Empowering Educators Through Engineering STEM Success Program

Warsaw Community Schools (WCS) and Ball State University (BSU) have teamed up to promote education in science, technology, engineering and math by launching the Engineering STEM Success Program. Last summer, WCS sixth through ninth grade teachers working with math, science, special education and English Language Learners voluntarily attended a two-week Math Science Partnership Summer Institute with the goal of improving classroom content. The 80 hours of instruction is college-level material provided by Ball State University to coach WCS educators in furnishing their students with a real world understanding of math and science. Throughout the program, teachers are encouraged to develop project-based, hands-on learning experiences that they can apply in the classroom.

After partnering with BSU about the program idea, both WCS and BSU worked diligently to co-write the grant. The Engineering STEM Success program was ultimately funded by a $450,000 grant received from the Indiana Department of Education. This past summer was year one of the possible three year grant. Almost fifty teachers were involved last summer and most of them plan to return this summer to continue their learning as well as strive to have a greater impact on their students.

Photos and more information from the event can be found here on the foundation's website.