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Teaching & Learning

Enhancing instructional leadership capacity to support professional development

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:

  • Identifying priorities for improvement through needs assessments
  • Using continuous improvement processes for Instructional Learning Teams (ILTs), small teams, and individual teachers
  • Observing classroom instruction and using non-evaluative coaching to give feedback
  • Modeling relationship building and culturally relevant best practices to improve family and student interactions
  • Aligning individual staff and small group goals with a school’s overall vision
  • Modeling distributed leadership and collaborative decision-making
  • Providing professional development on topics that support equitable school practices

Instructional Rounds: Teaching & Learning in Practice

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.

I don’t often get opportunities to see my colleagues engage with our students and with our problem of practice. Seeing different content areas using similar strategies across grade levels is amazing! It’s critical to have a laser focus on our problem of practice in terms of reflection, contemplation, and in moving forward. I can really see LAEP’s contributions to our school.
Rana Khraizat,
Journalism Advisor & Academic Intervention Coordinator

discuss how LAEP Teaching & Learning can support your school site or district

Teaching & Learning for STEAM 

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:

  • STEAM-based recess activities
  • Back-to-School Night STEAM labs
  • STEAM fairs
  • STEAM Career Days featuring local professionals to show how STEAM is a part of every community

discuss how LAEP can help integrate STEAM Teaching & Learning into your school site or district

PARTNER WITH US

LAEP can come alongside your community, as thought partners and collaborators, empowering you to drive transformation and liberation.

TRANSFORM EDUCATION

Power innovative programs that foster access and liberation for all.

Eric Barela, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant, Raya Cooper Impact Consulting

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.