For the past ten years, the La Porte Community School Corporation has been dedicated to the strategic expansion of technology, infrastructure, equipment, training, and collaboration to provide the best pathways and outcomes for staff and students. This established STEM culture in our district and our school has provided devices for all students, a K-12 PLTW program, comprehensive robotics programs, STEM acceleration grant awards, and a sustained general budget to include funding for STEM equipment and professional development. Building upon this culture, KHES continues thrive with a STEM focused staff and principal, as well as an engaged STEM advisory board, supportive community partners, and enthusiastic families who support our mission and goals.

The KHES master schedule is specifically and creatively designed to provide common work time for staff every day. STEM PLC's officially meet once per week if not more. Being a small school with one section grade levels creates the need to be creative when collaborating so that all areas are included. Collaboration PLC opportunities include our school STEM team, classroom teachers, PLTW teacher, SPED teachers, Title teacher and principal.  STEM PLC teams meet weekly, follow an agenda, and provide documentation of planning, critical learning targets, differentiated instruction strategies, assessment data, and enrichment in STEM programming. During morning collaboration time, staff also participate in professional development that supports our STEM objectives.

Our STEM Leadership Team and school community are dedicated to expanding STEM programming that is aligned with Indiana’s Priorities for STEM. Despite our small size, KHES is and has been committed to STEM programming with fidelity and the provision of quality experiences for our students. Over the next five years, we look forward to expanding our STEM programming, increasing our community partnerships, and deepening relationships with STEM mentors for our students and staff.  Our district provides annual funds in our school's general budget for supplies and materials related to STEM. Our Technology Department maintains student devices, ensures connectivity, cyber safety provisions, and accessibility of all student programs including STEM and PLTW. State textbook funding contributes to our STEM budget as well as grants that we specifically seek and obtain for STEM products and equipment. Additionally, our school PTA holds multiple fundraisers each year to establish funds for our school STEM programming and events including STEM equipment, supplies, devices, professional development for staff, and experiences for students such a field trips or convocations that are STEM related.

Each year, KHES seeks STEM feedback in several ways. One way is to survey each student on their thoughts and opinions about STEM. Our staff analyzes student feedback which helps direct our decisions, choices, and implementation of STEM related programming. The data has been an integral part of growing our STEM reach and ensuring our instruction is data driven while staying aligned with state standards. Our older students often engage with younger students to work collaboratively on STEM challenges and problem solving. Additionally, local high school students and volunteers also engage our elementary students to foster positive STEM attitudes which adds to the excitement of our overall STEM program.  As our staff analyzes student data, we are able to interpret the voice and ideas expressed and utilize this to make improvements and modifications to meet overall needs. The student voice is an important aspect of our programming because engagement and excitement are imperative to the motivation needed to persevere through tough challenges in our STEM expectations.

KHES works exceptionally hard to reach and engage all students, staff, families, and the larger community in our school STEM program. By providing a wide variety of STEM opportunities it is evident that we are driven by consistent and effective STEM learning for all of our students. Family events attract a high number of participants. We find it ultimately rewarding to see parents and working with students to solve STEM challenges. Providing a parent understanding of the importance of STEM for children is an highly important goal for every event that we offer. Parents and community members are invited to volunteer for STEM functions during the school day and at evening events.  KHES collaborates with our local high school leaders to offer volunteer opportunities for students to interact and support our STEM program. This particular relationship is very beneficial to the success of our STEM events. LPHS students have also been released to come to our school during their school day to participate and engage in our STEM activities and lessons.  Our students LOVE having high schoolers work with them.

With the assistance of EES, KHES collaboratively developed a STEM non-evaluative walkthrough observation tool for the specific purpose of sharing feedback and ideas about STEM instruction for our teachers. Staff have embraced the new tool and they have made improvements in their instruction based on feedback from our trained observers. Our KHES STEM leadership team members have completed training on use of the tool and the provision of specific feedback to assist teachers as they improve their STEM instruction.  STEM leaders provide a minimum of 1 observation per semester or more.  Discussion are held after the feedback is presented to teachers. This approach is genuine and supportive with the main focus of becoming a better STEM teacher.  Additionally, teachers are expected to observe other teachers as they instruct STEM lessons however, this is an informal, non-evaluative activity that provides modeling and helps expand the teacher STEM toolbox.  

Because STEM is embedded into our school culture, we prioritize protected instructional time for STEM programming, training, and collaboration.  STEM instruction is guaranteed to all students both in the classroom and through our PLTW program.  As a school, we are committed to providing a minimum of 2 or more STEM experiences each week for our students. All classroom teachers have an afternoon block for STEM instruction. As a school, we have developed a unit calendar by grade level that consists of STEM lesson to be conducted throughout the month. Teachers expand and supplement their units with technology use, career connections, and STEAM literature and art connections to designaged STEM concepts. Related PBL opportunities, STEM family events, and several STEM related field trips are also offered to our students.  The unit lessons taught by the classroom teachers typically cover a 4 week (1 month) period and are thematically based.  Students are actively engaged and have accountability for learning grade level STEM standards.