Superintendent Name: Dr. David Hoffert
Superintendent Email: dhoffert@warsawschools.org
Principal Name: Francesca Hoffmann
Principal Email: fhoffmann@warsawschools.org
STEM Chair Name: Ashleigh Webster (STEM Co-Lead/STEM Teacher Mentor), Francesca Hoffmann (STEM Co-Lead), Derek Pike (STEM Co-Lead/STEM Instructional Coach)
STEM Chair Email: fhoffmann@warsawschools.org, awebster@warsawschools.org, dpike@warsawschools.org
Madison STEM Mission Statement
At Madison Elementary, scholars will be empowered to know they are powerful thinkers and thoughtful problem solvers that can and will make a meaningful difference in our Warsaw community and beyond. Our school community, with the support of our community partners, will be on fire for learning through the use of STEM integration to bring standards to life through cross curricular, real-life application. By engaging students in real-world challenges and hands-on learning experiences, we aim to transform them into innovative problem solvers equipped with critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork skills essential for navigating and contributing to our technology-driven world.
STEM Plan Vision Statement
Our vision for STEM at Warsaw Community Schools is to be a lead innovator of K-12 STEM education; where together, ALL are catalysts to be change-makers without limits
Connection between Mission/Vision and Indiana's Priorities for STEM Education
Madison Elementary's STEM mission statement aligns closely with Indiana's priorities for STEM education, highlighting the need to prepare students for a dynamic, technology-driven world. Indiana's strategic plan for STEM education emphasizes empowering students to become lifelong learners who are proficient in problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. Madison Elementary focuses on these priorities by putting students at the center of learning, encouraging them to become powerful thinkers and thoughtful problem solvers. This approach ensures that students are well-equipped with the necessary skills to make a meaningful difference in their local and global communities, a fundamental objective of both the school and the state's educational goals.
The integration of STEM across the curriculum at Madison Elementary embodies Indiana's emphasis on real-world applications and cross-disciplinary learning. The school's commitment to bringing standards to life through cross-curricular and real-life applications mirrors the state's objective to move away from traditional, isolated lesson plans. Instead, Madison Elementary's methodology ensures that STEM concepts are integrated into everyday learning experiences, thus allowing students to grasp the interconnectedness of different fields of study. By doing so, Madison prepares its scholars to handle complex problems that require an innovative and comprehensive understanding.
Additionally, Madison's collaborative approach, involving community partners, supports Indiana’s goal of extending educational pathways beyond traditional schooling. By partnering with local organizations, Madison Elementary enhances its real-world learning focus, creating opportunities for students to engage directly with their community and apply their knowledge in practical settings. This collaboration helps students understand the real impact of their learning and fosters an environment where education is seen as a communal effort. Indiana's priorities resonate with this strategy, as the state advocates for educational programs that are enriched through community and industry partnerships.
Finally, Madison Elementary's mission reflects Indiana's commitment to developing skills that are essential for success in today’s technology-driven world. The emphasis on creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking ensures that students are not only consumers of technology but also innovators who can contribute positively to economic and social systems. Indiana's STEM education policies focus on equipping students with competencies that match the demands of modern industries and careers, which is precisely what Madison aims to achieve through its immersive STEM programs. Thus, the school directly supports the broader state initiative of preparing a workforce ready to excel in a rapidly evolving job market.
Since our initial STEM certification in the 2019-2020 school year, we have worked hard to build a strong STEM Council comprised of STEM Teacher Leaders that together, through distributive leadership, work to shape and continuously refine our integrated STEM program at Madison. We can proudly say that nearly 50% of our staff (12 out of 27) who participate in our STEM program are active members of our Madison STEM Council and meet on a monthly basis to reflect, refine, and grow our STEM program--recognizing that great can always be greater!
