Self-Assessment: Model 

Over the past three years, Wellcome Middle School has maintained and expanded a comprehensive professional learning system ensuring that all STEM-related content area teachers consistently access time, support, and resources aligned to the four required areas of high-quality STEM instruction. Each STEM teacher participated in at least one professional learning experience in these areas.

Professional learning in inquiry-based and problem-based instruction has been provided through the WMS STEM/AVID Committee, which embeds inquiry-focused PD during its planning and collaboration meetings. All STEM/AVID members engaged in sessions centered on student-led investigations, problem-based learning, and strategies for integrating multiple content areas through real-world problems and authentic questions.

Connections to real-world problems and career pathways have been strengthened through applied learning opportunities, including a guided tour of the ECU College of Engineering and Technology. District STEM leaders, school administrators, STEM Coordinators, and instructional specialists explored engineering labs, technology programs, and workforce pathways. Following the tour, the team analyzed ways these industries could be embedded into classroom instruction and identified opportunities for students to participate in future STEM experiences.

Design-based thinking was supported through Blended Learning Training provided to all certified teachers. This professional learning emphasized strategies for student engagement, choice, and iterative design thinking that help students apply content knowledge and revise solutions throughout a learning cycle.

Hands-on learning was reinforced through Desmos Training for all math teachers, where teachers learned to integrate interactive digital tools, simulations, and manipulatives to support data gathering, conceptual development, and authentic problem solving. Additionally, district PD and school-based instructional coaching supported hands-on science investigations, environmental data collection, robotics integration, and the use of specialized tools and equipment.

All STEM-related teachers have had recurring opportunities to grow their own STEM content knowledge through districtwide PD, instructional coaching cycles, and targeted learning sessions in reading across the curriculum, behavior supports, and strategies for serving exceptional learners. Teachers in the Participate Learning program have received specialized PD connected to global STEM perspectives and culturally responsive practices, enriching the STEM program with international expertise.

More than 75 percent of WMS STEM-related teachers participate every other year in applied learning experiences. The STEM Coordinator and AVID Coordinator participated in the Kenan Fellows Eastern Regional STEMwork cohort (with site visits to Domtar, Grover Gaming, and ABB) and later in the Northeastern NC Computational Thinking/Computer Science Fellowship sponsored by NCDPI, which included an 80-hour PD sequence and a two-week industry immersion at Hitachi Astemo. The 6th-grade science teacher and STEM Coordinator also completed the Mountains to Sea program with statewide partners including the NC Coastal Federation, the EPA Climate Office, and the NC State Climate Office, spending time at Harker’s Island studying climate and coastal resiliency. These immersive learning experiences have directly informed instructional design and strengthened teachers’ understanding of emerging STEM fields.

Through these sustained efforts, Wellcome Middle School has built a robust professional learning structure in which all STEM teachers have access to training in inquiry, real-world integration, design-based thinking, and hands-on learning. All teachers have opportunities to advance their STEM content knowledge, and more than 75 percent participate in applied learning experiences that strengthen the STEM program each year.

Wellcome Middle School has provided time, support, and resources for STEM-related content area teachers to participate in professional learning in all four areas mentioned.   

Below are examples of the four topics of professional learning opportunities with those who attended. Each STEM-related course teacher participated in at least one professional development in the areas listed.

• Inquiry-based and problem-based

WMS STEM/AVID committee meetings with built-in PD in inquiry

• • • • All STEM/AVID members participated

• Connecting instructional content to real-world problems

Tour of ECU College of Engineering and Technology - we toured the different areas of the engineering and technology department. After, we discussed ways this visit could be applied to the classroom and what opportunities our students could participate in.

• • • • STEM Coordinators from Wellcome Middle, Eastern Elementary, and C.M. Eppes Middle Schools

      • K-12 Science Specialist and District STEM Coordinator 

      • AVID District Coordinator

      • K-12 Social Studies Specialist

      • Principals for Wellcome Middle and Innovation Early College

• Design-based thinking

Blended Learning Training - during this professional development, teachers were presented with ways to engage with their students so the content is learned.

• • • • All Wellcome Middle Certified Teachers

• Hands-on learning

Desmos Training - during this professional development, teachers learned the benefits of Desmos and how to implement it in the classroom

• All Math teachers of Wellcome Middle School

Note: NCDPI Science Professional Learning opportunities are linked above but teachers of all content areas have access to thier subject area's offerings. We did not link all NCDPI webpages here but wanted to mention that our teachers greatly benefit from both in district, and out of district PD offerings. 

District Professional Learning Opportunities 

School-Wide Professional Learning Opportunities 

Our Instructional Coach provides the school with professional learning opportunities throughout the school year. The topics included are support of Exceptional Children in the classroom, classroom and behavior management, and supporting reading across curriculums.

Participate Learning

Wellcome Middle has several teachers who are a part of the Participate Learning program. These teachers are from different countries and are teaching abroad, here in the United States. They have the opportunity to prepare our students to lead and thrive in the world. Also with this program, there are many specialized Professional Development opportunities for these teachers to partake in. 

Applied Learning Experiences

The STEM Coordinator of Wellcome Middle participated in the Kenan Fellows' Eastern Regional Cohort of STEMworks during the 2022-2023 school year. STEMworks allows professionals to grow through collaboration, module application, and industry site visits. Domtar, Grover Gaming, and ABB were the three industries visited. 

Wellcome Middle's STEM Coordinator and the 6th grade Science teacher participated in the Kenan Fellows' Mountains to Sea Program.  This program was a partnership with the NC Coastal Federation, the Environmental Protection Agency Climate Office, the NC State Climate Office, the Climate Fellows Program, the NC Energy Fellows, Constructive Learning Design, and other state-wide partners to provide Professional Development. The two educators spent a day at Harker's Island to learn more about climate and resiliency.