Lyndsay Munro, Ph.D. with the College of Science, non-profit partners TJ Heck, Ph.D., with CenterPoint Education Solutions and Candice Guy-Gaytán Ph.D., with BSCS Science Learning, as well as district partners Sylvia Scoggin and Becky Curtright from Washoe County School District (WCSD).

The team will use this seed grant to develop a robust grant proposal this summer with the goal of securing $2 million from the National Science Foundation to support the development of a cohort of middle school science teacher leaders. The seed funding enables the hiring of expert consultants, the convening of focus groups with teachers, principals and students, and the development of a comprehensive professional teacher leadership program informed by key stakeholders.

At its core, the initiative seeks to empower educators to become leaders in middle school science education. By nurturing teacher leaders and fostering a culture of innovation, the project will elevate the quality of science instruction, particularly in Title I schools, where the impact can be most profound.

Recently, WCSD implemented an Open Science Middle School Curriculum that empowers students to engage in authentic scientific inquiry while aligning with state standards. Teacher leaders will be instrumental in the successful implementation of this new curriculum. 

“Our goal is to implement a professional learning program that will develop a cohort of middle school science teachers in Northern Nevada to become teacher leaders who can help advocate for science education, communicate with key stakeholders about the benefits and challenges of using OpenSciEd, and facilitate professional learning with in-service and pre-service teachers. Obtaining this seed grant was significant for our team because it represents recognition from the broader science education community that our project has the potential to impact students in our region but also provide insights into equitable and science teaching and learning that can inform science educators nationally and internationally.”

As the project unfolds over the coming months, its impact promises to be felt not only within WCSD but also across the broader educational landscape in Nevada. By leveraging the collective expertise of its collaborators and the resources provided by Digital Promise and CCNY, the initiative creates a promising future for middle school science education.