2025, Interdisciplinary, San Francisco, Middle School, Funded Projects
Cultural and academic data shows that Black students and students with disabilities have fewer positive academic outcomes and school experiences at our school compared with white students. Most school systems are directed at student behavior as the problem and are ineffective. We believe this is because behavior is a symptom of unidentified systemic issues. Our project will identify the systemic problems causing student behavior issues, and use trauma-informed practices to improve student outcomes. Our team of six educators across content areas will attend the Innovative Schools Summit Student Discipline Conference, using this learning experience as the starting point for a two year cycle of student data collection and analysis. Our goal is to change at least one school system to create better experiences and outcomes for our struggling students.
2025, Interdisciplinary, San Mateo County, Elementary School, Funded Projects
Our school aims to grow a generation of students from all backgrounds with a foundation in Mandarin Chinese language, literacy and knowledge of Chinese culture, which affords them to be multilingual global stewards . Establishing a global professional learning community (PLC) with those who share our vision and goals toward a student centered, social and environmental justice 21st Century Transdisciplinary Mandarin Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Curriculum will support our aim. The Light Award will be instrumental in cultivating a continuous, collaborative, cross cultural, cross linguistic learning community while also developing our leadership skills.
2025, Interdisciplinary, San Francisco, High School, Funded Projects
Across subject areas, our project will build teacher knowledge and use of Tier 1 supports for English Learners (ELs), particularly newcomers and long-term ELs. In year 1, the team will engage in a book study and professional development, exploring research-based strategies and best practices for supporting ELs. In tandem, teachers will engage in a lesson study cycle that incorporates the new strategies, focusing on embedded formative assessments that gauge whether these strategies effectively enhance learning outcomes for ELs. in Year 2, our team will lead their respective departments in a similar cycle that is revised based on Year 1 learnings.
Interdisciplinary, Alameda County, 2024, High School, Funded Projects
Through professional development, retreats, peer observations and feedback cycles, and collaborative curriculum development, we will cultivate our collective efficacy. Our focus will be to develop our capacities to facilitate community circles, create interdisciplinary projects, and align our writing practices across the curricula.
Interdisciplinary, Santa Clara County, 2024, High School, Funded Projects
Our goal with this professional development project is to create a self-sustaining ethnic studies program with increased education and planning time to make interdisciplinary ES Pedagogy a reality across campus.
Interdisciplinary, San Mateo County, 2023, High School, Funded Projects
We are a team of interdisciplinary teachers committed to the equitable and engaging education of newcomer English learners. We seek to leverage our expertise as we create and implement Project Based Learning (PBL) units specifically designed for our students.
