Summit Road STEM Elementary School Earns STEM Redesignation

Summit Road STEM Elementary School (SUES) was recently redesignated as a STEM school by the state of Ohio. Receiving the first designation in 2017, SUES has been providing top-notch STEM education for nearly a decade.

How does a school qualify? Ohio law provides a specific pathway for schools to seek and receive designation as a STEM or STEAM school. Meeting the criteria in this detailed rubric is the first step.

Once a school believes that it qualifies, it applies with the Ohio STEM Committee. This committee, composed of both state and community leaders, works to evaluate applications with assistance from the Ohio STEM Learning Network and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

There are three domains in which schools are rated:

1. Culture for Learning- Beliefs and Disposition, Equity and Access

2.  Learning and Teaching

3. Pathways to Success in Careers

SUES has met these requirements for years, with an added focus on projects. Principal Matthew Jacobs says, 

Summit Road STEM Elementary offers various Project Based Learning (PBL) opportunities that include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These PBLs typically revolve around the wetlands behind the elementary school. Students utilize the gardens and grounds to do various projects and teachers plan their projects to coincide with grade level standards for various subjects at the same time.

Tim McDermott is a member of the STEM Advisory Council and works with Ohio State University. He says that he enjoys his time working with the students and teachers at Summit Road Elementary. “It is a great experience to see the students planting in the raised beds outside, encountering bugs, talking about the benefits of beneficial bugs, and growing fresh produce over the winter.” He also mentions how he is impressed with how proud students are of their STEM work.

Creating unique learning opportunities and a culture of excellence is amazing work. Thank you to everyone involved for your time and dedication to our students.