Welcome to the STEM Innovation Academy at
Dr. Ronald. McNair Middle School
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Ronald E. McNair Middle School STEM Academy is to empower every learner to investigate authentic, real-world challenges through inquiry, research, data analysis, and interdisciplinary learning; innovate by collaborating, applying technology, engaging in the engineering design process, and creating evidence-based solutions; and impact the school, community, and world by communicating their learning, partnering with STEM professionals, reflecting on assessment results, and demonstrating the STEM literacy, confidence, and perseverance needed for future learning and work.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to cultivate an inclusive and innovative STEM learning community in which every student becomes a curious investigator, creative innovator, collaborative problem-solver, and responsible changemaker. Through rigorous interdisciplinary experiences, student-directed learning, meaningful partnerships, performance-based assessments, and continuous reflection and improvement, learners will master essential STEM outcomes and use their knowledge, skills, and voices to positively impact their community and shape the future.
It all starts by asking a question: How can engineers design a roller coaster that is thrilling, safe, energy efficient, and affordable? How can engineers design a ramp that allows an object to travel the desired speed using only gravity? How can engineers control thermal energy to improve people's lives? How can we use science, mathematics, engineering, and technology to solve a real problem for people?
INVESTIGATE: Students engineered and tested roller coaster prototypes to investigate how gravitational potential energy transforms into kinetic energy, using scientific evidence and the Engineering Design Process to improve their designs through multiple iterations.
Every investigation begins with a question. Every question leads to discovery. Every discovery creates impact.
INNOVATE: Students transformed simple materials into engineering test platforms to explore how ramp height and bowling ball mass affect speed. Through designing, testing, collecting data, and refining their ideas, they discovered how gravitational potential energy becomes kinetic energy. They didn't just learn science—they engineered solutions through evidence and innovation.
Innovation is turning questions into experiments, experiments into evidence, and evidence into solutions.
IMPACT: Students connected classroom learning with real-world application by collaborating with fire service professionals to explore the science of fire and emergency response. This authentic STEM experience empowered students to apply scientific knowledge, make informed safety decisions, and recognize how STEM careers positively impact individuals, families, and communities every day.
Knowledge that Protects. Skills that Save. Impact that Lasts.
Class overview
Investigate. Innovate. Impact.
Investigate. Innovate. Impact.
The Ronald E. McNair Middle School STEM Academy is an interdisciplinary, project-based learning program that develops curious investigators, creative innovators, collaborative problem-solvers, and community-minded leaders. Serving students in grades six through eight, the program integrates grade-level Georgia standards in science, mathematics, English language arts, social studies, technology, engineering, and career exploration through authentic challenges connected to students’ school, community, and world.
Throughout the STEM Academy experience, students will investigate meaningful questions and real-world problems; innovate by designing, building, testing, evaluating, and improving solutions; and impact others by applying their learning to improve their school, community, environment, and future.
Students will participate in inquiry-based investigations, engineering design challenges, collaborative research, laboratory experiences, mathematical modeling, technical reading and writing, digital design, coding, data analysis, public presentations, and community-focused problem-based learning. The course emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, perseverance, ethical decision-making, and responsible technology use.
About me:
I am the STEM Teacher and STEM Academy Coordinator at Ronald E. McNair Middle School in DeKalb County, Georgia. With 14 years of experience in education and a previous career in Information Technology, I bring a unique blend of technical expertise, innovation, and classroom experience to STEM education. My mission is to inspire students to become problem solvers, critical thinkers, and future innovators through authentic, hands-on learning experiences that connect science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to real-world challenges.
I am passionate about cultivating curiosity through the Engineering Design Process and problem-based learning. I believe every student has the potential to innovate when given opportunities to investigate meaningful problems, collaborate with others, and design solutions that positively impact their community.
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