STEM Academies
Click here to see strategies for engaging teachers, students and community for each Academy

Eight Baltimore County schools are identified as Academies to implement special programs for students, professional development for teachers, and community involvement in order to become schools of excellence in STEM education. One high school, three middle and four elementary schools, all high needs, are targeted. The STEM support system includes:

differentiated pay for principals and mentor teachers

paid liaisons both site-based and UMBC with specific Academy roles

county-wide STEM curriculum resource directors

Strategies are being adapted in the Academies to meet the needs of diverse learners within the BCPS context. Academy staff implement, evaluate and refine a number of “promising practices” in STEM education and comprehensive school improvement. Among them are:

• Data driven differentiated instruction and comprehensive school improvement strategies in STEM areas
• Performance-based instruction and assessment for P-12 students and preservice/inservice teachers
• Action research to develop reflective teaching practices in BCPS and at UMBC
• Inquiry-based teaching and learning
• Problem/issue-based teaching and learning
• Technology enhanced instruction and assessment
• The 5E planning, teaching, and assessing model for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
• Teacher leadership model development tied to capacity building within individual schools and district
• Distributed and site-based leadership model development within the schools
• Culturally responsive pedagogy