Events
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The Telescope Network creates opportunities for BPS educators to improve our collective practice through collaboration and connection in educator-led professional learning across the district.
The Telescope Network creates opportunities for BPS educators to improve our collective practice through collaboration and connection in educator-led professional learning across the district.
To do this work,
We ASK educators what they want and need to learn next in order to best serve their students
We MAGNIFY effective and equity-centered practices by elevating peer expertise across schools
We CONNECT educators to professional learning, resources, and each other based on their needs and interests
What's happening now?
What's happening now?
4/9 Secondary History @ EMK Learning Site
4/9 Secondary History @ EMK Learning Site
Launch: Topic for this session is, "How do we implement routines and scaffolds to support all learners in analyzing complex, culturally responsive historical texts.?” Led by Caroline Abraham (EMK 9th grade History inclusion teacher). This session is for secondary history educators.
In a Learning Site, educators come together for an extended observation in a live classroom around a common area of practice. Participants debrief with the host teacher and set goals for their own classrooms. Participants continue the learning through virtual follow-up sessions.
4/28 Sense of Belonging Connect & Share Webinar
4/28 Sense of Belonging Connect & Share Webinar
Collaborate with colleagues across BPS around the topic, “How can we leverage the strengths and identities of marginalized and non-traditional students to cultivate belonging and responsive learning environments?”
During a Connect & Share panel discussion, participants hear from BPS colleagues about what’s working in their classrooms and schools. Presenters typically share a 10-minute presentation about an effective practice. Participants connect with peers from across BPS and get new ideas.
4/29 Sense of Belonging @ BATA Learning Site
4/29 Sense of Belonging @ BATA Learning Site
Launch: “How can we leverage the strengths and identities of marginalized and non-traditional students to cultivate belonging and responsive learning environments?” Led by Gage Norris and Chris Hill (BATA)
In a Learning Site, educators come together for an extended observation in a live classroom around a common area of practice. Participants debrief with the host teacher and set goals for their own classrooms. Participants continue the learning through virtual follow-up sessions.
6/4 Aspire & Inspire Symposium
6/4 Aspire & Inspire Symposium
Learn from and celebrate with BPS educator leaders who are making change in their classrooms and school communities. Includes remarks from BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper, BTU President Erik Berg, and MA Teacher of the Year Luisa Sparrow
Join us on Thursday June 4th from 5:00-7:00pm! Come to our end of year celebration to connect with educator-leaders across BPS and discover ways you can grow, share, and lead in BPS! Dinner provided.
Recent Reports & Publications
Recent Reports & Publications
11/25 Telescope Network 2024-25 Annual Report
11/25 Telescope Network 2024-25 Annual Report
Since 2018, the BPS/BTU Telescope Network has incorporated educator voice and district priorities to create hyper-relevant professional learning experiences where educators learn from and with their peers. In this report, you can read more about the impact of our work. According to an independent assessment by the Wheelock Education Policy Center (WEPC):
Since 2018, more 32% of BPS teachers have voluntarily joined at least one Telescope Network PD session. From 2022-24, more than 40% of district teachers engaged with Telescope.
In 2023-24, nearly 60% of BPS students had at least one Telescope-participating teacher.
Last year, 881 educators earned 4210 PD hours by attending Telescope Network sessions.
This work is both engaging (98% recommend) and impactful (fostering improvements in educator practices and mindsets).
Telescope Network’s work has been evaluated by WEPC/RPPL, shared at national conferences, and published in the Teachers College Record and other publications.
11/25 Literacy Development For All
11/25 Literacy Development For All
(11/2025 Boston Union Teacher) Over the past few years, there’s been a quiet revolution rumbling across BPS. It started in 2022 with a handful of teachers getting together to form a book study group. Currently, it includes more than 300 BPS educators from across the district who have been coming together to improve learning and living conditions for their students with severe disabilities. These revolutionary approaches have spread across schools and across our central office as well. What’s this revolution about? Emergent literacy ...
6/25 Spring 2025 Needs Assessment Report
6/25 Spring 2025 Needs Assessment Report
From February to April 2025, the Telescope Network shared this survey with educators across Boston Public Schools. We received 705 survey responses from 114 different BPS schools and Central Office Departments.
2/25 Teachers and coaches learn together at Boston’s learning sites
2/25 Teachers and coaches learn together at Boston’s learning sites
(2/2025 The Learning Professional) Biology teacher Sarah Benat stood at the front of her classroom at Brighton High School in Boston, moving her arm up and down to mimic the slope of an increasing, decreasing, or constant line on a graph. Her twelve students, all in the early stages of learning English, responded to each arm movement with a. . .
Ongoing
Ongoing
Spring 2026 Telescope Improvement Lab
Spring 2026 Telescope Improvement Lab
Big changes start with small cycles. Join the Telescope Improvement Lab to master the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) process. This individualized, self-paced course guides you from your first spark of an idea, to a final documented artifact you can share with colleagues. Join 4/1 launch then work at your own pace to earn up to 12 PD hours + 1 ALC. This session will also be recorded on video for anyone who can't make our 4/1 launch session.
Includes regular check-ins with colleagues & improvement coaches. Open to educators who have participated in Telescope Network PD during 25-26
Spring 2026 Telescope Network survey
Spring 2026 Telescope Network survey
Since 2018, the BPS/BTU Telescope Network has incorporated educator voice and district priorities to create hyper-relevant professional learning experiences where educators can learn from and with their peers.
Help to shape future PD offerings by sharing your successes, interests, and learning needs on the 2026 Telescope Network survey. You can connect to learning & leading opportunities and also shout-out peers who are ready to lead PD. Complete survey before 3/6 to enter a 10 x $20 gift card raffle.
Ongoing
Peer Observation Checklist
Peer Observation Checklist
One of the best ways to improve your practice is to observe someone else doing similar work. During a peer observation, you can observe a BPS colleague. After the observation, you’ll have time to debrief and set goals to bring back to your own classroom. Use our updated peer observation checklist to prep your observation & debrief. Contact us if you want help finding a connection or facilitating your visit.
Educator & Staff Spotlight
Educator & Staff Spotlight
At the BPS/BTU Telescope Network, we magnify effective practices from across the district. We continually ask, “Who’s doing this work well?” and create opportunities for peer leaders to share their expertise with others across the district. Please use this quick survey to spotlight an effective educator or staff member.
How will this info be used? Bright spot educators highlighted below may be asked to help give feedback on our strategic plan. Additionally, the Telescope Network maintains a database of recommended educators who may be asked to host peer observers, facilitate PD sessions,, or lead in other ways.
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