2025-26
The STEELS Roadmap is a professional learning series designed to support K-12 educators, administrators, and sTEM leaders in effectively implementing the Pennsylvania STEELS Standards. These workshops and training opportunities provide hands-on experiences, instructional strategies, and collaborative learning spaces to deepen understanding of phenomena-based learning, three-dimensional instruction, and environmental literacy.
Whether you're a classroom teacher, instructional coach, or school leader, the STEELS Roadmap offers research-based, practical support to help you bring engaging, inquiry-driven STEM education to your students.
Contact Information:
Jason Zimmerman
717-947-1883
jason_zimmerman@iu13.org
Contents
STEELS Institute 3.0
Ready, set, go! The past two years have set the stage, and now the real adventure begins—bringing STEELS standards to life in your classrooms. Implementing instructional change isn't a quick fix; it requires ongoing support and sustained effort. Research has shown that sustained implementation fidelity leads to higher student outcomes (Rimm-Kaufman et al., 2014). STEELS Institute 3.0 is designed to strengthen, empower, and energize district teams, providing educators with actionable instructional strategies, targeted tools for enhancing student engagement, and practical approaches to authentically connect classroom learning to real-world contexts.
STEELS Institute 3.0 Strategic Focus:
- Classroom Site Visits: Experience STEELS-aligned instruction firsthand in K-12 classrooms to inform your own implementation.
- Data-Driven Implementation: Use clear, evidence-based methods to analyze student work and assessment data, guiding instructional decisions, and ensuring lasting improvements in student achievement.
- Micro-PD Modules: Collaboratively create short, targeted professional learning resources that support teachers across our districts.
- Integrating Science, Literacy, Social Studies & Mathematics: Develop instructional strategies to intentionally connect science, literacy, and mathematics to promote deeper student understanding and authentic learning experiences.
Day 2: November 19, 2025
This series equips educators with the tools and knowledge to integrate environmental literacy and sustainability into science and social studies instruction. Workshops focus on place-based learning, watershed education, and outdoor investigations to connect students with real-world environmental issues. Through partnerships with local parks, conservation districts, and environmental organizations, participants will gain practical strategies and hands-on resources to implement Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) and other experiential learning opportunities in their classrooms.
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM on the following dates. Click each date to register.
Effective science instruction goes beyond content - it requires engaging, inquiry-rich learning experiences that foster deep thinking, student discourse, and authentic problem-solving. This series of workshops supports educators in refining their instructional practices through phenomena-based learning, assessment design, student engagement strategies, and high-leverage teaching moves. Each session is designed to provide practical, research-based strategies that can be implemented immediately to enhance student-centered learning and equitable science instruction.
Fall 2025 Sessions
Winter 2025-26 Sessions
Spring 2026 Sessions
Technology & Engineering (T&E) education prepares students to think critically, solve problems, and innovate in an increasingly complex world. These workshops support educators in implementing K-12 STEELS-aligned T&E instruction, with a focus on engineering design challenges, computational thinking, and real-world STEM applications. Educators will engage in hands-on experiences, industry tours, and collaborative discussions to develop engaging standards-aligned learning opportunities that bridge the gap between science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM on the following dates. Click each date to register.
September 18, 2025 - AI (Invite Only)
December 3, 2025 - Educator Externship Work Day
STEM Leadership Collaborative
The STEM Leadership Collaborative (STEM LC) is a network of STEM leaders, instructional coaches, and educators committed to advancing science and STEM education. This community meets regularly throughout the year to discuss emerging trends, instructional strategies, and leadership practices that support effective STEM teaching and learning. The collaborative provides a space for idea-sharing, problem-solving, and professional growth to strengthen STEM education across schools and districts.
1:00 - 3:00 PM on the following dates.
Click each date to register.
Administration Support
School and system leaders play a critical role in the successful implementation of STEELS standards. This category includes Act 45 leadership courses and administrator-focused workshops designed to help leaders support high-quality STEM instruction, instructional coaching, and teacher supervision. Sessions focus on creating inquiry-rich learning environments, evaluating student engagement, and implementing best practices for instructional leadership. These learning opportunities equip school leaders with the tools and frameworks needed to drive systemic change and support teachers in delivering rigorous, three-dimensional instruction.
OpenSciEd Training
Considering OpenSciEd? Make IU13 your Certified Professional Learning Provider!
