Teacher Development Grant 2026-2027 Project Summary

Maryam Mufti

University Prep Science and Math High School • Detroit, MI

Led by project coordinator Mrs. Maryam Mufti, this initiative bridges the gap between traditional professional development and the evolving needs of students, particularly those in under-resourced urban communities. The project establishes a cross-city Professional Learning Community (PLC) for science educators across Detroit, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Dearborn. Launching in Fall 2026, participating teachers will guide students through a shared “3P” (place-based, project-based, and problem-based) air quality unit rooted in environmental justice and public health. Instead of passively learning content, students will collect local air quality data, analyze it using specialized software (CODAP), and present evidence-based recommendations to the Michigan Clear the Air Coalition. Following curriculum refinements, participating educators will share the completed curriculum and implementation resources statewide by November 2027.

For educators, the embedded PLC structure focuses on integrating disciplinary literacy—teaching students how to read, write, reason, and communicate like scientists. Teachers will participate in biweekly Saturday check-ins featuring video-based coaching, lesson reflection, and student work analysis to refine their instructional practices.

To support science education reform across Michigan, the project will produce and make available a variety of open-source resources. These deliverables include a complete curriculum package with lesson plans and software tutorials, a PLC implementation guide to help other districts replicate this cross-city structure, a practitioner resource featuring anonymized teacher reflection journals, and recorded video examples of the final student presentations. Ultimately, the project seeks to strengthen teacher instructional confidence, student academic engagement, and science identity while creating a sustainable model for culturally responsive STEM education.

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