Hello! This past week I had the incredible honor of presenting to a group of K-12 educators through Aerospace STEM. The educators had a mini deep-dive experience to thinking about where they are in their own teaching journeys to understand that strategies don't change practice. There is a reason for why some of the best PD never makes it into the classroom and it has so much to do with what we value and believe about teaching and learning. If you're ready to have a conversation with me (and really yourself) about your own teaching practices in preparation of taking on the NGSS and climate change/science, crack open my book today to get started =).

Check out my new friends at Aerospace here: https://aerospace.org/STEM-Events

They also offer many free opportunities for teachers and students to get involved in STEM and aerospace throughout the year (i.e. Attending networking events, have an aerospace professional zoom in with your students, have students join one of the outreach programs, etc.). They are fantastic! 

Stay tuned for my upcoming posts! I'm traveling with my book to showcase ways to bring culturally relevant phenomena into the science curriculum in meaningful ways to engage students in science more authentically =).

 Hey there and welcome to my website! If you're reading this posting it's likely that you picked up a copy of my book, are currently registered for one of my upcoming workshops, or are in my personal circle here to support. Whatever brought you here, thank you so much.

Thank you for trusting me and for using your time to read this and/or my new book. 

So I decided to start posting again because my new book is out (not just out but was recently the #1 New Book Release on Amazon which is just crazy). I am beyond flattered and at the same time wanting to keep it real. Brené Brown tells her readers that if we dare to lead, we have to understand that we will get our butts handed to us at some point. That if we dare to live in the arena (rather than from the sidelines where it's easier to scrutinize the work of others rather than to courageously put yourself out there), this is bound to happen. She's absolutely right because it takes a great amount of courage to put your ideas out there and to be this vulnerable with others who don't know you. So I hope that my blog serves as a way to continue conversations started in my book so that I have opportunities to connect, support, and learn alongside my readers.

This book was based on 1) my personal teaching experiences ranging from Title 1 low income schools in L.A. to high socioeconomic status schools in O.C., 2) my instructional coaching experiences for L.A. school districts and the state of California when I had to fly up and down the coast supporting classroom teaching, and 3) many years of dissertation work at UCLA with amazing local and national partners to support teachers from over 50 school districts around climate change and science. Now that you have an image of the labor of love you have in your hands, I tried my very best to write the book I wish I had when I was trying to figure out ways to activate student agency as a teacher myself. Through this book, I hope that you find nuggets that pushed you in some way to think or take action that you're willing to share with this community if you're feeling courageous as well.

My hope with this first book (dare I say "first") is that I help one teacher out there who needs either inspiration, ideas, or courage to take on climate change in their science class. Even better - if they can do so in transformative ways by deeply analyzing their teaching practices so that this work moves beyond just the content, then I know the practices are bound to stick. I hope this book helps educators to do the work needed to move help evolve science education so when I finally ask at the next PD, "Are we teaching students the skills and knowledge to address 21st century needs and issues?" I hear a resounding, "Yes!"

We can't wait any longer to teach about the climate crisis in ways that will help students, colleagues, schools, and communities take action as change agents. Teachers are the critical mass needed to move on this crisis. We can do this if we do this together.

I look forward to connecting for anyone reading and wanting a sounding board to amplify these efforts. Cheers!

​Kelley

It was such a privilege to have an opportunity to write this op-ed piece for Ten Strands. If you want to know more about me, my lived experiences, and what drives my efforts to bring climate change to the forefront of education - I invite you to take a look =)!

​tenstrands.org/educators/reimagining-science-education-with-climate-change/

Happy New Year! Through this crazy and challenging time, I wanted to share something positive. I'm excited to announce the release of my new book published by Routledge! 

Right now all book titles are discounted, so pre-order your copy today to get support in taking on the climate crisis with your students. Looking forward to connecting!

Click Here to Get More Info on the Book!

Book Description
Looking to tackle climate change and climate science in your classroom? This timely and insightful book supports and enables secondary science teachers to develop effective curricula ready to meet the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) by grounding their instruction on the climate crisis.

Nearly one-third of the secondary science standards relate to climate science, but teachers need design and implementation support to create empowering learning experiences centered around the climate crisis. Experienced science educator, instructional coach, and educational leader Dr. Kelley Le offers this support, providing an overview of the teaching shifts needed for NGSS and to support climate literacy for students via urgent topics in climate science and environmental justice—from the COVID-19 pandemic to global warming, rising sea temperatures, deforestation, and mass extinction. You’ll also learn how to engage the complexity of climate change by exploring social, racial, and environmental injustices stemming from the climate crisis that directly impact students.
​
By anchoring instruction around the climate crisis, Dr. Le offers guidance on how to empower students to be the agents of change needed in their own communities.

My heart was full when I received this virtual thank you card from the department chair at Baldwin Park HS. Their chairwoman attended my climate change for educators program at Aquarium of the Pacific many years ago, and continued her learning of NGSS and equity this year under UCI Science Project. Since, they have been exploring the framework to align their teaching pedagogy to empower their students.

​Teachers are amazing! Even through a pandemic, we are doing everything possible to show up for kids and love on them.

Thank you Baldwin Park HS science educators! Happy Holidays All!

I am thrilled to start off the next year as a Teach SDG Ambassador! I will be part of Cohort 5 and will focus on developing research-informed approaches to bringing the UN SDGs (one of them being Climate Change) into future teacher professional development programs. I'm looking forward to learning more and alongside my fellow TeachSDG Ambassadors. Cheers!

Excited to share the US ACE Framework that I helped contribute to! Take a look at where we hope to launch the work and how intersectional this needs to be if we are to bend the curve. We are stronger together.

Get access to the full framework here: ​https://www.aceframework.us/the-framework

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with amazing young women from JSA's Young Women's Leadership Institute! They learned more about my journey to higher education, my development as both a servant and transformative leader, and how to navigate politically controversial topics such as the climate crisis. This young ladies are sure to change the world and I'm glad that our paths crossed for a short while today.

Learn more at ​https://www.jsa.org/programs/institutes/womens-institute/