Pictured, second from left, BB Principal Prisavia Croft
Cleveland City Schools announces that both Blythe-Bower Elementary School and Cleveland Middle School have received Tennessee Department of Education STEM School Designation. Both schools were recognized in Nashville today at the Tennessee STEM Innovation Summit.
This designation was developed with the guidance of the Tennessee Department of Education and the STEM Leadership Council to identify and recognize schools in their commitment to teaching STEM and/or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and integrating strategies that ultimately prepare students for post-secondary college and career success in the 21st century. Additionally, each school will receive $30,000 from the Tennessee Department of Education for being STEM Designated.
Officials said, "STEM and/or STEAM education is a unique approach to teaching and learning that fosters creativity and innovative thinking in all students. STEM and/or STEAM is focused on building
critical and creative thinking and analysis skills by addressing how students view and experience the world around them. Strong STEM and/or STEAM teaching and learning opportunities rest on inquiry, technology and project-based learning activities and lessons that are tied to the real world. STEM and/or STEAM education is a diverse, interdisciplinary curriculum in which activities in one class complement those in other classes.
"Each school awarded the Tennessee STEM School Designation is evaluated through a rigorous
application process. Schools were asked to complete a self-evaluation, participate in interviews and host site visits with the Tennessee STEM Designation review team. The designation rubric included five focus areas: infrastructure, curriculum and instruction, professional development, achievement and community and post-secondary partnerships."
Dr. Russell Dyer shared this about Tuesday’s announcement, “We are so proud of the innovative
and creative work taking place at both Blythe-Bower and Cleveland Middle. Each school is committed to providing their students with the best in STEM education and they both deserve to receive this special honor from the Tennessee Department of Education. Congratulations to both schools on a job well done.”
Pictured, second from left, Dr. Jeff Elliott; and second from right, CMS Principal Nat Akiona