Inclusion and Equity

Woodland Forrest’s mission is to provide a holistic learning environment for all of its students. Our mission defines what we do, and just as importantly, whom we do it for. To create a truly holistic experience, we have built and employed a STEM-centric curriculum to imbue our students with legitimate 21st century skills. We do it for a school population that desperately needs this style of educational intervention. Inherent in the school mission, and aligned with STEM learning outcomes, are the twin ideals of opportunity and equity. For us, opportunity is about preparing our students for the future and ensuring that they are presented daily with rigorous, engaging, and authentic learning experiences. They must be ready to enter a world heavily reliant on technology and compete in a workforce well trained in STEM- related fields. As a Title I school, on the outskirts of the Black Belt of Alabama, we serve a population that has been historically underrepresented in STEM fields. African American, Hispanic, Arabic, and low-income students do not typically attend STEM schools, nor are they typically choosing STEM fields of study when they reach high school. We aim to correct this imbalance through STEM integration, exposure to role models and mentors, and by utilizing lessons and activities that address challenges and problems based on real-life scenarios that have meaningful and obvious connections to their own community.

We have worked diligently to establish a STEM culture in which our instruction is interdisciplinary, and we think through the mental construct of “real world” and “their world” challenges and applications. Routine examples of this approach include projects in which students create communication devices, water filtration systems, improve the design of basketball shoes, and develop apps. Through hands-on and collaborative learning experiences, our approach is all inclusive. This style of learning allows all of our students, including English Language Learners (ELL) and special education students, to have equitable access to content. We highlight potential career and educational pathways by exposing our students to professionals in STEM fields, STEM student leaders from middle and high school, and enlisting partnerships from our local community. In terms of opportunity, we have provided Woodland Forrest graduates with the requisite skill set and attitude that keeps all future options for success, whether college or career, open. Our challenge is developing a forward thinking disposition in students who are at the age in which their current aspirations consist of becoming basketball and Youtube stars. This keeps us on a perpetual lookout for student data and survey results that will help us align our instructional practices and content in such a way that is relevant and meaningful.