At HES, our STEM leadership team includes our  principal, STEM Specialist, teacher representatives from each level,the Media, Instructional, and Curriclum specialists, PTO representatives, a middle and high school representative, Dr. Betty Long and Mrs. Slate (Appalachian State University), Mr. English (Blue Ridge Community College), Mrs. Campbell (business partner), and Mr. Rockley and Dr. Steingardt (retired engineers and community partners).  We also have a student STEM team which meets and gives their perspective on the plan.  One representative from that group meets with the larger team. Together, we have created a flexible multi-year plan which defines student goals and guides our instruction. Our teams meet monthly to discuss, review, and evaluate our plan

This STEM plan is also embedded in our School Improvement Plan.  The STEM plan is discussed monthly at School Improvement Team meeting.  This helps us to align our STEM goals and instruction with county goals as well as the NCDPI’s STEM attributes. The impact of this can be evidenced by improved student learning.  Data collection to monitor student learning is an ongoing process at HES.  With these actions, our plan is to increase student engagement in STEM activities, reduce achievement gaps in STEM subjects, increase student participation in STEM education and careers, increase participation in STEM activities, both in and out of HES, and improve our teachers’ skills to support STEM activities throughout the curriculum.

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K-2nd grade:

Students will have a clear understanding of STEM content, skills, and practices, and they will be exposed to inquiry-based, problem-based, and project-based learning.

3rd grade:

Students will focus on demonstrating an understanding of how to connect science, technology, engineering and mathematics content, practices or processes while engaging in inquiry-based, problem-based, and project-based learning activities. By the end of third grade, students will be able to integrate STEM content, practices and processes to other disciplines when asking questions, solving problems, or meeting challenges. Students should also begin to apply the STEM Standards of Practice that will engage them in scientific process, North Carolina Standards for Students, engineering design processes, and mathematics content and practices.

4th grade:

Students will be able to: design projects that are innovative and creative, analyze complex issues, solve complex problems and/or challenges, and independently apply STEM Standards of Practice into STEM activities. Students role play STEM professionals while engaged in STEM teams, incorporate engineering design process, science practices and Standards for Mathematical Practices into STEM activities and logical reasoning when addressing or solving STEM related issues, problems, and/or challenges

5th grade:

Students will master grade level science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) content, practices, and processes, integrate STEM contents with other disciplines, answer complex questions, investigate global issues, solve real world problems, and meet real world challenges while engaging in meaningful, purposeful, and relevant hands-on inquiry-based, problem-based and/or project-based learning experiences.