Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 7220 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 21 Valdosta Middle School: Increasing STEM Interest and Knowledge Creating an environment that excites students about increasing their knowledge in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is the vision of the Valdosta Middle School (VMS) STEM Academy. In August, VMS teachers saw the results of several years of planning come to realization with the opening of the school’s STEM Academy. With an enrollment of 102 sixth-graders, students receive STEM-related instruction within every content area (English, social studies, and language arts) in addition to an accelerated curriculum in math and science. When the students leave VMS as eighth-graders, they will have earned one high school credit in math and one credit in science. The VMS STEM Academy is using curriculum developed by Project Lead the Way (PLTW), the nation’s leading provider of K-12 STEM programs. Under the PLTW curriculum, students engage in solving problems related to real-world challenges. The curriculum includes foundational units focused on design and modeling and automation and robotics, as well as specialized classes in space exploration, energy and the environment, computer science, health care, architecture, and technology. “VMS and Valdosta City Schools district staff researched, participated in STEM conferences, visited schools across the state, and dreamed big over the past three years to develop ideas that have now been brought to fruition with the generous support of our community,” said VMS Principal Beth DeLoach. “The STEM Academy provides one-on-one technology for students in each STEM class, access to Google Classroom, interdisciplinary defined STEM curriculum, and PLTW curricula and instructional supplies.” Having community support is an important part of the STEM Academy’s continued success. VMS is working toward STEM certification, which is administered by the Georgia Department of Education and takes at least three school years to complete. The certification process requires schools to focus not only on STEM curricular opportunities but also on teacher professional learning, lab facilities, and community partnerships. With a generous financial donation from the Harley Langdale Jr. Foundation, VMS was able to retrofit a large classroom into a specially designed STEM lab. “The Langdale gift began with a belief in the Valdosta Middle School STEM Academy’s vision to provide students with a rigorous, relevant curriculum of academic study that will advance their knowledge in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math,” said DeLoach, “thus empowering them to become college and career-ready and prepared to work in the 21st century.” DeLoach said the STEM Academy has also received funding from CJB Industries, the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA), PLTW, the Valdosta City Schools Foundation, and parent donors. The response from students, parents, and the community has been positive, and VMS exceeded its applicant goal for the first year. “VMS STEM Academy teachers have worked hard to plan interdisciplinary instructional opportunities to support STEM practices, skills, and awareness,” said Dr. Alex Alvarez, director of STEM and Curriculum with Valdosta City Schools. “We plan to build community partnerships and STEM awareness through our students’ and teachers’ efforts while being a part of the STEM Academy. I Iytavia Powell, Valdosta Middle School STEM Academy student, received a hands-on science lesson at Valdosta State University’s new STEAM Center. The STEAM Center was designed to increase collaborations between university faculty and K-12 teachers throughout South Georgia. B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 21