Washington STEM Academy successfully obtained its STEM School Certification from the Indiana Department of Education recently.
According to an email from Bill Reed, secondary math specialist, IDOE, to Principal Tom Ray, “After reviewing your STEM School Certification Application, subsequent site visitation verifying the information contained in your application, the Indiana Department of Education has determined that you do qualify as a STEM Certified School under the guidelines that have been established. This certification will be good for five years when you will have to reapply to continue to be recognized as a STEM Certified School in Indiana.”
An awards ceremony will take place this fall. More information will be sent to Ray as the school year begins.
Ray said, “This is great for Kosciusko County. This is a testimony regarding how good the schools are here in our community. If parents are looking for a great place for their children to receive an education, they don’t have to look any further than here in their home county. This is terrific for our local businesses and industries as they are trying to attract and retain talent. What a great message and proof the local human resources departments have to convince people to move to the Kosciusko area to live, work and play.”
In a Friday memorandum from Jeremy Eltz, science specialist with the IDOE, he wrote, “The Indiana Department of Education is excited to announce the very first cohort of STEM Certified Schools. These schools are models for Indiana in their commitment to teaching the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math, ultimately preparing students for success in the 21st century.”
The memorandum also says that this first cohort of STEM Certified Schools “exemplifies a highly non-traditional approach to education by employing a great deal of inquiry, project-based learning, community engagement, entrepreneurship, student-centered classrooms and out-of-school STEM activities. STEM Certified Schools have been able to accomplish this feat while following educational policies set by the state and excelling under the system of accountability.”
The first cohort of schools went through a “rigorous application and review process” to receive the award, according to the memorandum.
Along with Washington from Warsaw Community Schools, there were eight other schools that achieved full STEM certification, but Washington was the only one from Kosciusko County. Six other schools are being recognized for their commitment to STEM as “Approaching STEM School Certification” and will seek full STEM Certification in the fall.
(Story By The Times Union)
