Head Magnet Middle School was one of 26 schools across the state this month that received the Tennessee STEM/STEAM School Designation for 2023 from the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network.
The honor recognizes schools for preparing students for postsecondary and future career success by committing to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) or STEAM (which also includes arts) learning for all students. Each school that received the designation completed a self-evaluation, participated in interviews and hosted a site visit as part of a rigorous application process.
Applicants were evaluated based on infrastructure, curriculum and instruction, professional development, achievement, and community and postsecondary partnerships.
“Students cannot be what they cannot see, and students cannot love what they do not experience,” said Jennifer Berry, MNPS’s director of STEAM and science. “Head Magnet Middle School’s STEAM designation exemplifies their dedication to reaching an individual student’s potential by ensuring students have opportunities to see, to do, and to connect with STEAM industry and business leaders for real-world learning and problem solving.
“Head’s STEM designation highlights their drive to ensure students receive experiences that create authentic learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. We celebrate and congratulate them on their success.”
Head received $35,000 to go toward promoting STEAM education at the school, Executive Principal Kenyae Reese said.
MNPS’s Carter-Lawrence Elementary School and three middle schools – Croft, Isaac Litton and Rose Park – previously received the STEM/STEAM designation. Across the state, 114 schools have now been recognized since the state started the program in 2018.
MNPS’s Rosebank Elementary and Stratford STEM Magnet Upper Campus (also known as Stratford High School) have been STEM-certified by Cognia, a national organization.