Meet the 2026 Science Communication Lab Educator Ambassadors! 🧑🏫🔬✨
We are thrilled to announce our second cohort of incredible educators who are bringing the power of science storytelling into classrooms across the country. From California to Puerto Rico, these 13 teacher-leaders will join in our year-long program to create and implement lessons, participate in professional development, support each other's practice, and share their work with science educators nationwide.
Please join us in welcoming:
📍 Ariel Raymond (Pasadena, CA)
📍 Brian Ciuffreda (Princeton, NJ)
📍 Brittany Beck (Brooklyn, NY)
📍 Dr. Cecelia Gillam (New Orleans, LA)
📍 Claire Adrian-Tucci (Glenns, VA)
📍 Danielle Jo White-Yelito (Tyngsborough, MA)
📍 Dasianee Gavin (Dover, DE)
📍 Jennifer Broo (Cincinnati, OH)
📍 Jennifer Langston (Paragould, AR)
📍 Dr. Natalia Coleman (Union City, NJ)
📍 Sarmistha Ghosh (Charlotte, NC)
📍 Tess Carlson (San Francisco, CA)
📍 Dr. Yajaira Torres-De Jesús (Guaynabo, PR)
We can't wait to see the innovative lessons this group develops! 🎬📚
Learn more about our #SCLAmbassadors: /ambassadors-2026/
#ScienceEducation #STEMteachers #STEMEducation #SCLAmbassador
“SCL content takes science and makes it real. It showcases the thought processes, experimental design, the questions, the humor, and the real lives of scientists.
Anytime we can make science real for students, we can make students think they're capable of doing science.” – Renee Haines, High School Biology Teacher and 2025 #SCLAmbassador
Thank you Renee for being an integral part of our pilot Educator Ambassador program! Looking to join our community of educators using film & hands-on learning to deepen student engagement, science identity, and understanding of how science works?
Learn more about our #SFUSD Educator Pilot Program via https://bit.ly/sclsfusd - Applications DUE TOMORROW!
#BiologyTeachers #ScienceEducation #STEMEducation #TeachingTools
How do we move students past the Punnett square to understand the thousands of genes influencing traits like height and weight?
We are pulling back the curtain on our latest collaboration with HHMI BioInteractive to tackle the fascinating science of polygenic inheritance, combining world-class scientific expertise with cinematic storytelling to create a powerful new resource for your #APBio or #IBBio classroom.
Join @biointeractive this Thursday 5/14 from 7-8 PM ET for a deep dive into #ComplexGenetics. During the session, world-renowned expert Dr. Joel Hirschhorn will walk through how scientists track the massive genetic networks that shape human traits. The session will include a clip from the new film we've been producing with HHMI BioInteractive.
RSVP to attend: https://bit.ly/hhmisclwebinar
#BiologyEducation #STEMEducation #Genetics #HSBio #PolygenicInheritance
📣 APP NOW CLOSED 📣 We’re looking for SFUSD middle and high school biology and environmental science teachers for our NEW Science Communication Lab Educator Cohort.
Join a community of educators using film + hands-on learning to deepen student engagement, science identity, and understanding of how science works.
Participants will receive:
✨ $2000 Honoraria + local travel stipend
✨ Access to classroom-ready films & resources
✨ Collaborative lesson design + professional learning
✨ Strategies to support engagement and belonging
Are you excited to try new approaches, reflect on practice, and collaborate with peers across the district? Apply Now!
Applications close NEXT WEEK on May 15: https://lc.cx/PVBG3h
Full details: /sfusd-pilot-recruiting-science-teachers/
#SFUSD #BayAreaEducators #ScienceTeachers#TeacherCommunity #STEM
We’re back from #NSTA2026 feeling energized and deeply inspired by the incredible educators we had the chance to meet!
