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STEAM Teaching & Learning in Action

What does it look like to build a STEAM culture in elementary school?

LAEP’s STEAM Teaching & Learning Coordinators have been:

  • Modeling STEAM lessons
  • Supporting teachers in building STEAM lessons
  • Leading STEAM activities at recess
  • Coordinating family engagement activities such as STEAM Night and parent nutrition and cooking classes
  • Empowering upper-elementary-grade students to lead STEAM activities with younger students
  • Bringing community resources and community members to campus for engagement
2nd graders at 118th Street Elementary School designed bird feeders to meet the needs of different types of birds.
75th Street Elementary School students use art, engineering, and teamwork to build a sturdy structure.
At Barrett Elementary School, our STEAM Teaching & Learning Coordinator has partnered with the National Health Foundation to host six-week Common Core-based nutrition classes, parent nutrition classes, student cooking classes, and free produce distribution that served about 90 families!
At 75th Street Elementary School, students explored chemical properties by creating lava lamps during recess.
Students at Barrett Elementary explore the new tools in their STEAM Lab.
Students at 93rd Street Elementary ideated and pitched inventions to real engineers from their community. Ideas included an un-breakable crayon, an inexpensive water filtration system, a robot that gives hugs, and more.
Students at 75th Street Elementary School, students built vehicles out of recycled materials!
At 118th Street Elementary School, we hosted a parent workshop that included a hands-on activity where they learned to create a circuit and applied it to making fun moving robots.

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LaCora Stephens

Marketing and Communications

LaCora is a seasoned communications professional with a passion for using multimedia storytelling to empower movements for social justice and equality. For over 13 years, she has honed her skills as a versatile multimedia director, overseeing media operations across diverse organizations, including the NAACP Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch and The Shirley Chisholm Education Foundation. Her deep understanding of the education and equity landscape fuels her creative vision, allowing her to craft impactful narratives that resonate with audiences.

With strategic communication​ and collaboration, LaCora excels in developing and executing compelling​ multimedia campaigns that not only raise​ awareness of critical issues but also​ inspire action and drive meaningful change. Her proficiency in concept​ development, production execution, and​ team leadership ensures projects are​ delivered with exceptional quality. Furthermore, LaCora fosters strong​ relationships with internal and external​ stakeholders, cultivating partnerships​ that maximize campaign reach and impact.

LaCora's educational foundation began with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Education from Florida A&M University. She then pursued a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Alliant University of San Diego. This passion for storytelling, fueled by her background in education, translates to her belief in the power of shared narratives. Her work in this area was recognized through her selection as a Women in Film Mentee and film director for Viola Davis’ sponsored film showcase, Diversity in Cannes. Now, LaCora leverages her love of storytelling and commitment to educational equity in her role leading marketing and communications for Los Angeles Education Partnership, while also serving on the board of the Pasadena African American Film Foundation.

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.