Kingsford Heights Elementary School staff participate in ongoing STEM and PBL training.  Through the IDOE STEM Acceleration Grant, LPCSC has been able to provide additional CS, PBL, and STEM training experiences over the past five years. 100% of KHES classroom and PLTW teachers have been trained in PBL.  Many KH teachers have also spent weeks in CS and STEM training during summer opportunities and throughout the school year.  As new programs and equipment are adopted and purchased, staff members receive ongoing training and support.  KH STEM leadership team members are trained in STEM evaluation by EES using our STEM walkthrough tool.  We utilized the K12 Brightspace learning modules to  deliver instruction to our staff. Our PLTW teacher, instructional coaches and principal provide ongoing staff development of inquiry based learning and STEM lesson development.  Our principal was previously a science teacher at the middle school level for 25 years.  Our PLTW teacher, district instructional coaches and robotics coaches also assist in providing support for staff. 

KHES teachers utilize the STEM instructional model each week during protected time within our school's master schedule.  Teachers utilize adopted and approved curriculum to meet state standards including Discovery Education, Mystery Science and Science Scope. 

Our entire staff is dedicated to expanding the number of projects, activities, lessons, and experiences that involve use of the STEM approach for solving problems and promoting scientific thinking.  Our PLTW teacher, instructional coaches and principal provide ongoing staff development of inquiry based learning and STEM lesson development.  Our principal was previously a science teacher at the middle school level for 25 years.  Our PLTW teacher and robotics coaches also assist in demonstrating technical skills and providing support for staff. 

All Kingsford Heights Elementary School students collaborate in groups to actively participate in problem solving, critical thinking, real world application and decision making, as well as STEM/engineering design process skill development at least twice per week. Schoolwide STEM instruction and experiences consistently include group work where students have roles and responsibilities which are later reflected on and assessed. Students value teamwork and respond with exceptional determination to perform their personal role successfully. The KHES staff fosters this process and provides encouragement for each and every student to strive for both group and individual best effort. Students actively engage each other in discussions involving brainstorming and problem solving while they improve processes. KH teachers and PLTW teacher consistently implement defined STEM instructional working groups with student roles twice a week. PLTW class meets once per week and group roles and responsibilities are a part of each lesson. During all STEM collaboration, it is an instructional expectation to utilize student roles along with the 5E's Model or Design Process. 

All teachers use technology every day within their classrooms.  The technology used supports STEM instruction and achievement of all state standards.  We also have various technology tools used during extra-curricular clubs, activities, and organized family events. All students at Kingsford Heights Elementary School are one to world with a chromebook that is taken home, used at school, and available for possible remote instruction. Our staff strategically requires use at home to involve parents in learning more about the programs utilized by their children. Technology is embedded in our lives and we ensure that students understand the role technology plays. Cyber safety is an integral part of our programming at KHES. Tech support sessions are held for parents to stay up to date with changes in technology that affect and influence our students.