We are excited to announce Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 is now an OpenSciEd Certified Professional Learning Provider. At IU13, we're passionate about science education, and we've designed our OpenSciEd Certified Professional Learning specifically to elevate your classroom experience and student engagement. When partnering with us, you'll gain access to:
- Robust Curriculum: A comprehensive, research-based program focused on inquiry-driven learning and scientific literacy.
- Expert Support: Highly trained specialists ready to support your implementation journey.
- Hands-On Experiences: Tailored workshops, including pilot launches, instructional coaching, facilitator support, and deep-dive unit training.
Our OpenSciEd Certified Professional Learning Provider can help you with custom professional learning, curriculum launch, facilitator training, instructional coaching support, ongoing support with unit deep dives, and pilot launch.
If you are interested in OpenSciEd training, please contact Jason Zimmerman (jason_zimmerman@iu13.org) for more information.
STEELS Teacher Coaching
Comprehensive instructional coaching is available to support educators in effectively implementing the STEELS standards in their classrooms. Support can be provided through personalized guidance on three-dimensional teaching, instructional shifts, and the integration of phenomena-based learning, assisting teachers in fostering deeper student engagement and meeting the requirements of the STEELS standards.
If you are interested in instructional coaching, please contact Jason Zimmerman (jason_zimmerman@iu13.org) for more information.
- June 10, 2025 - Phenomena 2.0 Workshop
- June 17, 2025 - Climate Action & Renewable Energy Teacher Training
- June 16-18, 2025 - Industry Tours (Lancaster)
- June 23-34, 2025 - Industry Tours (Lebanon)
- December 3, 2025 - Educator Externship Work Day (Invite Only)
- Summer 2025 - Computational Thinking: An Essential Skill (Async 6-hour Course) (begins June 9th)
- Summer 2025 - Supporting STEELS as a School Leader - Act 45 Summer 2025 Course (begins June 16th)
- July 30, 2025 - Phenomena 2.0
- July 31, 2025 - Designing Meaningful Assessments for STEELS Classrooms
- Act 45 Course: Supporting STEELS as a School Leader (Fall 2025 Course)
- September 18, 2025 - AI (Invite Only - Link Coming)
- September 18, 2025 - STEM Leadership Collaborative
- October 1, 2025 - MWEE Ambassador Training (offsite - Susquehannock State Park)
- October 14, 2025 - Elementary STEM & Tech/Engineering Standards Implementation
- October 16, 2025 - Secondary Tech. Ed. & Tech/Engineering Standards Implementation
- October 28, 2025 - Supervising for Inquiry: Supporting Engaging Classroom
- October 29, 2025 - Feedback that Fuels Learning
- October 30, 2025 - STEELS Institute 3.0: Day 1
- November 12, 2025 - Performance Tasks That Matter
- November 13, 2025 - Elevating Science & Engineering Practices: Strengthening Student Thinking and Engagement
- November 19, 2025 - STEELS Institute 3.0: Day 2
- November 20, 2025 - STEM Leadership Collaborative
- December 4, 2025 - Dynamic Classroom Discussions: Strategies for Deeper Dialogue
- January 8, 2026 - From Forgetting to Forever: Boosting Student Retention
- January 14, 2026 - Phenomena 2.0: Deepening Student Engagement Through Inquiry
- January 15, 2026 - STEM Leadership Collaborative
- January 21, 2026 - Teaching Critical Thinking in Every Content Area
- January 22, 2026 - STEELS Institute 3.0: Day 3
- January 28, 2026 - Collaboration & Questioning: The Dynamic Duo for Deeper Learning
- February 12, 2026 - Designing Meaningful Assessments for STEELS Classrooms
- February 19, 2026 - Elevating Science & Engineering Practices: Strengthening Student Thinking and Engagement
- February 26, 2026 - Harnessing Student Voice: Choice Boards, Genius Hour, SOLE, and Beyond
- Act 45 Course: Supporting STEELS as a School Leader (Spring 2026 Course)
- March 10, 2026 - From Worksheets to Workshops: Reimagining Classroom Activities
- March 18, 2026 - Dynamic Classroom Discussions: Strategies for Deeper Dialogue
- March 19, 2026 - STEM Leadership Collaborative
- March 31, 2026 - STEELS Institute 3.0: Day 4
- April 9, 2026 - MWEE Ambassador Training (offsite - Susquehannock State Park)
- May 14, 2026 - STEM Leadership Collaborative