Chattanooga, Tennessee- On May 10, 2024, The Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) announced the Tennessee STEM School Designation for 2024. This honor recognizes schools across the state for preparing students for postsecondary and future career success by committing to promote STEM/STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) learning for all students.
Since the designation program launched in 2018, 14 Hamilton County Schools have earned the Tennessee STEM/STEAM Designation, which provides a roadmap for schools to successfully implement a STEM/STEAM education plan at the local level.
Harrison Bay Future Ready Center has received the Tennessee STEM School Designation for 2024. This is the first time Harrison Bay Future Ready Center has received this award; the designation will last for five years.
Once schools have reached five years of implementing and sustaining STEM/STEAM education through the designation process, schools can complete a redesignation cycle. Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy and STEM School Chattanooga have both successfully achieved the designation for a second time.
“STEM/STEAM learning equips students with the knowledge and abilities to be successful in today's workforce and beyond. It's about more than just technical skills; it's about nurturing critical thinkers, innovators, and problem-solvers who can shape the future,” said Jessica Holloway, innovation coach who leads the HCS STEM network. “Schools earning designation and redesignation are models of innovative education that provide interdisciplinary, real-world learning experiences that promote the content, skills, and habits needed to be successful as they move forward in their educational journey.”
Each school that received the Tennessee STEM/STEAM School Designation underwent a rigorous application process, including completion of a self-evaluation, participation in interviews, and hosting site visits. Schools could either apply for a STEM or STEAM Designation through the designation rubric, which includes five focus areas: infrastructure, curriculum and instruction, professional development, achievement, and community and postsecondary partnerships.
The current 14 STEM/STEAM Designation, include: STEM School Chattanooga, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, Harrison Elementary, Normal Park Museum Magnet, Hixson Middle School, Red Bank High School, Red Bank Elementary, Brown Academy, Battle Academy, Westview Elementary, Rivermont Elementary, Lookout Valley Elementary, East Lake Academy, and Harrison Bay Future Ready Center.
"As the world becomes more complex and the workforce demands durable skills, schools must help students develop these abilities. STEM designation requires rethinking traditional structures to engage students in deeper learning experiences. I encourage every school to strive for STEM designation, as it transforms the school experience by integrating continuous improvement into the culture," said Dr. Tony Donen, Executive Principal of Workforce Development and College Schools, who founded STEM School Chattanooga, a national model for STEM education.
STEM/STEAM education is an interdisciplinary curriculum in which activities in one class complement those in other classes. Additionally, it offers teaching and learning opportunities focused on inquiry, technology, and project-based learning activities and lessons connected to the real world. All K-12 schools serving students in Tennessee are eligible to receive the designation.