DESPITE CALLS TO INCORPORATE AUTHENTIC, CONTEXTUALIZED INSTRUCTION IN SCIENCE, THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY-LEVEL PROBLEMS TO PROVIDE THIS FRAMEWORK IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED. THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL OF ADVISORS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY'S REPORT NOTES ONE OF THE PRIMARY ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES TODAY IS "MANAGING NEW PESTS, PATHOGENS, AND INVASIVE PLANTS." TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE, WE NEED INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, PUBLIC COMMITMENT, AND NEW SCIENTISTS IN THIS FIELD. WE WILL USE INVASIVE PLANTS AS THE CONTEXT FOR TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON INTEGRATING AUTHENTIC SCIENCE LESSONS BASED ON CITIZEN SCIENCE PARTICIPATION INTO THEIR CURRICULA. TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH AUTHENTIC SCIENCE EXPERIENCES INCREASES THEIR MOTIVATION TO LEARN AND INTRODUCES THEM TO NEW COLLEGE MAJORS AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. PROVIDING TEACHERS TRAINING IN BOTH CONTENT AND TEACHING METHODS WILL HELP DEVELOP THE WORKFORCE NEEDED TO TACKLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS. TEACHERS FACE BARRIERS IN IMPLEMENTING LESSONS FROM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BASED ON STANDARDIZED TESTING AND LOCAL CURRICULAR CONSTRAINTS, AMONG OTHERS. OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WILL INVOLVE TEACHERS IN CURRICULUM CO-DESIGN BASED ON THEIR EXISTING LESSONS, ADDRESS TEACHERS' IMPLEMENTATION BARRIERS, PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH PEER MENTORING WITHIN THEIR HOME DISTRICTS, AND INCREASE TEACHER INVASIVE PLANT ECOLOGY KNOWLEDGE. TEACHERS WILL WORK WITH SCIENTISTS AND EDUCATION RESEARCHERS TO CO-CREATE CURRICULA WITH AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES. WORKING WITH A TEACHER FROM THEIR OWN DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE PEER MENTORING THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES WILL BE ASSESSED IN CLASSROOMS USING PRE- AND POST-TESTS. STUDENTS INTRODUCED TO THE AUTHENTIC CITIZEN SCIENCE PARTICIPATION WILL INCREASE THEIR INVASIVE PLANT KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR IDENTITIES AS SCIENTISTS, PROVIDING FURTHER MOTIVATION FOR SCIENTIFIC CAREER PURSUIT.