HOUSTON – May 30, 2017 – This month, North Richland Middle School (NRMS) will earn the National Certificate for STEM Excellence from the National Institute for STEM Education (NISE). School and district officials, along with parents, students and community members, will celebrate this accomplishment in a ceremony May 30th.
NRMS’s math and science teachers, assistant principals and academic coach began working toward the National Certificate for STEM Excellence in November 2016, along with Birdville Independent School District’s (ISD) math and science coordinators and digital learning specialist. As part of the process, school and district leaders crafted and implemented a STEM Action Plan for NRMS, with ongoing support provided by a NISE STEM leadership coach. Additionally, each of the school’s math and science teachers completed the National Certificate for STEM Teaching.
This summer, NRMS will move to a new facility and re-open in August as Birdville ISD’s first school with a STEM specialization.
“We decided to pursue the National Certificate for STEM Excellence because we want to deliver a 21st century education that prepares our students for success in high school, college and careers. Our teachers and leadership team learned a great deal through the certification process, and they’re very excited to share that with our students,” said Ernie Valamides, principal of NRMS. “We’d like to offer our sincere thanks to Dr. Darrell G. Brown, Dr. Elizabeth Clark, and the Board of Trustees for their support in making this a reality.”
“The opening of the new North Richland Middle School as a STEM certified campus is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Dr. Clark, associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Birdville ISD. “Now we have a vision, a pathway and a facility designed to facilitate the work that our students and staff will do for years to come.”
Judy Zimny, vice president of NISE, applauded the school’s commitment and laser-like focus on “increasing the quantity and quality of STEM instructional practices being used to increase both content mastery and students’ readiness to meet the needs of the 21st century employers.“
About the National Institute for STEM Education
Headquartered in Houston, the National Institute for STEM Education is more than a certifying body. NISE is a research-based support system for campuses and teachers seeking to strengthen STEM instruction and outcomes. Based on 15 STEM Teacher Actions that evolved from STEM professional development originally created at Rice University, NISE’s Campus and Teacher Certificates help school leaders and teachers understand and apply research and best practices in STEM, 21st-century learning, and professional development.
For information, visit http://www.acceleratelearning.com/nise.
About Accelerate Learning
Founded at Rice University, Accelerate Learning has grown from a single product, STEMscopes, to a brand that now offers a variety of curriculum and professional development solutions, including the National Institute for STEM Certification, designed to meet the needs of K-12 learners, including Next Generation Science Standards and state-aligned curriculum. STEMscopes can be used as a core science curriculum or as a supplementary or enrichment resource in traditional, blended, and 1:1 classroom environments.
For more information, visit http://acceleratelearning.com.