In this inaugural episode, we explore how teachers are inspired to pursue an idea for their inquiry. With segments by Sunho Park (BSTR), Efrain Pontaza (BSTR), and Heidy Rodriguez (DSTR), we witness how teachers latch onto a problem of practice or integrate a previous passion into their teaching and then take steps to explore the question they’ve posed.

Independent Inquiry is produced by Christina Tucker and Sonia Rosen and supported by the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education’s Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR) Program. To learn more about ISTR, please visit https://www.gse.upenn.edu/academics/programs/independent-boarding-school-teaching-residency-teacher-education-masters. To see what our students are asked to do during the second year of the the Reflective Practice strand in our program, take a look at https://soniar25.wixsite.com/reflectivepractice.

We invite you to read more about the work you’ve heard about in this episode by exploring the portfolio websites of our featured fellows.

• Sunho Park: https://sunhowebsite.wixsite.com/myinquiry (password: Enjoy)
• Heidy Rodriguez: https://sites.google.com/gse.upenn.edu/heidyrodriguezinquiryproject

Our logo was designed by ISTR alumna Kayley McGonagle, whose other work as an artist and teacher can be found at https://www.kayleymcgonagle.com/. Our theme music is “Big Easy Horns,” by Origami Pigeon.