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STEM News
Institute Strives for National STEM Education Network
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By Cynthia D. Miller
The challenge in creating change brings to mind the old adage, “Which came first…the chicken or the egg?”
The same holds true in creating our next generation of scientists and engineers. What should be created first? New teaching techniques that make these disciplines more interesting to students? Or an entirely new educational infrastructure with exciting, hands on exposure to STEM-related careers?
Though there is no easy answer, it takes an individual who has classroom experience, vision for the future and sheer determination to find it. Such is the case with Jan Morrison’s evolution from science and math teacher, to high school principal, to co-founder and executive director of the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES).
During her “summers off,” Morrison taught Baltimore teachers techniques that engaged students by showing them how math and science could be applied to real life situations. For 10 years, the fruits of her labor were realized as teachers applied her techniques and watched their students’ test scores improve significantly. Ultimately, Morrison gained the attention of educators, community and industry leaders, and financial backers which led to the creation of the institute.
Initially focused on enhancing STEM education in Baltimore City Public Schools, TIES was approached in 1999 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Fund for Educational Excellence to assist them in designing an innovative, STEM-focused methodology. This effort, in partnership with the University of Maryland School of Law, culminated in the creation of the Freedom Academy which has been in operation for six years.
During that time, 400 Baltimore inner- city youth attending the four-year academy have statistically surpassed their counterparts in STEM discipline scores and overall test results in general.
With the Freedom Academy’s success, TIES expanded its consultancy to Baltimore’s Innovation High Schools whose students represent some of the city’s lowest income families.
Most recently, TIES acts as senior STEM consultants for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation where the two organizations are collaborating on the design and implementation of a national STEM Learning Network. Though originally focused on creating new STEM schools in Texas, efforts now include state wide STEM innovation networks in Ohio, North Carolina, New York, California and Washington. The ultimate goal — in conjunction with the National Governors Association and a myriad of other supporters — is to become nationwide.
TIES’ methodology continues to reap success, most recently by turning around seven failing schools in North Carolina, and in a joint project with the Ohio STEM Learning Network, General Electric, MIT’s Fabrication Lab and Battelle to create the MC2 STEM Hub and High School in Cleveland, Ohio. The hub consists of the MC2 STEM High School where students work with professionals in a project-based curriculum, and the Design Lab Early College High School focused on art and industrial design in a media rich environment.
Now, back to our question as to how change is created. Jan Morrison’s story of success proves that change can be initiated by a passionate individual. However, she advocates that the acceptance of change is truly a collaborative effort.
“We look for partners at every level,” she said, “from design through implementation.”
To that end, she has identified our returning troops as future STEM educators. “The men and women who serve our country are STEM-literate professionals who can teach our children about real life applications,” she said. “We should embrace our veterans and make them flourish for the benefit of us all.”
For more information about the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM, contact Jan Morrison at www.tiesteach.org.
Cynthia D. Miller is president of Miller.Omni.Media, Inc., a woman-owned small business specializing in strategic communications, marketing and media production. She can be reached at milleromnimedia@comcast.net.
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