Aron Roze, left, with Science of Sport, gives input as his team members Dr. Michael Manzella, CCSD curriculum director, and E.T. Booth MS Principal Todd Sharrock, start work on a STEM challenge as part of the kickoff event to launch the partnership between CCSD and Discovery Education.
The Cherokee County School District this week launched a three-year partnership with a global education leader to improve STEM learning opportunities for elementary and middle school students!
CCSD, already recognized nationally for its commitment to STEM education, now is working with Discovery Education, part of the same company as the Discovery TV network, so its classroom resources and professional development for teachers can enhance lessons and incorporate more real-world learning experiences.
For the kickoff event held this week at CCSD’s central offices, Dr. Cindy Moss, the company’s vice president of global STEM initiatives, led a crowd of CCSD teachers, administrators and school partners from STEM businesses and organizations, in hands-on activities to better understand what Discovery Education will deliver to students.
“We’re very excited about partnership with Discovery Ed – not only do they have a huge STEM emphasis in all that they do, they also see that it takes not just rigor and relevance, but also relationships,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said, noting that more than a dozen STEM business partners from the community attended the event. “We want our kids to become experts, to develop creative problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, as well as collaboration and other key soft skills, and Discovery Ed offers it all with an outstanding reputation.”
The partnership’s benefits include Discovery Ed curriculum and other instructional resources, 15 days of professional development and 10 days of coaching for the teachers and administrators CCSD’s middle schools and four of its STEM Academy elementary schools.
Dr. Hightower said he envisions the knowledge and skills gained by teachers through this partnership will spread districtwide, much as how the STEM Academies’ teachers lesson plans and best practices have been shared to the benefit of all students.
Special thanks to school partners from businesses and community organizations that attended: Atlanta Braves Education Outreach, Captain Planet Foundation, Cherokee County Educational Foundation, Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Cobb EMC, Delphi Global, Firestorm Robotics, Kennesaw State University, Lexis Coatings, Manley Spangler Smith Architects, Reinhardt University, Science of Sport, Technical Resource Solutions and Zoo Atlanta.
#CCSDstem
John Barker, top right, of Delphi Global and president of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, discusses STEM concepts with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower, top left, Deputy Superintendent Trey Olson, and Janet Read of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta during the event to kick off CCSD’s partnership with Discovery Education.
Staci Wiech, left, and Jade Ricketts of Zoo Atlanta work on a STEM challenge at the CCSD and Discovery Education partnership kick-off. Teams were tasked with quickly building the highest tower possible using a box of plastic silverware.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower, right, talks with Mark Justice of Cobb EMC about STEM concepts during an exercise at the launch of the partnership between CCSD and Discovery Education.
Sandra Jones, left, of Kennesaw State University discusses STEM concepts with Creekland MS teacher Kim Bennett at the CCSD and Discovery Education partnership event.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower, right, and Chief of Staff Mike McGowan collaborate on a STEM challenge during the partnership launch for CCSD and Discovery Education.
Reinhardt University Associate Provost of Academics Dr. Jacob Harney talks with E.T. Booth MS teacher Kara Reeder during the CCSD and Discovery Education partnership launch.