Science education can be empowering and liberating for Black children, Latinx children, Indigenous children, and all children of color.
Partner with us to learn how !
Why Science?
Focusing on Science is a Disruptive Act
Systemically, children of color are least likely to experience quality, standards-aligned science instruction in their classrooms than their white counterparts. Additionally, the science learning environments lack cultural relevance to students’ lived experiences. Choosing to invest in their teachers and the curriculum they use daily disrupts the status quo and is a start to eliminating the barriers that exist for children within science education.
Science Teaching & Learning Are Often Overlooked
Mathematics and English Language Arts have been foregrounded as key content areas that need attention in U.S. schools and rightly so. When investing time and resources in these two areas, science is often overlooked or omitted. Consequently, students are missing the opportunity to experience and gain the skills offered in a science/engineering learning space.
Impactful and empowering science learning environments support students in developing a host of skills that are meaningful for their overall success. Investing in science learning only enhances what students are able to do and the confidence they bring with them to their math and ELA learning.
The Learning is Transferable
The ERI Consulting approach presents learning to educators in transferable ways. Once participants learn how the best practices and ideologies apply in a science learning space, most can be transferred to also improve teaching and learning within a math and/or ELA context.
Our Offerings
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Teaching & Learning Enhancement
We partner with organizations to lead educators through the ERI professional learning cycle, which utilizes the practice-based teacher education philosophy to support learning around key problems of practice within science teaching--NGSS alignment, three-dimensional assessments, explanation and argumentation, eliciting & interpreting students’ ideas, etc. This offering allows for a great deal of flexibility and collaboration based on the organization’s needs and wants.
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Instructional Resource Development
We partner with organizations to support the development of curriculum materials. These materials include student-facing resources to enhance their formal and/or informal science learning experiences. We also design educative resources to support pre-service and in-service teachers as they grapple with common problems of practice within science teaching. The teacher-facing resources can be utilized to inform professional learning, support data analysis, encourage collaboration, guide PLCs, enhance field experiences, etc.
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Curriculum Review Process Guidance & Facilitation
We partner with organizations to lead educators through the entire curriculum review process or the components of the process that require the most support. We facilitate the development of a curriculum leadership team and work closely with the team to gather and analyze data, submit a Request for Proposals, review potential resources, pilot those resources, and engage in the formalities of adoption for successful implementation.
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Diversity, Inclusion, Justice, & Equity Training
We partner with organizations to facilitate learning in the areas of diversity, inclusion, justice, and equity within the field of education. We collaborate with the organization to determine areas of need and lead educators through a series of workshops designed to encourage personal reflection, collaboration, and shifts in practice. We maintain a student-centered perspective, grounding all of our work with educators around what is most equitable for students. Our workshops are rooted in educational research, utilizing a socio-historical perspective to contextualize inequity and injustice in the U.S.
The Black Radical Imagination
Our work stems from Robin D.G. Kelley's (2002) conceptualization of the Black Radical Imagination, where he articulates the liberatory power found in one's ability to dream of new worlds that are radically different than the one they've inherited. He argues that imagination is integral for change--any movement toward freedom must originate in the mind; it must begin in the imagination. For generations, Black leaders, visionaries, and activists have cultivated their dreams for a radically different future, which have formed the basis for movements like the abolition of slavery, the Great Migration, the Black feminist movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Being inspired by Kelley's articulation, ERI Consulting serves from the stance that the future of our education system must not be limited by what we can currently see and what has already been done. We must dare to dream, to IMAGINE an education system that truly empowers and liberates children in ways that are antithetical to the past. We are committed to reimagining structures and practices that dominate U.S. science classrooms and do not serve all children, while also imagining innovative ways to ensure science learning spaces are a place of belonging for children of color.
Our Philosophy
Coach the Coach
We value the leadership and influence of school and district leaders. Additionally, we find exponential value in teacher-leaders and the impact they are able to have on their colleagues and peers. ERI Consulting prioritizes a development model where we "coach the coach." We spend intimate time investing in teacher-leaders and supporting them in leading within their space of influence. Currently, we typically do not train your entire staff. We invest in the growth of a select group of district leaders, building leaders, and teacher-leaders, empowering them to apply their learnings in professional learning, staff meetings, PLCs, etc.
Long-term Partnerships
Meaningful and sustainable change requires consistency. Our goal is to establish long-term partnerships with those we work with to ensure that substantial movement toward your goals is realized. We typically organize our partnerships in three terms--Fall Term (September-December), Winter Term (January-May), and Summer Term (June-August). Depending on your areas of growth, we collaborate on the number of terms needed to meet your goals. We look forward to partnering with you!
Meet Our Founder & CEO
Dr. Amber C. Davis is an unrelenting advocate for children and is an educational leader committed to eliminating the barriers incited by racial inequities perpetuated in schools. She has been a lover of all things science and engineering for as long as she can remember. Throughout her childhood she participated in LEGO First competitions, was a faithful participant in the annual school science fair, and sought to take as many AP science classes as possible. Her love of science is perfectly matched with her love of creativity and artistic expression.
She is a proud alumna of the Illustrious Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. She received her Masters in Science Education from New York University, where she also received her teaching certification. Her passion for improving the educational landscape for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and all children of color led her to pursue and earn a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Studies from University of Michigan, specializing in Science Education and Teaching & Teacher Education.
She has spent her career teaching high school science in the Bronx, New York, teaching preservice teachers at University of Michigan and Oakland University, designing curriculum resources for in-service and pre-service teachers with TeachingWorks Resource Library, and serving as a district administrator for Birmingham Public Schools in Beverly Hills, Michigan. She is well-versed in curriculum development, professional learning facilitation, and inspiring educators to examine and improve their practice.
Amber currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Ryan, and their baby boy, Wesley Austin. You can find Amber travelling, spending time with family, working out, shopping, and enjoying a delicious meal.
