Cultural Relevancy in STEM Classrooms

Registration for this event has ended.

 Professional Development will take place virtually from 8:30am - 3:30pm CST on Saturdays, October 17th and October 24th. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH

8:30am - 10:00am CT | Defining Culture and Understanding Individual Culture and Science Identities, Amy D’Amico and Sherrell Lewis - Smithsonian Science Education Center, As a community of learners, teachers will co-construct a working definition of “culture”. Then teachers will work to recognize their own unique culture and identity and how who they are culturally, linguistically, ethically, sexually, etc. shapes the lens through which they view teaching and learning.

10:00am - 11:30am CT | The Impact of Culturally Relevant Teaching, Stephanie Jones-Fosu - University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Amy D’Amico and Sherrell Lewis - Smithsonian Science Education Center, Here we discuss the impact of culturally responsive teaching on students, their families, and the community. Teachers will gain an understanding of differences as assets, not deficits, and the value of multiple perspectives.

12:30pm - 2:00pm CT | Cultural Competence Matters: Improving Cultural Competence through Effective Interpersonal Communication, Tara Hollins, Kelly Haynes, and Jennifer Norwood - Joseph Meyinsse Leadership Institute, In this session, participants will be guided through a conversation on improving cultural competence by understanding diversity, culture, cultural elements, values, stereotyping, prejudice, and barriers to effective intercultural communication.

2:00pm - 3:30pm CT | Teaching Cultural Competence, Kimberly Boast, Bryan Jones, and Sherri Price – Joseph Meyinsse Leadership Institute, Cultural competence is the ability to successfully teach students who come from a culture or cultures other than their own. Cultural competence doesn’t occur as a result of a single day of training, reading a book, or taking a series of courses. Educators become culturally competent over time when they embody a disposition that teaches the whole child and not just a subject area. Developing certain personal and interpersonal awareness incorporates one to build a solid foundation which will value the student, their families, and their communities. This session will empower educators in developing a community of learners and yield student success throughout the different cultures and diverse backgrounds.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH 

8:30am - 10:00am CT | Culturally Relevant Teaching Practices in the Classroom: Amy D’ Amico and Sherrell Lewis - Smithsonian Science Education Center, Culturally relevant pedagogy is more than just a way of teaching or a simple set of practices embedded in curriculum lessons and units. Culturally relevant pedagogy embodies a professional, political, cultural, ethnical, and ideological disposition that supersedes mundane teaching acts; it is centered in fundamental beliefs about teaching, learning, students, their families, and their communities, and an unyielding commitment to see student success become less rhetoric and more of a reality.

10:00am - 11:30am CT | Mindsets for Culturally Relevant Teaching in STEM, Amy D’Amico and Sherrell Lewis - Smithsonian Science Education Center, Teachers will come to understand that mindset is a critical component of culturally relevant teaching. Here teachers will assess the significance of mindset and how a change in mindset leads to a change in skillset. Before identifying strategies and tools, it’s important to develop mindsets that allow you to do the work!

12:30pm - 2:00pm CT | Creating a Culturally Sustainable STEM Classroom, Rochelle Darville, Nikita Lacour-Dukes, and Ashley McClure - Joseph Meyinsse Leadership Institute, Dare to be extraordinary! You are cordially invited to join us as we felicitously exchange views on how to create an All-Inclusive STEAM Classroom. During this worthwhile session, you will effortlessly discover, explore, collaborate, reflect, and experience the meaning of an All-Inclusive STEAM Classroom.  Hence, be prepared to devise and construct a framework as well as debate vital alignments to an all-inclusive STEAM classroom. We, also, look forward to assisting you tailor an action plan based on the concepts, exceptionalities, subject matter, and cultural needs of an all-inclusive STEAM classroom.  

2:00pm - 3:30pm CT | Scientific Tools to Identify and Correct Student Misconceptions, Emily Jackson-Osagie, Shelis Jones, and Catherine Alexander - Joseph Meyinsse Leadership Institute, Misconceptions are both worrisome and problematic to STEM educators because students continue to build knowledge on their current understanding, negatively impacting their learning. In this session, participants will be provided with a framework to deconstruct, reconstruct, and construct (D.R.C. Model) the teaching and learning experience in the STEM classroom. This session will serve as a resource for educators in both formal and informal STEM classrooms to help identify students’ ideas to guide teaching practices.

