STEM TRAINING: The Taylor School District takes another step into the future

Any idea what STEM is?

The Taylor School District continues to improve in leaps and bounds, in part thanks to new initiatives that are being created and implemented while you are reading this post.

Yesterday, we posted a story about the first day of "college" for current Truman and Kennedy high school students taking part in the all-new TSD-Wayne County Community College District partnership.

Today, we take note of training that started this week focusing on STEM. It started at the Sixth Grade Academy. It should be noted that Taylor is the first school district in Michigan to bring in this particular STEM plan to its students. This in part will set the stage for the possibility of a full STEM academy in the district in the future.

The STEM Academy is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving STEM literacy for all students. It is a next-generation high impact academic model. Practices, strategies and programming are built on a foundation of national best practices, designed to improve under-represented minority and low-income student growth, close achievement gaps, decrease drop out rates, and increase graduation rates.

The program also focuses on improving teacher and principal effectiveness. It's a flexible program that targets all schools and can be used for all students.

According to the educational experts. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics -- but it really stands for much more. It is a program that seeks to aid 100 percent of the students and staff, and is interconnected (for instance, because design is taught in art does not make it a STEM lesson).

The mission of the program ultimately will be to prepare K-12 students to be competent and capable in a technology-driven world through comprehensive student assessments including traditional tests, project-based learning presentations and portfolios.

According to Asst. Supt. Teresa Winnie, Taylor is incorporating the program into its current core curriculum, utilizing the projects that enhance our curriculum and give students the first piece of the STEM overall plan.

To learn more about STEM, click here.