Building Excellent Educators of Science

Summary of BEES Initiative:

In partnership with GE, the BPS Division of Academics, STEM Programs Team will be implementing the BPS Building Excellent Educators of Science (BEES) Initiative over the next four years. The goal of this initiative is to transform elementary science instruction. The initiative aims to build educator capacity by providing our teachers with a standards-aligned curriculum, content knowledge, and pedagogy required to bring rigorous, joyful learning to our young scholars.

Implementation of Phase 1:

Phase 1 of the BEES initiative will focus on grades 2-6.

1. Educator Professional Development Educators will have the opportunity to build their expertise and improve their craft by pursuing graduate credit, lane credit, or PDPs through a variety of professional developments in year 1: 1.) Content Course 2.) CLSP & CRIOP 3.) Project Based Learning 4.) Science Pedagogy 5.) MA STE Standards

2. Collaboration & Community Development (ECHO) The BEES Initiative will be implementing BPS ECHO. This telenetwork will allow us to virtually meet weekly with educators and coaches, building a community of learners, focused on improving instruction and student outcomes.

3. Coaching Each school will receive a science instructional coach to support science instruction (pedagogy & content), culturally & linguistically responsive teaching, and curriculum implementation. The department has hired a team of diverse, highly qualified coaches to meet the needs of the Cohort 1 schools.

4. District Wide Curriculum Selection The BEES Initiative will support the Academics & Professional Learning department in a large scale curriculum selection process for science. This curriculum will be implemented in the 21-22 school year.

Initiative Goals:

• Create a school environment that embraces teaching science, leading to science specific instruction happening everyday for students.

• Provide all elementary students equitable access to high quality, standards aligned curriculum and materials.

• Provide elementary teachers equitable access to high quality professional development that will improve their practice, content knowledge, and implementation of CLSP.

• Improve all elementary student learning outcomes through a variety of formal and informal assessments.

• Provide all elementary students with the opportunity to apply and learn science beyond the walls of the classroom.