STEM
Texas Middle School to Re-Open as STEM Certified Campus
North Richland Middle School (NRMS), part of Birdville ISD in Texas, has been boosting its efforts to advance STEM teaching and learning at the school. NRMS Tuesday celebrated becoming Birdville ISD’s first school to earn the National Certificate for STEM Excellence from the National Institute for STEM Education (NISE).
“The National Certificate for STEM Excellence transforms school culture and raises student achievement,” the program site explains. The middle school is in the process of moving to a new facility and will open its doors this August.
According to a news release, “NRMS’s math and science teachers, assistant principals and academic coach began working toward the National Certificate for STEM Excellence in November 2016, along with Birdville ISD’s math and science coordinators and digital learning specialist” to craft a STEM action plan and train math and science teachers.
Teachers completed an online, competency-based professional development program created by NISE in partnership with Rice University, American College of Education and Accelerate Learning. The program focuses on 15 “STEM Teacher Actions” to facilitate research-based teaching and learning. The certificate supports STEM, NGSS and 21st-century learning.