Abstract for: Systems Thinking for Education Equity Partnership (STEEP): Building a Community of Practice of K-12 Educators in St. Louis, MO

In this presentation, we describe the Systems Thinking for Education Equity Partnership (STEEP) - a collaboration between four regional organizations to build a community of practice of K-12 educators addressing (and engaging their students in addressing) social justice issues in their classrooms, schools, and communities. The presentation is organized as follows: The background describes the motivation and urgency for this work in St. Louis, MO, followed by an overview of the structure and activities of STEEP. We then highlight case studies of K-12 educators who are implementing systems thinking tools in their classrooms as a result of their participation in STEEP, and share opportunities for the community of practice moving forward. We close with a discussion of ongoing questions and challenges, followed by recommendations for the field of system dynamics.