STEM School Visit
Last week I was fortunate enough to accompany several other Lee County Schools employees to Baltimore, Maryland to visit Woodlawn Middle School. Woodlawn is a STEM school - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. East Lee Middle is looking to become a STEM school next year.
STEM schools integrate math, science, and technology into the other curriculum areas. If we want our kids to be competitive in the global market, we must emphasize more of these areas. I’m excited to watch the future unfold! It’s wide open for all our kids.
One of the eye openers I encountered was that Lee County is a leader in technology. We are fortunate to have a lot of technology in our classrooms. Woodlawn was just now getting SmartBoards in their classrooms. West Lee has had SmartBoards for a few years. This is mainly because of the forward thinking of the previous principal Paige Murphy. He made sure that the teachers received the technology tools they needed. For this, we are thankful.
This forward thinking has caused a ripple effect. Even the teachers who weren’t around when we were first receiving the tools are now benefiting from the experience of the veteran teachers. It’s also helped me perform my job better.
I really gained a lot of great information and ideas. I love visiting other schools. I only wish we’d had more time there. I would have liked to have spent more time with the kids. I believe that’s how you find out the inner workings of the school by talking to the kids. I wanted to hear what they thought worked and what didn’t.
An interesting fact about Woodlawn, 5 years ago Woodlawn was the school that everyone ran from. Teachers didn’t want to teach there, students transferred to other schools, and gang violence was prevalent. Brian Scriven became principal and completely changed the climate at Woodlawn. What a visionary! He was one of the most positive administrators I have ever met. That’s what we need - more positive and forward thinking administrators.
Look out Lee County - I see wonderful things coming from all three middle schools!
Until next time ~ Danita
