Representatives of the Indiana Department of Education presented a plaque to Barker Middle School during the Michigan City Area Schools Board Meeting on November 28, in recognition of the school's designation as an Indiana STEM-Certified school.
Schools are selected for IDOE certification based on their commitment to incorporating the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math in all curricular areas. As part of the certification process, schools must submit extensive documentation and evidence of their work, and undergo a rigorous review process that includes site visits. Certified schools employ innovative techniques such as inquiry and project-based learning, and integrate STEM into the humanities and related arts.
"We are thrilled that Barker has received this designation," said MCAS Superintendent Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins. "The staff at Barker has integrated the academic aspects of STEM with a dynamic community engagement component that is a model for our state. I commend Barker's teachers and staff for the high standards they have set to ensure our students are exposed to a challenging curriculum that is getting kids and families excited about math and science."
MCAS now has two state-certified STEM schools, Lake Hills Elementary and Barker Middle School, which are among only 32 schools in Indiana that have earned this distinction. "We are committed to building our STEM programs, K-12, to help prepare our students for careers in demand by industries across our region," said Eason-Watkins.