What’s Right With Our Schools: Houston County Elementary Schools awarded STEM certification

HOUSTON COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Georgia Department of Education Awarded two middle Georgia schools STEM certification.

Teachers and students at Northside and Eagle Springs Elementary Schools in Houston County say they are creating positive 21st century habits.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

Northside Elementary School Principal, Jodi Clark, says the school met 15 requirements and the process took three years to complete.

“We are excited to be one of the few Georgia STEM schools and only two in the middle Georgia area,” says Clark.

The school has integrated STEM concepts into all of the subjects and classrooms.

A tour of the school gave 41NBC’s Taylor Terrell insight on how the students practice these concepts. Students in 4th grade work on building their version of Rube Goldberg machine, while younger students worked on building ovens out of shoe boxes.

“It [STEM] has helped me understand how stuff works in the world,” says student Mahogany Porter.

Clark adds Northside is a B.Y.O.D. school. “Students are allowed to bring their own devices to do research, and use it to create and design things.”

Student Riley Mitchell is grateful for the opportunity.

“Some kids don’t have the privilege to do this and I think we’re really special to be doing this,” says Mitchell.

“It’s not really a program,” Clark says, “It’s really-we have just transformed our school, and transformed our thinking to kind of go down that road of STEM and how does everything connect.”

Principal Clark says Northside students will continue to work on STEM projects throughout the year. The same applies at Eagles Springs Elementary, which the Georgia Department of Education also awarded STEM certification. Teachers there believe STEM projects are shaping the lives of their children in a positive way.

Kindergarten teacher, Emily Pierce says teachers at her school are able to take on basic tasks, like reading and writing, and incorporate STEM lessons into it.

“As a teacher sometimes it seems like we do the same things over and over. Well, with STEM we are able to kind of think outside of the box a little bit,” says Pierce.

Like Clark, Eagles Springs Principal Andrea McGee, has also worked on achieving STEM certification for three years.

“We’re just hoping to give them some life skills for the 21st century and be able to inspire them,” Clark adds, “You know the sky’s the limit and if have the interest, that might help them be successful.”

“We make their learning come to life for them. We make it real world for them,” says teacher Kayla Shephard.

“We want to ignite that fire in our students, so that they would want to go into a stem field,” says Clark.

Both schools are planning for their students future.

“…because that’s where the jobs are and that’s where they’re going to be when these students get into the job world,” Clark says.

Click here to see the Georgia Department of Education’s rubic for elementary schools to earn STEM Certification.