STEELS, Science, And The Shift

Curiosity thrives when classrooms trade recipes for real experiences. We sit down with Kevin Murphy and Kaity Ferraro from Cheltenham to unpack how a district moves from “follow-the-steps” science to student-driven inquiry under STEELS—without burning teachers out. From the first messy pilot to a sustainable system, they show how small, intentional changes beat heroic sprints every time.

Alignment becomes the multiplier. Administrators get trained on the resource and the pedagogy so walkthroughs recognize productive noise, open questions, and student talk as signs of learning. That shared understanding gives teachers permission to say “I don’t know—let’s test it,” and keeps evaluation from punishing the very behaviors STEELS asks for. Along the way, we share the human side—team dynamics, quick pivots, and even the icebreakers that spark laughter and honest debate—because culture is the infrastructure that makes a new model stick.

If you care about science education that builds problem solvers, designers, and clear thinkers, this conversation offers a roadmap you can adapt tomorrow. Subscribe, share with a colleague who’s wrestling with STEELS, and leave a review to tell us the one 10% change you’re making next.

Want to learn more about ChangED? Check out our website at: learn.mciu.org/changed

Chapters

• 0:00 Banter, Filler Words, And Warm-Up
• 0:52 Meet The Hosts And Guests
• 2:42 Roles Across Curriculum And STEELS
• 6:10 3D Printing From K–12 To PBL
• 10:55 Team Dynamics And Design Thinking
• 16:31 The STEELS Shift And Mindset
• 21:24 Admin Alignment And Sustainability
• 25:52 Partial Implementation And Materials
• 29:12 Final Takeaways And Support