When Forest Hill High School science lead, Jill Hardin, was tasked with planning the agenda for an upcoming professional development for her biology teachers, she reached out to the Scientist in Every Florida School team despite being unsure as to how the program could help.   

Scientist in Every Florida School connects teachers and scientists in schools across the state in an effort to build long-term collaborations as well as communicate current scientific research into K-12 curriculum. 

After another colleague shared her experience with SEFS, Hardin called up our team. Hardin outlined her expectations for the professional development day as we brainstormed possible content and activities surrounding target topics like species interdependence, biodiversity, evolutionary adaptations, and biodiversity.

SEFS coordinator, Stephanie Killingsworth, lined up a team of scientists to deliver meaningful content that related to the target topics. Delivering current science and authentic activities grounded in research for students to experience in the classroom was a requisite for proper scientist matches to be made.   

K-12 education and outreach coordinator Stephanie Killingsworth said she specifically chose scientists who could showcase how their fields undergo the process of science in different ways. 

“It was important that selections were made that could highlight these differences to both the teachers and ultimately, their students,” Killingsworth said. 

During the professional development day, biology teachers received crash courses and deep discussion regarding bat biology and adaptation, mite evolution and parasitism, and mangrove conservation and science. 

“I really enjoyed getting to see the awesome work that these scientists are doing,” wrote one teacher in a program evaluation survey.

The teachers plan to have students collect specimens to ship back to the University of Florida as part of on-going research with the Keiser Lab. Additionally, the biology teachers are writing mangrove lessons to pair with the Cortada Project, Plan(t) as part of their series for Earth Day. 

“Thank you! So helpful AND fun. We left feeling energized about teaching biology,” wrote another teacher in a program evaluation survey. 

Help with district professional development programming is just one way the SEFS program helps advance science education. Through the program, teachers can also request an in-person or virtual scientist visit to their classroom.

At the professional development day, Killingsworth demonstrated what each visit, both virtual and in-person, would look like by arranging for two of the scientists to communicate with the teachers via ZOOM technology, a virtual platform, and the third scientist to be physically present at the school.

The continued collaboration with the scientists as a result of the professional development day is a testament to the success of building strong teacher-scientist professional learning communities. 

To learn more about how to get involved in the Scientist in Every Florida School program, visit:  Scientist in Every Florida School.