#NSTA Highlights:
🦠 Superbug Showdown: Our evolution board game (shoutout to 2025 #SCLAmbassador Dan Vanden Heuvel!) was a massive hit—nothing beats hands-on learning for tackling complex biology. 🧬
🟥 Observation as a Superpower: A huge thank you to Ariel Raymond, Brittany Beck, and Susan Bartol for leading a packed workshop on using storytelling and multimedia to transform classroom observation. The room was electric! ⚡️
🍽️ The SCL Community: Reconnecting over dinner with our amazing current and former educator ambassadors reminded us that this community is the heart of everything we do. ❤️
To the hundreds of teachers we met: YOU are the catalyst. We’re already back at work creating new resources inspired by your passion and brilliance.
Read the full NSTA Recap: /nsta-2026-recap/
#ScienceEducation #ScienceTeachers #STEM #STEMTeachers
Behind every great discovery—from the secrets of the cell to the mysteries of our universe—is a teacher who first sparked a sense of wonder.
Today, we’re celebrating the incredible science educators who work tirelessly to nurture curiosity and help students see the connections in the world around them. To the teachers who help the next generation of innovators grow and thrive: Thank you for everything you do! 🧬🌿✨
#TeacherAppreciationWeek #ScienceEducation #STEM #ScienceTeachers
Help your students turn observation into a superpower! 👀👂⚡
Distinguishing between what we see (observation) and what it means (inference) is the foundation of the scientific method. Developed by #SCLAmbassador and veteran middle school teacher Ariel Raymond, our new classroom-ready lesson plan—OBSERVER: Seeing, Sensing, and Inferring—takes students beyond just "looking" and into the world of evidence-based reasoning.
Whether your students are exploring the schoolyard or a local park, these tools help them build the mental habits to think like scientists.
What’s inside the lesson:
🔍 Guided observation & film viewing
🟥 Outdoor activity with the red frame from #ObserverFilm
💬 Group discussion strategies (Talking Chips)
💡 Observation → Inference analysis
✍️ Reflection writing
The best part? Everything in the lesson, including our award-winning film, is FREE for educators!
📥 Download the #NGSS aligned lesson: https://bit.ly/sclariel
#MiddleSchoolScience #STEMEducation #TeacherResources #FreeResourcesForTeachers #NatureOfScience
For those who have seen our latest feature doc, OBSERVER, one image likely lingers in your mind: the red square. It’s a striking symbol for observation, utilized in the film as a framing device to focus one’s gaze and highlight the hidden wonders all around us. It’s also a great classroom tool to use in conjunction with our free K-12 activity guide or lesson plans.
We’re thrilled to announce the 3D printer file for the #observerfilm Red Square is available to download for free!
🟥 Grab the file: /observer-red-square-3d-printer-file-download/
Once you’ve printed your square, we want to see where it takes you! Take your square into the field, use it to frame your own world, or keep it on your desk as a reminder of the curiosity that drives scientific discovery. Tag us and use the hashtag #ObserverRedSquare.
Happy printing and keep observing!
Happy #EarthDay! Today, we’re inviting you and your students to look down at our incredible planet! 🌎 While we often celebrate the greenery and life above ground, a wondrous world supporting our ecosystems lies underneath.
In our free new #NGSS lesson, Lettuce Get to the Root of the Matter, students investigate roots as active sensory systems essential for water uptake, stability, and growth. Using simple, low-cost materials like recycled bottles and cotton balls, your class will grow their own seedlings to observe monocot vs. dicot root architecture firsthand.
This hands-on activity is paired with our film, The Hidden World of Plant Roots, showing students the cutting-edge technology scientists use to uncover root behavior underground.
Designed for flexibility across Grades 3-12, this resource includes tailored grade-level worksheets and multiple activities to showcase core concepts of plant biology and environmental adaptation.
🌱 Download the lesson with a free educator account: https://bit.ly/sclelizabeth
#EarthDay2026 #ScienceEducation #STEMEducation #TeachingTools
See you at #NSTA2026 in Anaheim tomorrow! 🌴 We can’t wait to reconnect with the science education community and share what we’ve been working on since we last saw you in Philly.