Joseph Meyinsse Teacher Leadership Institute (JMTLI) Project Leaders  

Dr. Luria Young is a Professor in the Southern University and A&M College (SUBR) science/mathematics education doctoral program and  principal investigator of the SUBR Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory Science Education Center (LIGO-SEC) Partnership “Strengthening Communities of Learners”, funded by the National Science Foundation.  She serves as a leader on several additional highly successful, externally funded programs, including the Joseph Meyinsse Teacher Leadership Institute and Shell Louisiana STEM Collaborative.  Dr. Young earned a baccalaureate degree in biology from SUBR, a master’s degree and educational specialist certificate in science education from Louisiana State University (LSU) and a doctorate degree in educational leadership, research, and counseling from LSU.  Her research focuses on the persistence of students in higher education, minority participation in STEM, and maximizing the potential of African American males.  Dr. Young is committed to providing opportunities for minority students to excel in college and careers.

Bobbie Shujaa is the Site Coordinator of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory Research Center (LIGO) at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge LA.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education.  She is an educator with 33 years of teaching experience specializing in middle school physical science.  Her experiences include 16 years as site coordinator and facilitator for professional development for three STEM-related projects at Southern University and Director of the Joseph Meyinsse Teacher Leadership Institute.   In addition, Bobbie is the co-owner of an educational consulting firm, Sankofa Educational Studies Institute, LLC (SESI) and is committed to creating both an educational environment and learning experiences for students that honor and respect who they are.

Amy D’Amico, PhD joined the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) in 2013 as the Division Director of Professional Services. She oversees Professional Development and Leadership Development initiatives at SSEC. Prior to joining SSEC, Dr. D’Amico was a member of the faculty in the Biology Department at Georgetown University. In addition, Dr. D’Amico spent summers assisting in the program development and execution of the K-12 Science Education Institutes for Leadership Development and Strategic Planning. Dr. D’Amico has over two decades of experience as an educator that began by teaching middle school for the Cambridge Public Schools in Massachusetts. Dr. D’Amico worked to implement the district’s five-year strategic plan based on the SSEC’s model of science education reform. Dr. D’Amico earned her BA in Biology with a minor in Education for Certification from New York University and received an MS and a PhD in Biology from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

Sherrell Lewis is the Program Manager for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion. Sherrell manages the SSEC’s programs that support educators in identifying, and removing, barriers that discourage students, with diverse backgrounds and experiences, from pursuing pathways to STEM education and STEM careers.  In this role, she is able to support the work of educators to connect and create lasting impact in their school communities, and education systems.

Tara Hollins is a 16 year veteran teacher. Currently, she is the  Director of Exceptional Student Services at Thrive Academy. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology from Southern University and A&M College. Tara later returned to school to obtain certification in special education. She had the opportunity to present at both state and national science teacher conferences as a result of being a part of the Joseph Meyinsse Teacher Leadership Institute at Southern University and A&M College. Tara also works with Louisiana Resource Center for Educators developing novice educators as the science content facilitator and practitioner development coach. She believes that all children learn successfully when well-informed, caring teachers assist them and make sufficient resources available to them.

Kelly T. Haynes is a 17-year veteran teacher in the City of Baker School System at Baker High School.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Southern University and A&M College.  She returned to the university to pursue a teacher certification in biology and general sciences.  She had an opportunity to present at both state and national science teacher conferences as part of the Joseph Meyinsse Teacher Leadership Institute at Southern University.  Kelly believes instruction that is culturally relevant can be a tool in attracting a diverse student population to STEM careers.

Jennifer Norwood is a Joseph Meyinsse Teacher Leadership Institute (JMTLI) teacher-leader who has been an educator for the past 16 years.  She is a strong advocate of high-quality education involving hands-on, inquiry-based learning.  Ms. Norwood received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Southern University and A&M College  in Baton Rouge, LA.  Later, she returned to the university to pursue her teaching certification in special education and ultimately obtained her Masters degree in educational leadership.  Currently, she serves as the Department Chair and Lead Teacher of Special Education at Zachary High School in Zachary, LA.  In addition to her leadership role, she teaches study skills and applied science to the school’s diverse learner population. She is a two-time recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award for her outstanding dedication to students in East Baton Rouge Parish and the Zachary Community School District.

