Laconia Schools STEM TEAM 2014

DONNA MARIE GAMLIN - GRADE 1 , ELM STREET SCHOOL

JASON LACROIX - SC IENCE, LACONIA HIGH SCHOOL

WHITNEY MCCALLUM - GRADE 5 , PLEASANT STREET SCHOOL

IRENE ST INSON – GRADE 5 , WOODLAND HEIGHTS

DAVID WARRENDER - D IRECTOR, HUOT TECHNICAL CENTER

Pre-KProgram at Woodland Heights -46Huot Child Development Center -16Elementary Woodland Heights -398Elm Street -286Pleasant Street -286Middle/HighLaconia Middle School -482Laconia High School -596Huot Technical Center -495Alternative SchoolLaconia Adult Education/Academy -1000+

LACONIA DISTRICT DATA

Percent of Students ESL - 2%Percent of Student FRL -57.8%

The Lakes Region of NH

Laconia Popultion - 16,441

County - Belknap

Median Resident Age - 43

Median Household Income - $43,600 (- $16k NH AVG)

Racial Breakdown - 94.5% white

Individuals Below Poverty Level - 13.2%

Unemployment Rate - 5.9%

Largest Employment Sectors◦ Manufacturing◦ Hospitality◦ Health Care

Educational Attainment◦ High School Graduate - 86.1%◦ Bachelors Degree - 23%

STEM in the Primary Grades Current Activities:

◦ Computer Coding grades 2-5◦ STEM activities in grade 5◦ Visits to Tech Center◦ After-school activities in technology◦ General computer instruction

Barriers to Implementation: ◦ Lack of teacher training in STEM disciplines◦ Technology available but used primarily by teachers◦ Staff changes/loss of key personnel

STEM at the Middle School Current Activities:

◦ Pockets of classroom STEM activity. ◦ STEM class slated for this fall◦ Computer exploratory grades 6-8

Barriers to Implementation: ◦ Lack of teacher training in STEM disciplines◦ Technology available but used primarily by teachers◦ No school-wide STEM curriculum

STEM at the High School Level Current Activities:

◦ PD on inquiry based instruction (6-12)◦ Presentation on "What is STEM?" at all grade levels ◦ Putting more technology in students' hands (district wide)◦ Wide variety of CTE opportunities including one of the state's leading pre-engineering programs

Barriers to Implementation: ◦ Lack of teacher training in STEM disciplines◦ Technology available but used primarily by teachers◦ No school-wide STEM curriculum◦ Finding time amongst other PD efforts◦ NH DOE prohibition on offering CTE exploratory classes

Our Team Goals

#1 - Expand cohort of district staff with an understanding of STEM

#2 - Develope new opportunities for STEM instruction within our district

#3 - Begin exploring vertical integration of STEM curriculum/standards

STEM at the District Level

#1 - Creation of District STEM Council

#2 - STEM presentation at all grade levels

#3- Creation of second STEM team