The Indiana Department of Education announced last week that Barker Middle School is among the most recent schools in Indiana to be awarded certification in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). There are now 32 such schools throughout the state of Indiana, with two of those, Lake Hills Elementary and now Barker, in the Michigan City Area Schools district. Lake Hills received its certification in 2015.
According to the Indiana Department of Education, schools are chosen to receive certification based on their commitment to teaching the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math throughout the entire school. STEM Certified Schools exemplify a highly non-traditional approach to education, employing inquiry, project based learning, community engagement, entrepreneurship, student-centered classrooms, integration into humanities and related arts, and out-of-school STEM activities. STEM Certified Schools accomplish this while following educational policies set by the state and excelling under the system of accountability.
“We are very proud of the recognition that Barker has received from the Indiana Department of Education,” said Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, MCAS Superintendent. “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 rigorous curriculum that is getting kids and families excited about math and science.”
Earlier this school year, Barker was honored as a “School of Promising Practice” by the Indiana Department of Education for its Community STEM Challenges. Barker’s program was shared with schools across the state as a model of community involvement.
"It has been a joy to witness rockets launching, eggs dropping, slingshots propelling objects, and paper airplanes taking flight as Barker students engage businesses, professional engineers, community groups, senior citizens, elementary students, and others in these projects,” said Eason-Watkins. “All involved experience the fun of hands-on science and engineering together.”
Barker’s final Community STEM Challenge for the school year will take place on Friday, May 5, as students challenge community teams to a water-bottle rocket launch at Ames Field. The event begins at 11:30am and will be carried live on WEFM radio, 95.9 FM.
For more information about Indiana-certified STEM schools: http://www.doe.in.gov/news/indiana-increases-number-stem-certified-schools