The state of Tennessee is doubling down on its commitment to future-ready education with an announcement from the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN). According to a recent release, 13 more schools have clinched the coveted Tennessee STEM/STEAM School Designation for 2024, a marker of excellency in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education.
Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education, highlighted the designations as "testaments to the state’s commitment to educational excellence and preparing students for their futures." She applauded the designated schools for pushing the envelope to ensure that Tennessee's youngsters are adequately primed for the realities of the modern job market. This initiative, since its inception in 2018, has now recognized a total of 127 schools.
Gaining the STEM/STEAM designation is no small feat; the process entails a detailed application, thorough self-evaluation, and an interview, topped off with a site visit to ensure the school's infrastructure and curriculum stand up to state standards. Schools angle for the designation based on critical focus areas ranging from teaching infrastructure, curriculum robustness, professional development, student achievement, to community and postsecondary linkages.
The interdisciplinary approach of STEM/STEAM translates to a more aligned curriculum, where what's learned in one classroom complements the lessons in another. Teaching methods prioritize inquiry, technology usage, and project-based learning that tie directly to real-world applications. This hands-on, minds-on strategy aims to more thoroughly prepare students of K-12 schools across Tennessee for the challenges they'll inevitably face on the frontline of tomorrow's workforce.
