After four schools earned District STEM Certification from Carroll County Schools this spring, all of the district’s schools now hold the distinction.
Mount Zion Elementary School, Mount Zion Middle School, Sharp Creek Elementary School and Villa Rica Middle School were certified after successfully integrating 21st-century learning and strategies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as a part of instructional design.
“After creating our own district STEM certification process in 2018, we have been on a journey for all of our campuses to get this point,” Superintendent Scott Cowart said. “During the process of getting all schools district STEM certified, I’m very pleased to say that most of our schools have also achieved certification from the National Institute of STEM Education.”
NISE certification is an advanced STEM certification held by only 2 percent of schools in the nation – including 17 Carroll County Schools campuses.
Carroll County School System is a leader in STEM education, which teaches students to be critical thinkers and have a growth mindset. By using innovation and creativity through hands-on, real-world experiences, Carroll County students are preparing to be future-focused.
“I commend the dedication of our passionate teachers, students, families, and the invaluable support from our District STEM leaders,” Villa Rica Middle School Principal Samantha Green said. “Together, their efforts have propelled us forward, making our journey towards STEM excellence possible.”
Sharp Creek School Principal David Jaye similarly credited his faculty and staff. “This accomplishment is an absolute testament to the hard work of our teachers and support professionals,” he said. “They have worked relentlessly to positively change lives this year, and I could not be more proud of what this team of premier educators has been able to accomplish.”
Mt. Zion Middle School Principal David Rooks said STEM equips students for future challenges. “We are incredibly honored to receive District STEM Certification,” he said. “The recognition is a result of the hard work of our teachers to provide premier learning opportunities for our students to ensure they are equipped to take on the challenges they will face as they continue through middle school, transition to high school, and after graduation.”
Mt. Zion Elementary School Principal Melissa Dearman credited her faculty. “Our teachers have worked extremely hard this year to get our STEM certification,” she said. “They would take every challenge I presented to them and not only do it, but make it better. I am so proud to be a part of this cluster, school, and team.”
Carroll County is one of only a handful of school districts in the state that certifies schools who have successfully integrated STEM concepts into their curriculum and culture.
“We have devoted much time and energy into crafting a curriculum that emphasizes future-focused thinking, but it really goes beyond that into a culture of asking questions,” Cowart said. “We encourage our faculty and staff to have a growth mindset, pursue innovation and never stop learning. STEM impacts everything we do.”
Rooks said it all goes back to changing the lives of students. “Through implementing STEM concepts and strategies, our students have become more engaged and empowered throughout the learning process. We cannot wait to see the continued positive impact of STEM on our campus and how it elevates our students’ performance.”