Dr. Emily Jackson-Osagie is a lifelong learner who has demonstrated commitment to research, principally in the area of STEM education. She earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in science and mathematics education from Southern University and A&M College, a land-grant HBCU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Currently, she is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Southern University and A&M College.  As a professor, she instructs pre-service teachers in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in a range of undergraduate and graduate courses. Collectively, these experiences have prepared her to develop the next generation of teachers in education through teaching and mentoring, and to initiate a comprehensive research program in the area of STEM education. 

Shelis C. Jones is a 27-year veteran teacher in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Florida A&M University. As a member of the Joseph Meyinsse Teacher Leadership Institute at Southern University and A&M College, she learned that true leadership is only mastered through service. That leadership is practiced by giving back to her students as well as other teachers. She currently serves as a mentor teacher with the Louisiana State University Holmes Mentor Teacher Program and presents at local, state, regional and national conferences on cultural relevance in the classroom. 

Dr. Catherine Alexander is entering her third year as assistant principal at South Baton Rouge Charter Academy. Upon the completion of her Bachelor’s and Doctorate degrees in chemistry from Louisiana State University, she began her career in education in 2009 as a high school chemistry and engineering teacher.  Catherine transitioned into leadership by serving as an instructional coach and Freshman Academy Coordinator. Catherine also works part-time as an implementation support specialist for PhD Science, a Great Minds curriculum. Catherine’s goal is to encourage and empower teachers to effectively provide rigorous instruction that is aligned to state and national standards.

Kimberly Boast is a Louisiana science teacher with 14 years of teaching experience. She currently teaches at Independence High School and is a Mentor Teacher Leader in Tangipahoa Public School System, where her distinctions include Teacher of the Year. She earned an Educational Specialist degree from Nova Southeastern University. Kimberly enjoys providing educators with professional learning opportunities to deepen their insight and see the blind spots that mask perceptions when using culturally relevant pedagogy.

Bryan Jones is a 21-year veteran teacher at Livaudais Middle School in the Jefferson Parish School System. Bryan holds a Master’s degree in educational leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University. As an educator, Bryan knows that the success of a community and society hinges upon building culturally diverse classrooms and schools that better serve all students and families. Being a part of the Joseph Meyinsse Teacher Leadership Institute has helped him connect culturally at his school and to make the cultural competence process take place. 

Sherri Pierce is a master teacher at East Iberville Elementary and High School in Iberville Parish.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in French with a minor in mathematics from Southern University and A&M College.  She has 17 years of experience as a middle school math teacher, mentor teacher, and master teacher.  She has presented at the LATM/LSTA Conference on the topic of “Making Math Culturally Relevant in the Classroom.”  She believes that children learn best when instruction is culturally relevant: where there is no relevance, there is no interest.

Rochelle L. Darville has been an educator for 8 years and is a firm believer in hands-on, inquiry-based learning.  Ms. Darville attended Southern University and A&M College to pursue her master’s degree in public administration. After earning her master’s degree in public administration, she attended Xavier University of Louisiana to pursue a Master’s in Teaching. Rochelle is currently teaching middle school science and social studies, high school AP government and politics, world history, civics and AP human geography. She is a two-time recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award (2016 and 2018) for her outstanding dedication to students in St. John the Baptist Parish Schools.

Nikita LaCour-Dukes is a  twenty- two year  veteran mathematics teacher who has added agri-science and engineering to her teaching skills.  This published author’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in rehabilitation services and Master of Education in elementary education from Southern University and A&M College. Nikita serves as a  JMTLI teacher leader and mentor for multiple programs and universities. Employed in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, she also champions others as a group leader and educator for Close Up, Educational Tours, Future City Competition, Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory Research Center (LIGO) and MATE ROV. Her daily goals are to educate, volunteer, and aid in building communities.

Ashley McClure is a 12-year educator  specializing in elementary education, middle school mathematics, and STEM.  She served for 2 years as a lead math teacher, middle school mathematics chair, and director of after school academic programs in East Baton Rouge Parish. In addition, she is the owner of an educational consulting firm, Shaping Futures BR, LLC and is currently a graduate student at Southern University and A&M College pursuing a doctoral degree in science and mathematics education. Her philosophy of education emphasizes culturally relevant teaching through informal learning strategies. “Tell me and I forget, Teach me and I may remember, Make it relevant and I learn.”