We speak with Chris Lehmann, founding principal of Science Leadership Academy, inquiry-driven and project-based schools in Philadelphia. The academic model centers inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation, and reflection. Students take English, science, and history as a cohort, allowing for interdisciplinary understanding. Systems and structures ensure there is time for teachers to build relationships with students, and create the basis for the schools to survive beyond the founders.
Overview
00:00-00:28 Intros
00:32-01:51 Characteristics of Science Leadership Academy
01:51-04:16 Building collaboration among disciplines; looping
04:16-06:55 21st Century citizens
06:55-08:53 Instilling “engagement” as a citizenship quality
08:53-11:37 Integrating employment-related skills into education for citizenship
11:37-14:24 Role of technology
14:24-16:58 “Caring for” vs. “Caring about”
16:58-18:09 Scheduling systemic care
18:09-19:38 Discussing ethics in the classroom
19:38-22:44 Sustainability beyond the founders
22:44-26:01 Recruiting, preparing, supporting teachers
26:01-26:58 Schools should be transformative for teachers as well as students
26:58-30:16 What makes SLA model applicable in both choice and general admission schools
30:16- Outro
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcription of this episode.
References
Soundtrack by Poddington Bear
Photo facebook.com/scienceleadershipacademy
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