Executive Summary

Loogootee Middle  School serves 210 students in Martin County.  The district has one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school building that serves a total of approximately 740 students of which 38% qualify for free and reduced meals.  The STEM design team consists of the superintendent, building principals, teachers from each level, community members, and parents.  The design team reviewed data, interviewed students, and conducted community focus groups. The data collected was used to develop a comprehensive STEM model within the district.  This team all received input from an Education and Workforce Advisory Team (EWAT) that included parents, community and industry members. 

Throughout the past five  years, the district leadership and building principals have all changed.  The new leadership team brought a new energy to the district and focused on developing a continuous improvement process.  Since the leadership change, the district has focused heavily on investing in providing a high-quality education for all students.  This improvement mindset has resulted in a variety of changes in the district. These focuses have been placed into four categories and are listed below.

• Project Based Learning in every class at every grade level K-12
• Project Lead The Way classes K-12 with 100% elementary and middle school students engaging in various modules
• Community Partnerships to enhance STEM learning
• STEM Fellow Teachers at each K-4 grade level
• Makerspaces
• Lion Manufacturing & Lion Manufacturing Jr (student-run business)
• Career and Technical Education Coach

• Every student has his /her own Chromebook
• Improved WIFI throughout the school
• Roll-out of classroom technology 
• Google products for students 
• ViewSonic interactive screens in every classroom

• Youth First social worker

• Increased communication with parents and community stakeholders
• Formed committees of community leaders seeking input and partnerships for school improvement

As a result of focusing on the four areas above, Loogootee Middle School made strides with each of the categories. During the 2017-2018 school year, the district received the Ready Schools Grant that began a yearlong intensive planning process.  This process focused on engaging a myriad of stakeholders to determine the best way to improve college and career readiness.  This year long planning process resulted in the district creating a focus on improving career pathways, engaging students in project based learning, incorporating community partners, enhancing work based learning opportunities, and increasing STEM learning.  Before the 2018-19 school year began, LCSC received an implementation grant to engage in these instructional practices that would lead to the LCSC ideal graduate that will Collaborate Effectively, Act Responsibly, Think Critically, Communicate Clearly, and Create Digitally.  In order to achieve this goal, students must begin working on these skills at the elementary and middle schoool levels through our STEM Initiative.