Record-breaking year for Ohio STEM school designation

“This is a day of celebration.” David Burns, Director of Battelle STEM Innovation Networks.

Today, the Ohio STEM Committee met to review applications for state designation as an Ohio STEM school. This panel of policymakers, agency directors, and business leaders considered 30 applications from schools. Designation recognizes a school’s design as an effective place for STEM learning and invites the school into our network.

Thirty applications marks more than triple the number last year and a record for Ohio. This groundswell of interest in STEM practices follows a year of major advances for STEM in the state including a statewide campaign on solutions to the opioid crisis, a state law change allowing elementary schools to be recognized for STEM, and local stories of change in schools across the state.

Our network started in 2008 with five schools. These newest schools mean we’ve now grown more than nine-fold to 47 different schools across the state. Our model brings local businesses, colleges and educator together to create schools that bring STEM to life in a unique way in each community.

Meet the newest members of the Ohio STEM Learning Network:

  1. Herbert Mills Elementary
  2. Mater Dei Academy
  3. Northwestern Elementary School
  4. Springmill STEM Elementary
  5. St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Avon)
  6. St. Sebastian Parish School
  7. Summit STEM Elementary
  8. Willoughby Eastlake School of Innovation
  9. St. Ambrose School*
  10. Hull Prairie Intermediate School*
  11. Canal Winchester Middle School*
  12. Ranger High Tech Academy*

* These schools are designated with a requirement to host a site visit when the proposed programs are fully implemented.

The Ohio STEM Learning Network is proud to advise the STEM Committee each year. We also provide coaching to potential designees. The network is managed by Battelle, an independent, nonprofit research institute based in Columbus, Ohio.

We’ll close with the words State Superintendent Paolo DeMaria said to open the meeting: “(Visiting Ohio STEM schools) has constantly reinforced my confidence, belief, and celebration of STEM programming across the State.”

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