STEM

January 28, 2011

Dr. Barbara McGraw Edmondson, Interim Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, announced today that the Archdiocese's Department of Catholic Schools, has developed a criteria and a process for designating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Effective the 2011-12 school year the following schools will offer STEM programs that meet the formal criteria developed by the Archdiocese: Holy Angels Catholic School, Baltimore; Immaculate Conception School, Towson; Resurrection-St. Paul School, Ellicott City; Our Lady of Grace School, Parkton; St. Jane Frances de Chantal School, Pasadena; St. Joan of Arc School, Aberdeen; and St. John Regional School, Frederick.

The announcement represents the most recent enhanced academic program to be implemented by the Archdiocese since it announced last March that it would be investing in new academic initiatives to ensure that Catholic schools in the Archdiocese remain competitive.

"In a time when our nation and schools seek to provide our students with learning experiences which prepare leaders in a global and technologically advanced society, we are proud to recognize seven of our elementary schools which have identified the establishment of STEM instruction as a key initiative for the 2011-2012 school year," Dr. Edmondson said.  "The work of these schools and their partnerships with the higher education and private industry will create a network of affiliates and begin to build a cadre of instructional mentors for our elementary school faculty and students."

The STEM instructional/curricular model originated with the 2007 report by the National Academy of Sciences, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, and has become a widely used acronym to describe schools' increased emphasis on science and math and greater use of technology in classrooms to better prepare students for eventual careers in one of the four disciplines.  To more clearly define this model in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Department identified several elements that must be present in a school's teaching methodology, curricular and extra-curricular activities, in order to be recognized as a Catholic STEM school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Included among those elements are: continuous professional development for teachers, integrated use of computer technology and technology teaching tools, a successful advanced math track, data-driven decision-making, the presence of a science lab, and partnerships with businesses and/or universities focused on one or more STEM disciplines.

STEM Criteria

Science is Full STEM Ahead at Our Lady of Grace School, April 2011- Reprinted with permission of The Country Chronicle