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Science Partnership

of the East Bay

Science for All Children

About the Science Partnership

Who we are.

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Science Partnership of the East Bay was established in 2008 and is a collaborative project led by the Institute for STEM Education at the California State University East Bay and the Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE). Our vision is to improve science education by bringing together a variety of stakeholders such as universities, county offices of education, K-12 districts and schools and other science education organizations. The Science Partnership is led by faculty from Cal State East Bay and staff from ACOE. 

What we do.

The Science Partnership is implementing and studying a comprehensive K-12 science teacher professional development (PD) model to support the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards. Designed to transform K-12 science teaching and learning, we focus on schools that serve predominately low-income, underrepresented minority students. Our goals include increasing the quality of science instruction, facilitating sustainable institutional change in our partners to support science instruction, and studying the impact of the partnership on students, teachers, and institutions. Click here for graphic about our professional development model.

Our Impact.

Since the establishment of the Science Partnership in 2008, over 730 individual teachers have engaged in professional development receiving an average of 84 hours of professional development annually. Our programs have Impacted over 184,000 students in California. The Science Partnership has been fortunate to have been awarded nearly $19 million in grants to support science teacher professional development. Our sponsors include the California Science Project, NASA, NSF and the California Department of Education.

Meet the Team

Jeffery Seitz, Co-Director of the Science Partnership

California State University, East Bay

Associate Vice President, Research and Sponsored Programs

Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences

www.sci.csueastbay.edu/~jseitz/

jeff.seitz@csueastbay.edu 

510.885.4211

I have been a geology professor at Cal State East Bay since 1997 and am currently the AVP for Research. My professional activity at East Bay has focused on two different areas. My research is focused on molecular astrobiology where I have approached the question of the origin of life from a geochemical perspective. The other areas of professional activity been in providing professional development for K-12 science teachers with a focus on deepening science content knowledge since 1999. I am committed to sharing my passion for Earth Science education with teachers. The most rewarding aspect of this work has been what I have learned about teaching and learning from my K-12 colleagues.

Dawn O'Connor, Co-Director of the Science Partnership

Alameda County Office of Education

Director of Science

dawno@acoe.org

510.670.4189

I am the Director of the Science at Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE) and the East Bay Science Project at CSU East Bay supporting the implementation of science standards in our schools. Additionally, I serve as the science lead for Region 4 supporting the seven counties with science updates and professional learning. I am deeply committed to supporting school partners with establishing a systemic approach to science reform. Before starting at ACOE, I was a middle school science teacher for 20 years, served as a science instructional coach, and as an Induction Mentor for the New Teacher Project.

Patrick Fleming, Science Content Lead

California State University, East Bay

Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

patrick.fleming@csueastbay.edu

510.885.3492

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at California State University, East Bay. I serve as a Co-PI in the East Bay Science Partnership in addition to teaching courses in General and Physical Chemistry. My research interests involve the use of computers to model chemical behavior, as well as probing molecular behavior using the techniques of Molecular Spectroscopy. I am also interested in integrating small computing devices into spectroscopy instruments for use in the field. Additionally, I am very much interested in supporting teachers in the integration of Next Generation Science Standards into their curricula.

Kathryn Hayes, Lead Researcher

California State University, East Bay

Professor of Educational Leadership

kathryn.hayes@csueastbay.edu

510.885.3012

I am an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at CSU East Bay.  I serve as a Co-PI and advisor for the Science Partnership, which oversaw the Integrated Middle School Science Partnership (funded by the National Science Foundation) and Science Partnership for Instructional Innovation (funded by the California Math-Science Partnership).  For these projects, I am the lead researcher on organizational capacity, leadership development and program sustainability.  My research draws on socio-cultural and organizational theory to understand and build the leadership and organizational capacity needed to support science education reform at urban schools.  In a related line of inquiry, I study the organizational and teacher traits that shape teacher shifts in instructional practice. 

BaeC_headshot.png

Christine Lee Bae

Virginia Commonwealth University

Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology

clbae@vcu.edu

804.828.1334

I am an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Foundations at Virginia Commonwealth University. My research focuses on examining teaching practices and the role of students' thinking and motivation to support science learning in urban classrooms. I am serving as a Co-PI on the NSF DRK12 Science Communities of Practice Partnership (SCOPP). In the past I have served as a postdoctoral researcher on the NSF Integrated Middle School Science and Co-PI on the CMSP Science Partnership for Instructional Innovation. 

Nazzy Pakpour, Science Content Lead

California State University, East Bay

Professor of Educational Leadership

www.pakpourlab.com

nazzy.pakpour@csueastbay.edu

510.885.3012

I am an assistant professor in the Biology Department where I teach Microbiology and Entomology. My laboratory research is focused on understanding the dynamics of malaria transmission. The other areas of my professional activity have been focused on science outreach. I am the founder of the CSUEB Hack Day, a 12-hour event focused on bringing together students from STEM majors to build innovative solutions using drones. I am also in the process of establishing a traveling insect zoo as a resource for our local community and most recently I have begun providing support for the professional development for K-12 science teachers as they integrate the Next Generation Science Standards into their curriculum. 

Sarah Williams, Administrative Coordinator

California State University, East Bay

sarah.williams@csueastbay.edu

510.670.7322

I have been the Administrative Coordinator for the Science Partnership and associated projects (East Bay Science Project, Integrated Middle School Science Partnership and Science Partnership for Instructional Innovation) at Cal State East Bay since 2013. One of the most rewarding parts of my position is working directly with K-12 teachers and Cal State East Bay students that are involved in our research.  

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