UCI Science Project is grounded in research-based educational practices informed by partnerships within and beyond UCI. We understand the paradigm shifts needed for the Next Generation Science Standards to prepare students for the 21st century. Our goal is to support educators as transformative leaders who build capacity in their schools through empowering learning experiences. We are firmly committed to addressing racial, social, and environmental injustices through collaborative efforts that position educators as agents of change for community action.

This dynamic duo of science teachers at Tustin High School has partnered with UCI for the last 4 years to develop NGSS curriculum centered around relevant, contextualized, timely phenomena that matter to students. Their collective years of teaching experience in biology, chemistry, and physics has allowed them to integrate principles that attend to student race, language, and identity to support student sense making across multiple science disciplines. 

Kathy Becerra, Maria Garcia and Annmarie Ngo have all just completed their first year teaching, as alumni of UC Irvine's CalTeach Program, where they will be obtained combined credentials in Biology, Earth System Sciences, and Chemistry. As 1st year teachers, Kathy, Maria and Annmarie's focus have been on using culturally responsive focal phenomena and integrating social justice in classrooms. They have all hosted previous workshops with the UCI Teacher Academy and Emancipating Education. 

Marcus Evangelista is a UCI CalTeach alumnus and has taught Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for 9 years.  He also teaches the PS 5 class for UCI CalTeach.  Marcus is currently transitioning out of his role as classroom teacher and into an Assistant Principal position.  He believes in making Physics available and accessible to all students.

Einstein Lopez is also UCI CalTeach alumni. 

This online workshop is offered by a CalTeach alumni! 

In this workshop, teachers will learn about the various Google tools and features to implement technology into the classroom. Teachers will also take a certification exam at the end of the PD to become a Google Certified Educator. 

Stacy Yung and Virginia Nguyen are history teachers that are committed to social justice, equity, and antiracism. As AAPI curriculum specialists and DEI trainers, they are often facilitating DEI and antiracism workshops, sharing lesson plans, and creating resources to empower educators with the tools to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities. 

They believe that educators committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and allyship can dismantle systems of oppression and change the world. For additional resources such as lesson and unit plans, past and upcoming workshops and public speaking visit their Linktree ~ linktr.ee/edu_to_empower and follow them on Twitter at @edu_to_empower.

Abdul-Rehman Mohammed Issa holds a Master's in School Leadership (SLP) from CSUDH. He currently works as an administrator at APEX Academy in East Hollywood, teaches in the Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peace-building (NCRP) program at CSUDH, and is working towards his PhD in Education Studies at UC-San Diego, where he researches trauma and wellbeing. He performs consulting work for schools in need of trauma-informed, restorative justice, and special education supports. Abdul has published in the book: Restorative Practice Meets Social Justice: Un-silencing the Voices of "At-Promise" Student Populations.

OC Human Relations provides programs in collaboration with schools, individuals, cities, businesses, foundations and the county to support a vision of an Orange County where our diversity is realized as a source of strength.  

They provide proactive, inter-group relations and violence prevention programs in schools and communities throughout Orange County. Learn more about OCHR by visiting their website https://www.ochumanrelations.org/ 

The LGBTQ Center OC was established as a volunteer organization in 1971 and incorporated in 1975 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit community-based organization. They are one of the oldest gay and lesbian community centers in the United States.

At the LGBTQ Center OC, all members and allies of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community of Orange County join together in a network of support and unity. Our life-affirming programs focus on empowerment, and our advocacy efforts focus on speaking out against hate and discrimination. We exist so that every segment of the LGBTQ population of Orange County has the resources needed to thrive in their own lives and communities.

To learn more about their work, visit their website https://www.lgbtqcenteroc.org/ 

Johanna began as a traditional grader, using points to track student work and removing points for behaviors like late work. She started her progressive grading journey in STEM by switching to standards-based grading and then quickly changed to a mastery-based system. After much reflection on the positives of those changes, she finally decided to do away with grading work all-together, hoping to free her students from "the game of school."  

This is pushing students to deeper learning, and greater ownership of their understanding. She used to believe that "ungrading" couldn't be done in STEM and that only magical unicorn teachers could pull it off. She's here from the other side to tell you that students will be MORE motivated to learn without grades! This workshop is available to help you change the grading practices of your classroom in a way that align with district requirements and your pedagogical beliefs all with non-judgmental community working to make learning the goal for all students. 

This workshop is designed for educators who have been engaging in ungrading practices in their classroom settings and are looking for a community of others to discuss challenges along their journey. Four emerging challenges will be discussed, dedication one session per topic. 

Session 1: Setting up expectation, using contract grading

Session 2: Providing meaningful feedback and conferencing

Session 3: Maintaining student motivation in the ungraded classroom

Session 4: Getting support from others (teachers/administrators) in ungrading 

If you are curious about ungrading is and would like to learn about what it means to de-center grades in your classroom, it is highly recommended that you attend Johanna's session listed above before attending this workshop. This will provide you with the context for participating in Ungrading: Refining Our Practices.