May 23, 2016
Every child, every class, every day!
Dear Vikings,
It is my distinct honor and pleasure to announce that Vanderlyn Elementary has earned AdvancED STEM certification! To secure such a prestigious, international distinction, STEM has to be embraced as an integrated, inquiry-based approach that incorporates at a minimum, the four disciplines: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through an extremely rigorous process, schools must demonstrate authentic, effective, and sustainable practices that meet the needs of all learners. Vanderlyn, through long-term and strategic collaborative planning, submitted itself to the stringent STEM process. We cultivated our practices, honed our teaching methods, broadened our curriculum, and improved student learning outcomes, thus, capturing the prominence of AdvancED STEM certification!
As a school, we engaged in a thoughtful, collegial self-analysis of our current STEM practices, rated our performance level for each of the eleven STEM indicators, substantiated it with a plethora of documentation specific to STEM practices, and submitted the information to a team of trained, experienced STEM certification reviewers. Our format emulated a “STEM-like” presentation—meaning it emphasized student-produced evidence in digital formats, such as student-developed videos, blogs, and digital portfolios. During the two-day, on-site visit, two STEM certification reviewers examined our evidence, conducted classroom observations, interviewed school stakeholders (administrators, teachers, parents, students, and business partners) affiliated with STEM, and deliberated, which was the final phase of the process. Consequently, on May 23rd, STEM certification was awarded to Vanderlyn! The reviewers provided the school leadership team with the final ratings for each STEM Indicator, the observation notes, specific examples of exemplary STEM practices, as well as areas where our STEM practices could be fortified. This long-awaited announcement has and will generate tremendous excitement!
Overall, only nine schools throughout the United States have received the distinct AdvancED STEM Certification. These schools embody the fundamental principles of STEM education and clearly demonstrate that by focusing on student-centered instruction, the classroom can become a place for all students to apply learning that is rigorous, relevant, and connected to real-life. Vanderlyn is proud to be amongst the first in the Dekalb County School District and the State of Georgia to achieve AdvancED STEM certification! This is an impressive accomplishment that cements Vanderlyn as a formidable, academic powerhouse that is rooted in 21st century best-teaching practices and epitomizes success for all students. Moreover, being formally certified by AdvancED STEM intensifies the level of educational integrity for our school and provides us with a competitive advantage over other non-accredited STEM schools.
Rather than focus solely on standardized tests measures, we realize that students are more than a mere score. Therefore, Vanderlyn’s STEM Program aims to focus on delivering a robust, interdisciplinary experience through project-based learning, and exposure to advanced content that is aligned with the Common Core Standards. This whole-child approach will ultimately create a well-rounded citizen and lifelong learner who is college and/or career ready to compete in a global society.
Thank you to the teachers, students, parents, community, and business partners whose many contributions made this four-year vision come to fruition. Thank you to the DCSD for providing its schools with this wonderful opportunity through AdvancED. A special thank you to our wonderful PTO for your relentless support and financial contributions that allowed us to fund professional learning, provide resources to support STEM education, and for your unwavering belief that “There is no place like Vanderlyn”! Because the school cannot live apart from the community, I consider this our legacy to the Vanderlyn Community. As your leader, I stand humble, proud, and in total awe of all we were able to successfully accomplish, and I look forward to our continued growth in STEM education.
Your STEM Principal,
Mrs. Crenshaw
