The STEM Academy 9 Dr. Billye Smith, Principal Julie Abram, Director - - PDF document

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The STEM Academy 9

• Dr. Billye Smith, Principal

Julie Abram, Director of Advanced Academics February 13, 2020

The STEM Academy 9‐‐Agenda

• Program Overview
• The STEM Core Curriculum
• The STEM Scholar Designation

– STEM Endorsement – Advanced Academic Courses – College Readiness Benchmarks: AP or Dual Credit – AP Capstone – Community Service – DISD Internship/Mentor Program

• STEM NaviGator
• STEM Coordinator

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STEM Academy Overview

Understanding that STEM literacy prepares students for careers in innovation and exploration, and for careers that are ever‐changing, the STEM Academy serves to:

• Foster and promote 21st Century Skills; Critical Thinking, Collaboration,

Communication, and Creativity (also known as the 4Cs, P21)

• Provide Project Based Learning and Problem Based Learning (PBL)
• Apply Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to real‐world challenges
• STEM students learn by doing, making, and experiencing ‐ field and research
• Experience Advanced and Accelerated math and science curriculum
• Provide ongoing STEM career exploration into units of study.

STEM Academy Overview

Middle School & Junior High

• Cohort Model of 110 students
• Inter‐disciplinary units with STEM focus
• Braniac Block for engineering, creativity and PBL exploration and learning
• Project Lead the Way Gateway
• STEM Career Exploration
• Advanced courses and accelerated math and science

High School

• STEM Scholar Designation emphasizing student choice and voice
• Multiple advanced and accelerated course options based on Endorsements
• Participation in CTE and Certification programs along with STEM Endorsement
• Phase‐out of cohort model
• Embedded STEM student support through NaviGATOR

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STEM Scholar Designation

The DISD STEM Scholar Designation is awarded to graduates who have demonstrated outstanding academic accomplishments within a STEM endorsement at Dickinson High School. This designation signifies exemplary work in seeking a STEM education and pursuing advanced college readiness opportunities readying students for rigorous collegiate experiences in STEM. In order to receive the DISD STEM Scholar Distinction upon graduation, students must meet each of the following criteria:

• Graduate with a STEM Endorsement alone or concurrently with another

endorsement.

• Class rank ≥ 25%
• Minimum of two (2) Pre‐AP/AP/or Dual Credit courses each year in each grade

level, 9‐12

STEM Scholar Designation

DISD STEM SCHOLARS MUST ALSO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THREE (3) OF ANY OF THE

FOLLOWING ACHIEVEMENTS;

✔Earn an AP Capstone Certificate or an AP Capstone Diploma (pending) ✔DISD Internship Program (pending) ✔100 hours of Community Service Hours ✔Pass three (3) or more AP Exams with a score of 3 or higher by the end of junior year; or ✔Pass four (4) or more college courses with a C or higher by the end of senior year.

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STEM Core Curriculum

• Minimum of two (2) Pre‐AP/AP/or Dual Credit courses each year in each grade

level, 9‐12

• In 9th grade, student may select:

✔ Pre‐AP Chemistry ✔ Pre‐AP/STEM English I ✔ Pre‐AP/STEM Geometry ✔ AP/STEM Human Geography

• Courses designated for current STEM students
• STEM integration with Pre‐AP/AP curriculum

🗺 STEM Endorsement

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🗺 College Readiness Standards: AP & Dual Credit

Students in the STEM Academy earning the STEM Scholar Designation must demonstrate college‐level coursework achievement. Students may earn this through the following: Advanced Placement Exams

• Pass three (3) or more AP Exams with a score of 3 or higher
• Dual Credit Coursework
• Pass four (4) or more college courses with a C or higher
• Or any combination earning the equivalent of 12 college hours

🗺 AP Capstone Program

• AP Capstone is a diploma program from the College Board. It is based on two

yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar & AP Research

• Helps students develop key skills that they will use over and over in college:

conducting research and communicating their results

• Allows students to pursue research that is student‐driven with room for

creativity and student input

• Allows students to earn college credit
• AP Seminar—offered 2022‐23
• AP Research—offered 2023‐24

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🗺 Community Service

STEM Scholar Designation requires students to obtain 100 hours of Community Service Hours prior to graduation. The STEM Academy believes community service and involvement: – Teaches compassion and understanding – Provides opportunity for students to leave their mark on their community – Is an avenue for students to explore areas of expressed interest – Is fun and rewarding! – (and it looks great on a college resume!) – More information provided in May 2020

🗺 DISD Internship/Mentorship

STEM Academy students will also have the option of completing a DISD Student Internship experience as part of their STEM Scholar Designation.

“High school internships are a win‐win for both employers and students,” said Robin D. Richards, chairman and CEO of Internships.com. “For students, work experience is the key to ensure they make a good career decision and build their professional network. By employing students, companies get exposure to talent early in their career journey and help support the well‐ being of the local community.” In fact, 70% of companies say that high school students who complete their programs are either “very likely” or “completely likely” to eventually land a college internship with their

• company. And 45 percent said that high school internships will “very likely” or “completely

likely” turn into a full‐time job at their company.

• Implement 2022‐23 school year

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STEM NaviGATOR

Optional for current STEM Academy Students. NaviGATOR classes for all students include:

• Character Lessons
• Career Exploration
• College Exploration
• PSAT/SAT Prep
• College Board‐‐Road Trip
• Guest Speakers

And for STEM Students, the NaviGATOR time could also include:

• STEM Scholar Designation communication
• Possible Field Trips
• STEM‐specific career & college exploration