At Ladoga Elementary, our STEM leadership team is deeply committed to inclusive decision-making, actively drawing input from 100% of our staff members for our STEM programming. We believe that the best ideas come from a diverse pool of perspectives, and gathering comprehensive feedback ensures that we are meeting the unique needs of all our students. This practice not only strengthens our STEM curriculum but also fosters a collaborative environment.

At Ladoga Elementary, we prioritize collaboration among our educators by providing common work time on a weekly basis including opportunities dedicated for STEM instructional planning. During these sessions, our interdisciplinary team of teachers plan integrated STEM learning opportunities that weave science, technology, engineering, and math into a cohesive educational experience for our students. This dedicated time not only enhances the quality and relevance of our STEM curriculum, but it also aligns us closely with the Indiana Department of Education's STEM Certification Rubric, ensuring that we offer the highest standard of STEM education.

We as Southmont Community School District, have proactively developed a robust five-year STEM certification sustainability plan. This comprehensive strategy identifies dedicated funding sources for technology upgrades, STEM curriculum enhancements, and training needs arising from staff turnover. By planning ahead in this manner, we ensure that our STEM program not only meets but exceeds the standards we set for ourselves in continuing to grow our STEM programming. 

At Ladoga Elementary, we believe in the importance of continually adapting our STEM program to best serve our students' needs and interests. To achieve this, we measure students' attitudes toward STEM and their interest in STEM content throughout the school year. The data collected from these assessments guides us in refining our STEM program as needed, ensuring that we are consistently aligned with educational best practices and fulfilling our commitment to excellence in STEM education.

At Ladoga Elementary, we understand that a thriving STEM program is a community effort, which is why we actively engage stakeholders such as parents, educational leaders, and community partners in various activities. Through regular meetings, events, and collaborative projects, we collectively reflect on, grow, and promote our STEM program to ensure it meets the highest standards and serves the broader needs of our community.

At Ladoga Elementary, we take a proactive approach to STEM instructional feedback for our teachers, employing a specialized local evaluation tool that has been modified to identify targeted STEM instructional practices. All of our evaluators undergo comprehensive training in using this local instrument, ensuring that they are well-versed in observing and identifying effective STEM teaching strategies. This rigorous feedback process is integrated into both formative and summative evaluations, allowing us to continually refine and elevate the quality of our STEM instruction in alignment with recognized best practices. 

At Ladoga Elementary, we are committed to offering integrated STEM instruction to all of our students, including outside related arts classes. We believe in the importance of dedicated STEM instructional time, during which there is no remediation or pull-out; we are steadfast in our conviction that all students deserve equitable access to these enriching learning opportunities.