Ashland City Elementary School was one of 22 schools awarded the Tennessee STEM School Designation for 2020.
ACES Principal Dr. Melinda Broyles made the announcement Monday, May 4 to her staff as they gathered for a special faculty meeting.
This honor was developed with the guidance of the Tennessee Department of Education and the STEM Leadership Council to identify and recognize schools in their commitment to teaching STEM and/or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and integrating strategies that ultimately prepare students for post-secondary college and career success in the 21st century.
The Tennessee STEM School Designation also provides a “roadmap” for schools to successfully implement a STEM and/or STEAM education plan at the local level.
Schools that receive the Tennessee STEM School Designation serve as models from which other schools may visit and learn. All K–12 schools serving students in Tennessee are eligible.
Each school that was awarded the Tennessee STEM School Designation was evaluated through a rigorous application process. Schools were asked to complete a self-evaluation, participate in interviews, and host site visits with the Tennessee STEM Designation review team.
In addition, ACES will receive $10,000 to be used toward STEM education.
The designation rubric included five focus areas: infrastructure, curriculum and instruction, professional development, achievement, and community and post-secondary partnerships.
As a part of the process, schools were required to submit a plan of action for implementing and sustaining STEM and/or STEAM education for the next five years. From this process, a total of 22 schools received the Tennessee STEM School Designation this year.
To date, 48 schools in Tennessee have earned this designation.