Washington STEM Academy, going on 10 years as a STEM school, has cultivated a culture where cross-curricular integration and real-world problem-solving are at the heart of its mission. The school’s theme, "Washington STEM Academy… because Life is Cross-Curricular," focuses on continually strengthening its approach by including STEM subjects into all areas of learning and focusing on Project-Based Learning (PBL) to engage students with relevant, hands-on challenges. One goal of the school is its commitment to growth, aided by regular feedback from parents, staff, students, and community partners. Supporting staff and students, the STEM coach plays a pivotal role in guiding teachers, modeling lessons, and celebrating student success in STEM. However, teachers are the foundation of Washington's school environment, providing a safe, friendly place where all students can enjoy learning through engaging lessons and exciting STEM activities that inspire them to share their daily experiences at home around the dinner table.
Washington STEM Receives State Recognition
Congratulations Washington Stem Academy on this prestigious recognition from the Indiana Department of Education, Office of Leadership & Innovation.
Schools earning this distinction are applauded for focusing on addressing the academic, physical, emotional, and social needs of students while providing the needed resources and fostering the active involvement of their families through schools and the community.
Warsaw Community Schools would like to thank everyone at Washington STEM Academy for their contribution that earned the honor of being an Indiana designated 2022-2023 Family Friendly School. #wcsmission #togetherwearewarsaw
1.1 Decision-Making
At Washington, our STEM Leadership team meets 1-2 times per quarter and is composed of one teacher from each grade level, our special education teacher, principal, STEM coach, and 2 community partners. They are key in bringing to our meetings what is needed each quarter to support STEM in each grade as well as making on-going decisions based on staff feedback. 100% of teachers take our STEM survey created by our STEM team. This survey covers areas such as assessments, community partners, career talks, and strengthening STEM instruction. Our STEM Leadership team then goes over the results in order to determine where STEM needs are in the building as well as ways to improve going forward.
1.2 Common Work Time
Each week teachers have daily common prep times as well as our PLC Mondays allowing them multiple opportunities to plan and collaborate. During these work times, staff plan and prep for their PBLs, PLTW, or Picture Perfect Science lessons. They also polish and refine their PBLs based on standards and differentiated instruction to ensure the atmosphere of the unit is cross-curricular. Our grade level ‘bricks’ are the guiding force behind the timeline of our STEM implementation and are referred to often throughout the school year to ensure the different tech hardware is available to each class when needed.
1.3 Sustainability Plan
Warsaw Community Schools (WCS) and Washington STEM Academy are committed to fostering STEM sustainability through a comprehensive approach that aligns with WCS's 5-year strategic plan. The core of this plan emphasizes the integration of STEM principles across all grade levels, ensuring students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. By embedding STEM in daily instruction, WCS aims to create lifelong learners prepared for a rapidly changing world.
Washington’s efforts focus on building a sustainable STEM culture by equipping teachers with ongoing professional development, encouraging cross-curricular collaboration, and integrating technology seamlessly into the classroom. The school is also committed to fostering partnerships with community organizations and local industries to provide real-world STEM experiences for students.
The 5-year strategic plan highlights key pillars of this initiative:
Curriculum and Instruction – Continuous integration of STEM into the existing curriculum with a focus on inquiry-based learning and project-based approaches.
Professional Development – Ongoing teacher training to ensure that faculty members are equipped with the skills and resources necessary for STEM instruction.
Community and Industry Partnerships – Strengthening ties with local businesses and organizations to offer authentic STEM learning experiences and support.
Resource Allocation – Investing in cutting-edge technology, tools, and materials to keep pace with the evolving STEM landscape.
By systematically addressing these areas, Washington and WCS aim to build a lasting foundation for STEM education that prepares students for future academic and career success.
1.4 Measurement of Student Attitudes and Interests
Twice a year students take a STEM survey on aspects of STEM-related topics at Washington. The main focus was to study student interests and how confident they feel in certain areas. This also helps teachers get a feel for what opportunities we need to continue to offer each grade level. Students also take a career survey once a year in order to note what kind of STEM careers students are interested in and how to best support them. Our STEM Team utilizes this feedback to help our STEM program make changes that align with the changing interests of students as well as to help keep pace with technology, innovation, and new STEM careers.
1.5 STEM Program Engagement
During the 2023/2024 school year, Warsaw Community Schools created a STEM Strategic Planning team made of the superintendent, STEM school principals and coaches, teachers, stakeholders, and community partners. This team went through a STEM planning initiative guided by Keep Indiana Learning. This group met throughout the year and toured several STEM-related businesses in Indiana to ensure Warsaw’s STEM program was meeting the needs of students going forward. Washington includes many opportunities for the community to be a part of our STEM program. From STEM events to career professional presentations, our school provides several ways for parents and the community to be involved. We also find ways to demonstrate our appreciation for our Community Partners and use news releases and social media to share the various STEM experiences at Washington with the public.
1.6 STEM Instructional Feedback
At Washington STEM Academy, the STEM coach uses a specialized STEM walkthrough tool to observe and support teachers in effectively integrating STEM into their classrooms. This tool allows the coach to gather insights into the teaching methods, STEM activities, and student engagement levels within each class. By conducting these observations, the coach provides targeted feedback to teachers, helping them enhance their instructional approaches, align activities with STEM objectives, and foster a more inquiry-based learning environment. In addition to feedback from the STEM coach, teachers engage in self-reflection using a feedback sheet, where they assess their own progress in integrating STEM concepts. This self-reflective process encourages teachers to critically analyze their strengths and identify areas for growth. In addition, teachers participate in peer-to-peer observations, observing each other’s classrooms and providing constructive feedback. This collaborative approach promotes shared learning and continuous improvement, enabling teachers to refine their practices and elevate the quality of STEM experiences for their students. The STEM coach also conducts technology instruction and engineering lessons for students in order to model-teach for staff. The coach creates and teaches the lessons to demonstrate to teachers a quality STEM model and aids them in planning and instructing their own STEM lesson plans.
1.7 Access and Opportunity to STEM Courses and Programs
Washington STEM Academy is committed to providing access and opportunity to all K-6 students, ensuring every child participates in STEM activities, programs, projects, and events. The school’s master schedule is intentionally designed to protect STEM time, so each student can fully engage in the learning experiences. Special Education and ELL teachers play an active role in this approach by offering targeted support during STEM lessons, collaborating with teachers to ensure that diverse student needs are met. This inclusive strategy guarantees that no student is left out of the STEM opportunities.