STEM School Chattanooga was named a 2017 World-Leading Learner on Tuesday and invited to join the Global Learning Network, a "community of educators from exemplary schools that develop, practice, and share innovative approaches to education that ensure their students are prepared for career and lifelong success."
In December, leaders from STEM School will head to Boston and meet school leaders from the U.S., Singapore, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea and Canada for the Global Learning Network’s 2017 Convening of World-Leading Learners: Rethinking Education for the 21st Century, co-hosted by America Achieves and the OECD.
“We’re thrilled to join the Global Learning Network and to be recognized by America Achieves and the OECD” said Dr. Tony Donen, principal of STEM School Chattanooga. “High schools need to look beyond worksheets and test prep, and start doing all they can to prepare students for their future career path – whatever that may be. I’m looking forward to learning how other schools are also preparing their students to be successful in a rapidly-changing world.”
“We are witnessing the most significant and fast-paced economic change in recent global history. We need to recognize the significant implications these changes have on the workforce and the knowledge and skills students will need for their future careers,” said Jon Schnur, executive chairman of America Achieves, which runs the Global Learning Network. “Schools need to change as the world is changing. This year’s cohort is made up of exemplary schools from around the world that are adapting to prepare their students to be successful in a fast-changing labor market. I’m looking forward to meeting the leaders of these schools at the Global Learning Network Convening in December.”
“Modern schools need to help all students achieve their highest potential, and to play active roles to shape societies and economies of future in a changing world. We look forward to the convening of world-leading learners to share the best practices between schools and explore new ways for schools to develop as learning organizations”, said Andreas Schleicher, director for Education and Skills and special advisor to the secretary-general of the OECD.
America Achieves’ Global Learning Network, in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, invited a cohort of 30 high schools from around the world to participate in the Global Learning Network’s 2017 Convening of World-Leading Learners: Rethinking Education for the 21st Century. In the United States, state departments of education and partner organizations nominated schools for this opportunity. Once nominated, schools were interviewed, and 17 schools were selected from seven states. Outside of the U.S., 13 schools from five countries were invited by the OECD. Each school was selected for their strong progress in at least one of the following categories:
Excellence - schools that exhibit high academic achievement;
Equity - schools that are reducing the achievement gap between racial and socioeconomic groups; or
Innovation - schools that are aligning classroom outcomes with local labor market skills that are crucial to success in the 21st century economy.