Efforts underway to recover flood damaged mySci Resource Center

Heavy rains and flooding impacting so many in the St. Louis region in late July have also been felt by the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis (ISP). Efforts are underway to recover flood damage to the mySci Resource Center located at 6601 Vernon Avenue in University City. The building, which […]

Teachers using mySci dive deeply into the go-to science learning resource over the summer

Roughly 22 years into his career, Brendan Kearney knows one thing for certain: teaching science is his jam. “I’ve always loved science, and teaching the subject ignited my passion,” says Kearney, who teaches science – and only science – to third, fourth and fifth graders at Glenridge Elementary in Clayton. For the next school year, […]

New partnership empowers principals to ‘dream big’ (Links to an external site)

SLPS Principal Redesign Fellows leverage existing strengths to improve outcomes Boost ninth-grade reading scores by two years at Vashon High School.   Introduce play- and project-based lessons at Shenandoah Elementary.  Improve assessments at Roosevelt High School. The principals at these schools and four others are poised to achieve big goals after participating in the inaugural cohort […]

embracing diversity

It is exciting to consider the potential that exists for our community with the successful launch of the Taylor Geospatial Institute, an endeavor that aims to transform St. Louis into the go-to region for geospatial science in the next ten years. This specific opportunity and any others that promise prosperity and growth for our region […]

Creating time and space for collaborative school change

Mistakes are easy to make, and often hard to accept, but sixth grader Valeria Rodriguez is getting more comfortable knowing she’s not always going to have the right answer. “When I was younger, making mistakes made me a little anxious because I thought I did something wrong,” says Valeria. “But now I know that if […]

impacting science learning

Making science lessons memorable and engaging for students involves not only extensive planning, but also the tolerance and time for mess in the classroom.  When I think of science, it’s always messy. There’s really not an easy way to engage students in science without allowing for this chaos. Having taught 5th grade at a STEM […]

Champion for equitable education, May honored with Ethic of Service Award

May leads Institute for School Partnership, leader in STEM education and teacher development You may not know her name, but the superintendent of your child’s school district certainly does.  For decades, Victoria May, executive director of the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis, has worked with local educators to create high-quality, equitable education […]

ISP Associate Director Rachel Ruggirello receives national recognition for significant contributions to STEM education in the St. Louis region

Rachel Ruggirello, associate director of the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis, is the 2022 recipient of the Outstanding Administrative Support Award by the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA). The award is given annually to honor one educator who is working outside the classroom at school, district and city/county levels […]

Partnering with PBS: ISP and Nine Network Work Together to Educate Students Amid Pandemic

When the coronavirus pandemic shut down schools in March, it highlighted the widening digital divide for many families and students in the St. Louis region. Schools and families struggled to quickly pivot to remote learning – lacking reliable internet and access to computers. Public television has become a key tool to keep students engaged and […]

Edutopia: Human-Centered Strategies to Remote Science Learning

Kids learn by doing. So what does that mean for science instruction in the age of Covid-19, when many schools are closed and children are learning from home? It’s embracing the uncertainties, shifting mindsets and expectations, and finding a new learning landscape. The shift to at-home learning should not mean skipping core content. While disruptive, the […]