Turning science students into problem solvers

BELIEVE Academy science teacher Seyi Akoko can trace his love of science back to a seventh-grade classroom.

Curious about a lesson on evaporation, he went home and mixed salt with water in an attempt to recreate the experiment for himself. His experiment may have gotten him into trouble at home, but it also ignited a lifelong curiosity that ultimately led him back to the classroom, this time as the teacher.

This fall, Akoko hopes his students will discover that same sense of wonder as BELIEVE Academy launches its first year in the Science Coach program, a national initiative that helps teachers bring authentic scientific research into the classroom.

“I see my students becoming problem solvers,” Akoko said.

BELIEVE Academy, a public charter high school centered on health sciences, is joining 16 middle and high schools participating in the Science Coach program across the St. Louis metro region this school year.

Supported through the school’s partnership with BJC, Akoko spent part of his summer at the Science Coach Academy at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas, learning alongside educators from across the country before bringing new ideas back to his students.

Principal Jawn Manning said the program aligns with BELIEVE Academy’s mission of preparing students for careers in nursing, radiology, clinical laboratory sciences, respiratory care and perioperative services.

“Our students having a very, very strong foundation in science is extremely important,” Manning said.

While only one teacher is participating this year, Manning expects the impact to reach far beyond a single classroom. Akoko plans to launch BELIEVE Academy’s first Science Club, where students will investigate questions in biotechnology, chemistry and physics through hands-on research instead of relying solely on textbooks.

“I know when a professional development is good when the teacher comes back and says, ‘I need some time with you to talk about all these ideas,’” Manning said.

Science Coach was founded in St. Louis in 2007 after a veteran teacher considered giving up science fair coaching because, unlike athletic coaches, those guiding student researchers often volunteered their time. Today, Science Coach provides participating educators with year-round mentoring, professional development, classroom resources and stipends so they can guide students through original scientific research.

“We’re trying to show schools that teachers coaching science are worth the same investment as teachers coaching athletics,” said Dr. Kristine Callis, the organization’s executive director.

Science Coach has expanded from 48 teachers last year to 98 this year and now serves schools in 20 states. More than 90% of participating teachers return to the program each year, and 98% of students who participate say they enjoy STEM because they get to experience science firsthand rather than simply read about it.

“Science isn’t a collection of facts,” Callis said. “Science is a process of solving problems and understanding phenomena.”

Akoko said many young people shy away from STEM because science can feel intimidating. Through hands-on research, he hopes students will gain the confidence to ask their own questions, experiment, make mistakes and try again.

“They need to see the exciting part where they can put into practice what they’ve learned,” he said.

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