Center for Educational Strategy & Innovation

🌟 Shaping the Future of Learning 🌟

This week, Florida Atlantic Laboratory Schools partnered with the Center for Educational Strategy & Innovation and the FAU College of Education to host the Florida Educator Preparation and Leadership Network (FEPLN) Annual Convening.

Educators, district leaders, principals, and higher education partners from across Florida came together to collaborate, share innovative practices, and strengthen pathways for teacher preparation, leadership development, and student success.

Thank you to everyone who joined us as we continue working together to shape the future of education in Florida.

Shape the Future of Learning. 💡📚

The Center for Educational Strategy and Innovation is excited to announce a new lineup of cost-free professional learning opportunities designed to inspire, empower, and equip educators for the future of teaching and learning.

From STEM innovation and AI integration to project-based learning, science instruction, engineering design, literacy, and student-centered classrooms, our 2026-2027 workshops offer practical strategies you can bring directly into your classroom.

✨ Connect with fellow educators
✨ Explore innovative teaching practices
✨ Earn professional learning opportunities
✨ Walk away with ideas you can implement immediately

Whether you're looking to deepen student engagement, strengthen STEM instruction, or discover new ways to foster critical thinking and creativity, there's a workshop for you.

Shape the Future of Learning with the Center for Educational Strategy and Innovation.

📅 Registration is now open!
Visit labschools.fau.edu/center to view the full workshop lineup and reserve your spot.

🤖✨ Educators explored the future of AI in education during the “AI in Action” workshop held at the Cox Science Center in partnership with the PBC STEM Ecosystem and the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation.

Throughout the workshop, teachers engaged in meaningful conversations and hands-on learning focused on artificial intelligence, ethical classroom use, data privacy, bias, large language models, and project-based learning strategies designed to bring real-world AI experiences into the classroom.

The day empowered educators with tools and resources to help students think critically, solve problems creatively, and navigate the evolving world of AI responsibly. 🌟

Missed this workshop? There’s still time to join future AI learning opportunities! Be sure to register for the virtual event on August 1 and visit our website for additional workshops throughout the upcoming school year. 💻

https://labschools.fau.edu/center/

🌟 Future Ready: Celebrating Student Innovation

The “Future Ready” event brought together partners from across the county, including industry professionals, community organizations, business leaders, higher education representatives, educators, and district leadership, to strengthen collaboration and expand STEM opportunities for students. 📚

A major highlight of the program featured six outstanding Palm Beach County area high school student speakers sharing powerful reflections on their STEM journeys, mentorship experiences, access to opportunities, and how we can collectively better support students in becoming “Future Ready.” 💡

We are especially proud of our own Nidhi Begur, who represented FAU High School with insight and passion alongside peers from across the county. 👏

The event also showcased student innovation from across Palm Beach County, highlighting the incredible talent and creativity shaping the future of STEM in our region.

A heartfelt thank you to all partners who continue working together to inspire, support, and empower the next generation of innovators! 🙌💙

Proud to see the incredible impact of the Center for Educational Strategy and Innovation recognized!

Here, we are committed to reimagining teaching and learning through meaningful, applied experiences that truly stick. From empowering educators with innovative professional development to supporting students as they engage in real-world research and publication, this work is transforming what’s possible in education.

Grateful for the leadership of Dr. Joel Herbst and the continued support from our partners as we expand opportunities for hands-on, minds-on learning across Florida.

The future of education is here, and we’re excited to be leading the way.

Florida Atlantic Lab Schools Becoming The National Model For School Systems Dr. Joel Herbst, Superintendent and Vice President of the Florida Atlantic Laboratory Schools, joined Inside South Florida to discuss the opening of a brand-...

🧠✨ Brainwaves 2026: Igniting Innovation in Education! ✨🧠

This year’s Brainwaves 2026: Igniting Innovation with Brain-Based Learning & Action Research Symposium sparked powerful conversations and fresh ideas about how neuroscience can transform the way we teach and how students learn.

