School leaders’ days are full of unforeseen challenges, leaving little time to focus on professional development and strategic planning. Through Teaching & Learning, LAEP empowers vision- and mission-driven schools to develop engaging curriculum, adopt relevant assessments, and strategically plan for and implement change, while building environments that prioritize collaboration and trust-building.
Our Teaching & Learning Coordinators enhance instructional leadership teams’ capacity to support professional development by:
Instructional rounds offer a judgment-free space for teachers, teaching assistants, parents, and students to observe instruction through the lens of an identified problem of practice. Participants observe classroom instruction and gather data, then come together to look at trends, celebrate successes, and develop plans for future growth.
At LAEP, we believe that all learning is STEAM learning. Rather than something extra to tack on to an already crowded instructional day, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) can be integrated into existing curriculum, practices, and school activities. LAEP’s STEAM Teaching & Learning team helps schools and districts align goals for integrated STEAM learning in K-12 settings.
Instructional Coaching & Support: We empower teachers to integrate STEAM into classroom instruction. We do this through observation, non-evaluative feedback, coaching, and instructional support (such as modeling, co-planning, and co-facilitation). We also support administrators in developing an instructional vision around STEAM learning.
STEAM Culture Building: We create engagement and excitement around STEAM among students, families, and the community through activities like:
LAEP can come alongside your community, as thought partners and collaborators, empowering you to drive transformation and liberation.
Dr. Eric Barela has worked as a measurement & evaluation professional for over 2 decades, helping organizations to better understand and act on their social impact. He’s currently a Senior Consultant with Raya Cooper Impact Consulting and previously worked at Salesforce, where he led efforts to measure the social impact of the company’s work with nonprofits and educational institutions across the globe. He began his career working with the Los Angeles Unified School District and with the nonprofit, Partners in School Innovation. Eric previously served on the Board of the American Evaluation Association and currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Journal of Evaluation.
Eric grew up in East LA and was educated in the Montebello Unified School District. He holds a Ph.D. in education from UCLA. He loves a good road trip, with his husband serving as trusty navigator.
