Middle school is a critical turning point for kids when it comes to sustaining an interest and investment in science. If we miss the mark in middle school, students are more likely to fear — and avoid — the challenge of rigorous high school science classes. They’ll arrive at college either uninterested in pursuing a science major, unprepared to succeed, or both. In response to this pressing problem, Success Academy developed a middle school science curriculum that makes lessons exceptionally engaging and relevant, allowing educators to hold students to high standards, including the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), without compromising on excitement.  

Join us to explore what excellent inquiry-based science can look like in middle school classrooms. We’ll deep-dive into our Energy and Matter in Organisms unit, analyze a video of students investigating the digestive system, and hear directly from our top educators about how to use Essential Questions and the 5E’s to help students fall in love with science. We'll have opportunities to reflect and discuss as well as a Q&A where you can connect with educators from around the country. 

Claire Bartkus: Claire joined Success Academy in 2012 as a science teacher at SA Harlem 2. After holding multiple instructional management and curriculum development roles with SA over the years, Claire is currently our Leader of Instructional Development across the network. 

Gary Waiyaki: Gary is currently the assistant principal at SA Springfield Gardens Middle School. Originally from Kenya, he majored in bioethics at the University of Rochester. Gary started at SA in 2013 as a science teacher. 

Rachel Koskelin: Rachel is a science teacher at SA Midtown West Middle School and has also been with Success Academy since 2013. She’s famous at SA for high levels of engagement in her classrooms. 

Stacey Gershkovich: Stacey joined Success Academy in 2006, as the founding science teacher at the network’s first elementary school. She is now a Leader at the Robertson Center. 

Stacey Gershkovich started her education career as a first grade teacher at PS 138 in the Bronx. She joined Success in 2006, as the founding science teacher at our very first elementary school. Stacey would go on to serve as founding principal of Success Academy Harlem 5, before joining the network team to oversee mathematics, science, and scholar talent as Managing Director of STEM. She then served as Managing Director of Schools, where she coached and supported leaders at a portfolio of SA schools. Stacey received her undergraduate degree from Emory University, her Master's in Education from Pace University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Teaching and Learning with a focus in Mathematics Education at NYU. She is mom to Jake, Emma and Riley.

Something happens in a room full of educators. Ideas get bigger, barriers shrink, defy-the-odds notions feel downright within reach. We believe in these rooms — in the power of bringing together our country’s fiercest believers in the capacity of kids to help them set it free. At the Robertson Center, makers of magical classrooms find the content, conversation and community they need to accelerate their inspiring work. 

Success Academy’s 47 free public schools serve over 20,000 K-12 students across New York City. These scholars - 78% of whom come from low-income households and all of whom are admitted by random lottery - are the highest performing in New York State.