Connecting Theme, Students, and Community Professional Development and Support for Teachers
Community partnerships can provide teachers with opportunities to access additional content expertise and support. Through contact with professionals and practitioners in theme-related fields, teachers can deepen their understanding of industry practices or careers, applying this knowledge to curriculum development. In some cases, these partners can offer in-person professional development, online courses or archived webinars, or summer internships.
School Example When one traditional elementary school became a STEM magnet site, leaders and staff recognized the need for math and science professional development. The staff benefited from ongoing professional development support from the local university and science consultants. Activities included Saturday workshops at the university and summer academies that gave teachers experience as learners at engineering labs and deepened their knowledge and vocabulary.
