Recently, the Victoria Independent School District (VISD) proudly hosted a transformative event, a Learning Lab for Public School Districts who are a part of the System Of Great Schools (SGS).
The System of Great Schools is a visionary initiative aimed at providing district leaders with technical assistance, professional learning communities, and support in applying for grants and other financial resources. At its core, the SGS Strategy represents a district-level problem-solving paradigm. It empowers district leaders to comprehensively grasp school performance and community needs, thereby delivering schools that families truly desire, require, and deserve. Through this strategy, district leaders diligently seek to amplify successful practices, replace ineffective ones, and exhaust all avenues to establish high-caliber, tailored educational institutions. This strategy operates through four strategic levers:
Analyzing school performance,
Expanding exceptional educational offerings,
Enhancing access to these options, and
Fostering innovative organizational frameworks.
The event commenced with a warm welcome from VISD Board of Trustees President Mike Mercer, setting the tone for an enriching experience. Attendees, including both visitors and VISD staff, embarked on a journey to Smith STEM Academy and STEM Middle School, immersing themselves in dynamic STEM classroom experiences.
Smith STEM Academy and STEM Middle School, both implemented in the 2021-22 school year, provide a choice pathway that incorporates evidence-based strategies while implementing standards focused on the implementation of the engineering design process in key STEM areas using an innovative approach to learning. The foundational belief is that learning should be both engaging and social. Students work collaboratively on a challenging curriculum, enabling them to experience engaging learning opportunities to develop conceptual knowledge and depth through project-based learning (PBL). Students learn 21st-century skills like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving which are deeply embedded into the STEM environments of the STEM Pathway schools, providing students the opportunity to not only learn the information required at each grade level but also to put the information into action through real-life simulated projects.
At STEM Middle School, visitors were treated to an insightful presentation shedding light on the school's distinctive focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), its aspirational goals, remarkable achievements, vibrant culture, and pedagogical emphasis.
Following the presentation, an engaging discussion panel, led by both students and educators, provided a deeper understanding of the school's ethos and educational practices.
Returning to F.W. Gross, guests were warmly greeted by enthusiastic students from both institutions. Together with these eager learners, participants engaged in a captivating, hands-on "How to Trap a Leprechaun" engineering design process (EDP) challenge. This collaborative endeavor challenged groups to devise ingenious blueprints for their traps and devise cunning strategies to ensnare the elusive leprechaun.
Using golden coins, marshmallows, construction paper, Unifix cubes, yarn, toothpicks, rubberbands, popsicle sticks, paperclips, and tape, the traps had to have the ability to close automatically when set and be large enough to hold the paper leprechauns provided.
The objective of this activity was not merely to construct a physical trap but to foster creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking skills among all participants, exemplifying the spirit of innovation and collaboration that defines the System of Great Schools initiative.
“It definitely was the most interactive student activity we’ve done,” said Cassandra Chapa, Chief Innovation Officer of Tyler Independent School District. “All of the students were super engaged and excited to be leading throughout the activity. They obviously have had a lot of experience with the STEM process, and we could really see that. It was great to interact with and meet the students.”
After the design challenge, Superintendent Dr. Shepherd, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability Tammy Sestak, and Smith STEM Academy Principal Tiffany Absher sat down for a Leadership Panel where they were able to answer questions about the development of our STEM campuses and discuss the future of STEM in VISD.
Overall, the Learning Lab for Public School Districts hosted by VISD was a success, providing a platform for district leaders to explore and understand the System of Great Schools initiative. The STEM Pathway schools in VISD were able to showcase innovative educational practices that foster creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork among students.