Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1487796
Know an Innovator? Tell us about them — who they are, what they 're doing, their impact on students and schools. Email editor@cta.org with "Innovator " in the subject line. Educators seeking funding for their innovative ideas can apply for a grant from CTA's Institute for Teaching; see page 31. T H I N K I N G D I F F E R E N T L Y C O M E S naturally to chil- dren and young people, especially in the right settings. Educators see this on the daily. "In my classroom, [students] are not constrained by adult thinking, so they do think outside the box," says Mariana Garcia Serrato, who teaches grades 5-8 science and STEM. "Instead of asking ' Why can't we do this?' they just go and do." Garcia Serrato, one of the teachers featured in our Innovation Issue (page 18), operates a project-based learning classroom, where students are given freedom to come up with ideas on how to make the world a better place. Results have included a cookbook for leftovers and tips on saving and reusing water. She and the other innovators we profile also think out of the box, developing creative ideas to enrich stu- dent learning. ey're an inspiring bunch. From Garcia Serrato's fully gamified teaching to an educator sending English Learners out to interview and write news sto- ries (and learn English quickly) to a duo who invented an app that gives targeted feedback to students while saving teacher time, they imagined what could be — and made it happen. Of course, all of you must be resourceful and innova- tive these days, and you make the world a better place through the work you do every day. Some educators extend the learning beyond the classroom. Elementary school teacher Jeff Smallwood founded the Salinas Surf Club to give his students, many of them children of farm- workers, an introduction to ocean culture and a view of life far from the farmlands and fields of East Salinas ("Lessons in the Waves," page 16). "Surf Club instills in their minds that they belong anywhere a wave can be found," Smallwood says. Educators know this sense of belonging — anywhere and everywhere — is critical for both kids and adults. Oak Grove educators and school board members collaborated on a resolution, adopted in May, to loudly proclaim that Oak Grove sees, supports and embraces students, educa- tors and staff who are members of the LGBTQ+ community ("Building Schools Where Everyone Belongs," page 42). "We have a responsibility as educators to move the needle and make a positive impact for our students," says Maripaz Berlin, Oak Grove Edu- cators Association president. "How can we leave a space better than we found it?" It's a question educators address every day. You can see it in Allen Stubblefield's passion to teach cybersecurity to his high schoolers as well as much younger students (page 32). You can see it in the remarkable 2022-23 California Teachers of the Year (page 54), and in the classroom and community work of Guadalupe Carrasco Cardona, recently recognized nationally for teaching excellence (page 57). In this new year, we toast your extraordinary dedication to stu- dents and your communities, and to making this world a better place. Thank you. Katharine Fong E D I T O R I N C H I E F editor@cta.org Making an Impact 6 cta.org E D I T O R ' S N O T E