Inspired Teaching staff and 2014 BLISS Teacher Leaders present at Middle States Council of the Social Studies annual conference

February 24, 2015

(Photo: Adam Evans)

On February 20 and 21, Inspired Teaching’s Cosby Hunt and Matt Fiteny and two 2014 BLISS Teacher Leaders, Stephanie Bunton (Columbia Heights Educational Campus) and Adam Evans (Ballou Senior High School), presented at the Middle States Council of the Social Studies (MSCSS) annual conference in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. MSCSS brings together teachers, school and district administrators, universities, and nonprofit leaders from New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, and DC with the goal of “Cultivating a 21st Century Civil Society.”

Adam and Stephanie, social studies teachers in DC Public Schools (DCPS), presented a session titled “Building Literacy in the Social Studies: How District of Columbia social studies teachers have led the transition to C3 in an urban school district.” They introduced participants to the BLISS: Building Literacy in the Social Studies program and led a group of teachers, nonprofit leaders, and district administrators in interactive, inquiry-based activities that demonstrated the critically important role of teacher voice in leadership.

(L to R): 2014 BLISS Teacher Leaders and DCPS social studies teachers Adam Evans and Stephanie Bunton (Photo: Matt Fiteny/Inspired Teaching)

Cosby and Matt presented a session titled “Building Literacy in the Social Studies: How District of Columbia Public Schools and Center for Inspired Teaching have partnered to innovate and advance social studies instruction in an urban district.” The session engaged teachers and administrators in activities and structured discussion of strategies for developing enduring partnerships.

Both sessions highlighted the innovative BLISS:Building Literacy in the Social Studies partnership through which Inspired Teaching and DCPS are improving social studies instruction for students in DC. BLISS trains teachers in inquiry-based instruction, creates College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) aligned curricula, and provides the opportunity for students to experience 21st century social studies instruction. BLISS also creates a cohort of Teacher Leaders who regularly meet and develop literacy-based curriculum, building their capacity to lead a Professional Learning Community in their sphere of influence.

Read more about the conference and the movement to build a better school experience for students in a piece written by 2014 BLISS Teacher Leader Adam Evans.

Micaiah Anderson

Community Outreach Specialist

As a Community Outreach Specialist, Micaiah is responsible for program promotion and outreach support for Inspired Teaching events and workshops. Micaiah has a passion for collaborating with community members to build-power and connect. She is an educator with a heart for youth and has experience supporting students fight injustices within their schools and communities. She has a BA in Political Science from, the real HU, Hampton University & anticipates graduating in May 2024 with a Masters of Arts degree in Educational Policy Transformation from Georgetown University.

AUTONOMY

"I want to have a say in what happens to me."

Autonomy is the need for independence; the ability to make choices, to create, to explore, and to express oneself freely; to have sufficient space, to move around, and to feel unrestricted with opportunities to exercise free will.

Brady Maiden

Outreach Coordinator

As the Outreach Coordinator, Brady helps maintain Inspired Teaching’s social media presence and supports the organization’s mission to connect with DC community leaders, educators, and parents. Brady has her Master’s in Public Policy from George Mason University and her BS in Political Science from Northern Arizona University. She is passionate about community, equity, and coalition building recognizing that learning and growing with the community at large is how we continue to be impactful.

What brings you joy in life?

I find joy in spending time with my friends and family and meeting new people. I like going to concerts and festivals, and finding new books to read.

The Learner’s Cycle, Wonder-Experiment-Learn, and the Teacher’s Cycle, Observe-Plan-Instigate, comprise Inspired Teaching’s approach to engaging students in inquiry-based learning.

When they are engaged in the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, students are immersed in learning. They take the lead in designing authentic learning experiences around their own interests and their school’s standards of learning. Each discovery leads to a new question which in turn leads to more wondering and more learning. In the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, Learn is not a destination or an endpoint; it is a deeper understanding, leading to a deeper wondering and new possibilities that create new entry points to further exploration. The cycle continues because what students have learned generates more wonderings that require more experiments that foster more learning – and on and on.

The Observe-Plan-Instigate Cycle is the work of an Inspired Teacher. While a student is expected to follow the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, the teacher joins them on the learning journey while following their own cycle of Observe-Plan-Instigate. This cycle ultimately serves to ensure an inquiry-based atmosphere is at play in the classroom.

Jaqueta Abbey

Teaching and Learning Specialist

Jaqueta is the Teaching and Learning Specialist for Inspired Teaching. In addition to her current role with Inspired Teaching, Jaqueta is a first-grade teaching assistant. Her background features a variety of traditional and non-traditional experiences in the field of education, including working as an adjunct professor, teaching summer reading programs to children and adults, and tutoring children in the foster care system. Jaqueta earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an M.A. in Interactive Media from Elon University.

What brings you joy in life?

Creative self-expression! In addition to my passion for storytelling, I love dancing of all kinds. I've studied belly dance, bachata, and Brazilian Zouk among other styles. I also enjoy glass fusing, crocheting, photography, and cross stitching. These art forms allow me to express myself and build connections with other people at the same time. I think life would be a lot less vibrant without artists and storytellers!

Michelle Welk

Communication & Marketing Specialist

As Communications and Marketing Specialist, Michelle is responsible for finding and creating new ways to highlight Inspired Teaching and promote its programs in order to expand and deepen the organization's impact. Michelle has worked in communications in an array of settings, from creative agencies to state politics to national nonprofits. She has a BA in Journalism from Temple University in Philadelphia and is passionate about education, access, and equity.

What brings you joy in life?

My son, the beach, making a persuasive argument and good food!

Max Peterson

Real World History Assistant Teacher

Max received his Bachelor’s degree in History and African American Studies from Boston University in May 2016. He has worked in museum curation at the Museum of the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Max has worked with young people of varying ages from young children to young adults transitioning to college.

Feedback and Accountability

We grow through feedback and an understanding that the quality of our work is a reflection of what we are learning, but the shift to remote learning this spring disrupted a lot of the tools teachers were used to using to evaluate student growth. How might we do things differently this fall? Participants in this workshop will explore ways to bring meaningful assessment into the virtual and/or socially-distanced classroom and approaches to student feedback that strengthen motivation, and build relationships and achievement.