With facilitators Dr. David Cinalli, Dr. Jennifer Krill, and Dr. Michelle Vaughan-McGovern, the morning kicked off with engaging workshops, including the foundational “Teaching with the Brain in Mind” session, in which participants explored how brain development, cognition, and emotion shape students' learning. Teachers discovered practical, research-backed strategies to design lessons that connect with learners at every stage.

Additional sessions led by Engineers on Deck encouraged educators to think creatively and collaboratively, from exploring interdisciplinary connections between art and STEM to learning how action research can be a powerful tool for reflecting on and strengthening teaching practices.

The day concluded with an Action Research Symposium focused on mentoring, publication, and conducting classroom research in their own school.

From brain science to classroom strategy, Brainwaves 2026 empowered educators with new insights and tools to create meaningful, brain-centered learning experiences for their students. 🚀 We can’t wait to see what next year brings!

✨ Interested in learning, growing, and making an impact through our professional development opportunities? Visit our website to explore upcoming workshops and register today:
https://labschools.fau.edu/center/

🚀✈️ Taking STEM Learning to New Heights! ✈️🚀

Educators recently joined us for an exciting day of exploration, innovation, and hands-on discovery during two dynamic professional development workshops focused on aeronautics and engineering design led by Engineers on Deck Angela and Patrick Moran.

In “Soaring Through Science: Unraveling the Physics of Flight in Aeronautics,” teachers explored the forces that make flight possible through engaging experiments and design challenges. Participants tested airfoils and propellers, created vortex flyers and straw rockets, and examined key concepts like Bernoulli's Principle and Charles's Law. The afternoon continued with rotocopters, water rockets, and the construction of clinometers to investigate how pressure and height affect flight.

The learning continued with “Beyond the Blueprints: Engineering Design Challenges,” where educators explored materials and mechanical engineering through interactive design tasks. Teachers investigated forces, simple machines, motors, turbines, generators, and electromagnetic devices while gaining practical strategies to bring engineering challenges into their own classrooms.

To bring the learning full circle, every participant received a FREE classroom STEAM kit, ensuring these innovative ideas can take flight in classrooms across our community.

📣 Ready to join us for an upcoming workshop and make a real impact in your classroom? Explore what’s next and register today by visiting our website below!

https://labschools.fau.edu/center/

So proud to see this impactful work taking place at FAU’s Lab Schools this weekend. 💡✨

Educational leaders came together to strengthen STEM integration and walk away with actionable plans to support innovation on their own campuses. It was an honor to host such a thoughtful collaboration and to showcase the work happening at A.D. Henderson & FAU High School.

When passionate educators gather with a shared commitment to student success, powerful things happen. Excited to see how this momentum continues to grow beyond our campus!

Learning in nature. Teaching with purpose. Growing together. 🌎✨

Our recent Professional Development adventure at the beautiful Grassy Waters Preserve was science learning at its finest! Led by Dr. Bryan Nichols, Dr. Melissa Antonelli, and Lauren Butcher of Grassy Waters Preserve, educators explored the preserve by canoe and on foot, collecting real-world data and immersing themselves in the powerful practice of science journaling.

Throughout the day, teachers engaged in hands-on activities using magnifying glasses, binoculars, and other tools to observe, document, and reflect—just like their students will.

Participants discovered how journaling can nurture literacy skills, spark curiosity, strengthen critical thinking, and connect multiple subject areas for a truly interdisciplinary experience. From laying the foundations of everyday science to embracing spontaneous moments of discovery, this immersive seminar equipped teachers with versatile strategies they can bring straight back to their classrooms.

All participants received journaling materials (colored pencils included! 🎨) and will take learning even further with a FREE classroom STEAM kit to use with their students.

📣 Ready to join us for an upcoming workshop and make a real impact in your classroom? Explore what’s next and register today by visiting our website!

https://labschools.fau.edu/center/