With the support of the National Science Foundation, we are excited to offer a 2-year curriculum-anchored practicum-based professional development experience for 30 5th-grade teachers in Bellingham, La Conner, Mt. Baker, and surrounding school districts. Professional learning activities will support teachers in implementing Explore the Salish Sea, a place-based curriculum developed by the SeaDoc Society and now offered by the Pacific Education Institute. Explore the Salish Sea braids together Western and Indigenous knowledge as students investigate their local ecosystem. They then use their evidence to plan and take action as stewards of their local environment. The unit of focus, Ocean Tech, engages students in engineering a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that can be used to explore under the water. To help teachers feel well-prepared to implement the curriculum, summer workshops offer an opportunity for them to collaborate with colleagues to implement the Ocean Tech unit in a practicum experience with summer campers. Teachers learn from one another, and students, how to boost engagement and meaningful learning. 

We are hoping to recruit 16 fifth-grade teachers who are willing to participate in our summer institute and implement a unit from the Explore the Salish Sea curriculum in the next school year (2025-2026). Preference will be given to teacher teams/teachers from partner districts. 

Qualifications:

We are looking for interested teachers who...

• Will be teaching fifth-grade 

• Have not previously implemented the Explore the Salish Sea curriculum

• Are interested in teaching science in ways that are culturally responsive to their students and that help them connect to their local environment

What are the commitments?

Teachers will participate in up to 100 hours of professional learning activities including: 

• Professional learning focused on teaching science in ways that are equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive [15-20 hours]

• 2 week summer institute ( July 28-August 8) including a collaborative teaching experience [60 hours]

• WSTA fall conference ( 2025 TBD) [10 hours]

• Annual Partnership Summit to share impacts on you, your students, and communities [10-15 hours, including preparation]

Teachers can choose which units from the curriculum to utilize with students, but we ask them to commit to implementing the Ocean Tech unit in their classrooms in the 2025-2026 academic year.  

What will teachers receive?

Participating teachers will receive 

• $50/hour (up to $5000/year) stipend for participating in professional learning activities,

• Mileage/parking/meals during in-person professional learning activities,

• A class set of books, materials and equipment to implement the curriculum,

• STEM Clock Hours, 

• 2025 WSTA conference registration,

• $500 to support student-led classroom projects conducted with community partners each school year,

• 2 - $150 scholarships to award to students to their attend the summer camp program. 

What if I have questions?

Please reach out to our project director, Debi Hanuscin, with questions. We're happy to help!

Ready to register? Fill out this form.