Bertie Chooses STEM

There is clearly a need to find some way to teach our children in Bertie County High School more effectively. It is not pleasant to be the focus of attention from Judge Manning with our ongoing poor performance in measurement tests. Nothing will convince me that our children are not as good as the best in the State of North Carolina.

Some of the efforts have included a state requirement (communicated by Howard Lee, Chairman of the State Board of Education) that Bertie County adopt one of 3 special programs to improve our students accesss to advanced courses.

The 3 programs that Bertie was asked to select from included:
* The Talent Development High School
* America's Choice School Design
* The New Schools Project (Also called STEM, for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

The technical evaluation showed little difference in the potential between the three programs to serve our children. However the financial evaluation showed the STEM choice to be significantly more cost effective for us. This included a $40,000.00 grant not available for any program except STEM. Bertie was selected for one of the 10 grants. Give credit to our people in Bertie County Schools for winning the grant in a tough competition. Good job.

Additionally the funding of some of the personnel needed for the effort will be provided by the NC DPI.

Following is the Bertie Schools information on STEM as they passed it out at the last BOE meeting explaining their choice.

STEM High School - Preparing Students for 21st Century Careers

What is a STEM High School?
The NC State Department of Public Instruction, the North Carolina New Schools Project, andBertie County Schools are partnering to establish a new, small high school with a science,technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focus on the Bertie High School campus.

This small school will create a personalized learning environment to encourage students toremain in school and to graduate prepared for work, college, and citizenship.
STEM schools are committed to developing a project-based learning environment to supportthe delivery of a rigorous college preparatory curriculum.
STEM schools strive to prepare ALL students for college, for citizenship, and for potentialwork in STEM-related fields.

How will the Bertie STEM High School be different?
The Bertie STEM High School will be located in one wing of the existing Bertie High School.As with the existing Freshman Academy, students' core academic courses will be taught by ateam of teachers who will collaborate to provide a rigorous, relevant curriculum.

Smaller classes will mean more individualized attention.

Daily advisory sessions will provide all students additional tutorials and the support that they need in order to be successful in rigorous course work.

Curriculum will include advanced mathematics and science studies, to include physics,chemistry, and pre-calculus.

Subjects such as world languages and humanities will be integrated.

Instruction will be designed to
* build problem-solving, reasoning, and analytical skills;
* develop students' ability to collaborate with a team;
* develop students' understanding of the ethical, and moral implications of the decisions that they make in their work and in their lives .

Students will have access to all clubs, organizations, and athletics offered at Bertie HighSchool.

Technology is viewed as an essential tool.

The Bertie STEM High School will implement a standards-focused project-based learning model such as Duke University's Project Lead the Way or Engineering the Future: Designing the World of the 21st Century developed by the Boston Museum of Science.

What are the benefits?
Students participate in a four-year sequence of courses designed to introduce them to the scope, rigor, and discipline of STEM applications prior to their entrance into college.

Smaller class sizes enable more attention from teachers.

Students have multiple opportunities to experience the world of work through job shadowing and work-based learning opportunities.

Who should apply?
Rising freshmen residing within Bertie County are eligible to apply for admission into the STEM High School.

Students must have an interest in pursuing a career in a STEM-related field.

Students with high potential who can fulfill that potential with some assistance are eligible.

Students who may not have been exposed to higher education opportunities but who are willing to work hard are encouraged to apply.

Students must possess the maturity and independence to accept the challenges of this progressive school.

Interested students and their parents must complete an application form and participate in an informal interview.

Student assignment to the STEM High School will be based on a randomized sampling of the applicants. (Random sampling of all applicants will be completed by an outside, nationally recognized educational organization, the Southeast Regional Visions for Education - SERVE.)

The student body at the STEM High School should reflect the demographics of Bertie High School.