We will be at Booth 677 throughout the conference! Come say hello, pick up snacks, and discover innovative ways to bring science stories to life. Learn how to access our free lessons and resources designed to support your classroom and engage your students with human stories of science.
🔎 Don’t Miss Our "Observation as a Superpower" Workshop This Thu 4/16 at 2:20 pm in Room 161 (North Building)
In the midst of the conference rush, take a moment to rediscover the joy of looking closely. This interactive session features our new documentary, OBSERVER, which we debuted at @official_nsta last year, and offers hands-on observational strategies you can take directly back to your classroom to inspire curiosity, inquiry, and critical thinking in your students. Furthermore, the film is FREE for educators to use!
More details on our website: /event/nsta-2026-anaheim/
See you all soon!
#NSTA #STEMEducation #ScienceTeachers #ProfessionalDevelopment #FreeResources
Don’t miss our featured workshop at @official_nsta on Thursday 4/16 — Observation as a Superpower: A Workshop to Inspire Curiosity, Inquiry, and Critical Thinking in Your Students. 🔍
In the midst of the daily rush, take a moment to rediscover the joy of looking closely. Join us for an interactive professional development workshop centered on one of science’s most fundamental practices: observation.
We are so excited to have three educator superstars co-leading the session:
⭐ Brittany Beck (Brooklyn, NY): The 2025 Sloan STEM Teacher of the Year, Brittany integrates storytelling and narrative structure into student-driven research, empowering learners to engage in authentic scientific practices alongside working scientists.
⭐ Susan Bartol (Montclair, NJ): A Wipro Science Education Fellow with 20+ years of experience, Susan is a master at making science immersive for elementary students. She’s the force behind "Science Day," a large-scale program that turns hundreds of kids into authentic scientists.
⭐ Ariel Raymond (Pasadena, CA): With a background in Geology and experience at the American Museum of Natural History, Ariel specializes in making science tangible. Her work bridges the gap between the classroom and real-world scientific institutions like the La Brea Tar Pits and Caltech.
Alongside our Senior Director of Education, Shannon Behrman, this powerhouse team will share observational strategies that encourage deeper inquiry and critical thinking for grades 3-12.
📅 Mark Your Calendar: Thursday 4/16 from 2:20–3:20 PM in Room 161, North Building
Add Workshop to Your Conference Agenda: https://lc.cx/dX4MWY
See you in Anaheim! Don't forget to stop by Booth 677 in the Expo Hall to grab a snack and learn more about our free resources.
#NSTA2026 #ScienceEducation #STEMTeaching #InquiryBasedLearning #ScienceTeacher
"The Science Communication Lab offers a plethora of resources that would be huge assets to any biology course."—we’re proud to share this recent review of our content from The American Biology Teacher, published by @nabt_offical .
In the latest "Classroom Materials & Media Review," Jeffrey D. Sack, Ed.D., explores how our resources help educators move past the struggle of finding scientifically meaningful and exciting content. The review highlights how we bridge the gap between complex research and student engagement by connecting them to real scientists and their journeys.
Why educators are using our FREE resources:
* Direct Access to Discovery: Our collection features milestone scientific discoveries from the scientists themselves, including Meselson and Stahl discussing their "most beautiful" experiment on DNA replication.
* Comprehensive Classroom Tools: Many films include detailed lessons with learning objectives, discussion questions, and activities to help students develop scientific thinking skills.
* Focus on Identity: Lessons go beyond content to address the nature of science and science identity, helping students see a place for themselves in the field.
* Professional Growth: Through iBiology Courses, we offer free online self-paced courses like "Building a Research Community" and "Share Your Research" for early career scientists and advanced students.
We are committed to providing these resources for free to help educators inspire the next generation of scientists.
Sign up today: /join
Read the full review in the March 2026 issue: https://lc.cx/zA5XzQ
#STEMEducation #BiologyTeacher #BiologyEducation #APBio #NGSSBiology #NGSS
