A total of six schools will serve as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) mentors to other schools in the state.
Known as STEM Lighthouse Schools, the six were recently awarded $20,000 grants each that will promote and develop STEM education, including technical assistance and advice for other elementary, middle and high schools that are creating their own STEM environments.
The awardees are: East Farms Elementary (East Valley School District, Spokane County); Martin Sortun Elementary (Kent School District); Saghalie Middle School (Federal Way); Spokane Valley Tech (Central Valley, Spokane County); Vancouver iTech Prep (Vancouver); and Weyerhaeuser Elementary (Eatonville).
“It’s a great honor to be chosen as a lighthouse school,” said Randy Dorn, state superintendent. “It makes those schools leaders in STEM education. Other schools will look to the six for guidance on how successfully teach STEM.”
STEM Lighthouse schools originated in 2010 with the Legislature’s passage of House Bill 2621. The bill directs the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to designate lighthouse schools that will serve as resources and examples of how to combine small, highly personalized learning communities; an interdisciplinary curriculum with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics delivered through a project-based instructional approach; and active partnerships with businesses and the local community to connect learning beyond the classroom.
