Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1190776
Padilla's students use rolling science labs to learn about the digestive system. McKinney and fellow science teachers won the Dancing With the Teachers championship (a fundraiser for cancer research) two years ago. She says, "I am a mess at dancing. But kids see I'm not perfect. It was another way of telling students, 'We're in this together.'" Padilla. "Many of them will want to pursue science as a career. I sense that in them. And I think the labs will definitely help." Padilla, who has been teaching at Jef- ferson Academy since 2007, identifies with his students. He moved to Hanford in third grade and never left, except for attending Fresno Pacific University. "I was an English learner, and there was not a lot of inclusion during that time," he recalls. "I was put in a separate class and felt targeted. In college, a professor made it a point to always check in with me and kept tabs on me. That was rare at the university level. I try to replicate that with the little guys and be that kind of a teacher. It's my motivation." Pa d i l l a c re a t e d a spor ts science elec- tive that incorporates the portable labs. Athletes love it because they learn about sports; science nerds love the data. It has brought all types of students together, and it's so popular there's a waiting list. " You come to a point in your teach- ing career when it's time to make things more interesting, branch out and find a way to reach every student," says Padilla. "Innovation is exciting. It's fun. It can be scary. For me, it's all about getting out of my comfort zone." See cta.org/JuanPadillaIFT to view our video. water level constant for 10 minutes only by adding water. e group activity led to a lively discussion on how humans must sometimes intervene to maintain their body's equilibrium. "She relates real-life situations to sci- ence, showing us biology is everywhere, instead of just in a textbook," says senior Kimberly Najera. McKinney's mission has led to higher student achievement, better instruction, more teacher collaboration and increased t each er leadership, according to h er Teacher of the Year Award bio. Fifteen years ago, she was a forensic scientist with the police department in Fort Worth, Texas, doing CSI-style work. After moving to California, she needed a job and was hired on an emergency per- mit to teach science in Palmdale, later earning her credential. "I grew up in Texas where you did your homework, respected your elders, and dinner was on the table every night," she says. "But here, students didn't turn in homework, had to take care of siblings, and sat down to dinner whenever they made it. I wasn't prepared for that. I real- ized it wasn't about science anymore; it was about fostering relationships with students so th ey could learn science along the way." She facilitated numerous conversa- tions and meetings for a districtwide c ommitt e e w h o s e m emb ers re w ro t e physics curriculum in 2015 and then rewrote chemistr y, biolog y and Earth science curriculum throughout 2016-18. There were few examples to follow, and the NGSS had not been finalized by the state, but that didn't stop McKinney and her colleagues. She became a teacher on special assignment in 2016, co-creating a "Summer Science Institute" for educa- tors implementing NGSS, and has since returned to the classroom full time, which is where her heart is. McKinney leads professional learning communities schoolwide for teachers of all disciplines, because she believes all teachers can learn from one another. C r o s s - c u r r i c u l a r c o l l a b o r a t i o n h a s brought staff closer together. Her new project is working with col- leagues to create NGSS-aligned grades and assessments that embrace equity. McKinney presented on the topic at the California Science Teachers Association's conference in October. "e work we are doing now geeks me out," she says excitedly. "We're not tread- ing water, we're jumping right in and being leaders in what NGSS assessments and grades should look like, throughout California. I'm super pumped about the great things we will accomplish." To read more about McKinney's ideas on NGSS implementation visit sites.google.com/euhsd.org/ science-in-escondido/home and bmckinney-ngss.blogspot.com. McKINNEY continued from page 19 PADILLA continued from page 18 20 cta.org