This article appeared as "A Good Talk” in the Summer 2026 issue of Independent School.
The room was quiet as a lecture on gender bias in medical care began. The topic was serious—grounded in research, data, and ethical questions—but what made the moment remarkable was the speaker: Jackson, a sixth grader at Catlin Gabel School (OR).
This past March, Jackson presented during the middle school’s TED Talks on medical ethics, a middle school showcase where students share original research on issues ranging from access to care to inequities in treatment. Like the powerful TED Talks where experts and innovators share “ideas worth spreading,” each five- to 10-minute talk makes a clear argument, supports it with evidence, and leaves the audience with a next step.
Jackson’s talk was the result of a cross-curricular collaboration that has evolved into a middle school capstone experience, integrating science, humanities, research, and ethical reasoning. Started in 2023, the program brings together English teacher Sabrina Sterrett-Demski, science teacher Joshua Melby, and librarian Dan Woytek.
“I was preparing a unit on social inequities in medicine for my Human Body class,” Melby recalls. “At the same time, Sabrina and Dan were working on research projects. We realized we were asking students to do similar work in different classes, and that’s when we thought, let’s combine them.” Students began shaping their ideas in science class, where they received peer feedback, before delivering their final talks in English class.
Over the next three years, the educators refined the project through school-funded summer grants that supported collaboration and curriculum design. They also shared the model at the Northwest Association of Independent Schools’ conference in October 2025.
While the theme of social inequities in medicine remains constant, each teacher brings distinct learning goals to the project. In science, Melby emphasizes analyzing data, evaluating evidence, and constructing arguments. “I want students to see that science isn’t always neutral,” he says. “The choices scientists make—about what to study or not—have real-world implications.”
In English, Sterrett-Demski focuses on argumentation, critical thinking, and audience awareness. The TED format, she notes, strikes a balance between accessibility and rigor, challenging students to communicate complex ideas clearly. In the library, Woytek guides students in ethical research practices—learning how to evaluate sources, navigate databases, and understand the appropriate use of AI tools. “We talk a lot about scholarly disposition,” he says, “and what it means to use information responsibly.”
The project unfolds over the course of the school year: topic selection, research, drafting, and rehearsal, with students continually drawing connections across disciplines. By the time they step onto the stage, they are not just presenting information—they are practicing civic thinking.
Jackson, whose talk focused on medical accessibility, captured the impact: “I’m just a kid,” he said after his talk. “I can’t make these things happen right now. But if this comes up on the Oregon ballot someday, I’ll be informed enough to make a good decision.”
Photo: Students present original research during the middle school’s TED Talks forum on medical ethics, where students tackle issues like bias, access, and equity in healthcare.
Photo credit: Catlin Gabel School
What’s happening at your school? Share your story with us at ismag@nais.org.