Jefferson Elementary showcases culturally responsive science program, Wipro partnership and student awards

Jefferson Elementary School leaders presented the board with an overview of the school’s culturally responsive sustaining education (CRSE) approach to science instruction, detailing classroom curriculum, community partnerships and professional development tied to the Wipro Science Education Fellowship.

The presentation, led by Principal Kimberly Nieves and supported by teachers and district partners, explained how Jefferson uses Engineering is Elementary units, hands‑on investigations and a Tiered vocabulary approach to meet revised New York State science standards. The presentation noted that students participated in engineering projects, read-alouds tied to global contexts, and scaffolded vocabulary work to prepare for more complex assessments.

Why it matters: Board members and staff said the CRSE science work connects literacy and science, supports multilingual learners and exposes students to engineering and computer science concepts starting in kindergarten. Jefferson staff described professional…