Five CCSD Teachers Receive Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association Grants
Staff Report From Charleston CEO
Wednesday, March 6th, 2019
Getting scholars hooked on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) early is the key to increasing diversity and inclusion in these subjects in high school and beyond.
The Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Lowcountry Chapter annually gives $9,000 in STEM grants to Lowcountry teachers in grades 4-8. This year, five of the six grant winners are CCSD teachers.
Ashley River Creative Arts' teacher of the year, Jen Waldron, proudly leads the school's STEAM robotics teams. These STEAM scholars have been peer-leaders in integrating the arts with science, technology, engineering, and math. The STEAM team will benefit from a Cue Robot thanks to the grant.
Buist Academy fourth and fifth-grade scholars use STEM to solve real-world problems within the International Baccalaureate framework. For example, scholars design, model and test a robot to remove hazardous material from a fictional disaster site. Tracie Howe, STEM teacher, will use the grant to purchase VEX IQ robot design kits.
Deer Park Middle scholars are so enthusiastic about robotics that the school created a second robotics team in addition to their First LEGO League team. The teams will use the grant to purchase spare parts for their robots and a 3-D printer to design and create both practical and whimsical items. Co-led by the teacher of the year, Alana Lewis, and veteran mathematics teacher, Cathy Demers, the robotics teams are bursting with creativity.
Women in Charge, an engineering program for girls at Moultrie Middle, will use their grant to purchase computer-building kits so girl-coders will have a concrete understanding of the inner workings of their computers and answer questions like, "What is a motherboard and how does it function?" Directed by Millibeth Currie, science department chair, the program is sponsored by Charleston Digital Corridor.
Orange Grove Charter eighth-grade scholars are apprenticing with Lowcountry Maritime Society to learn boat-building. While developing a connection to Charleston's waterways, scholars learn important 21st Century skills such as teamwork and perseverance, and world-class knowledge in carpentry, math, science, and engineering. Lori Berry, STEAM teacher, will use grant funds to support their next boat-building project.
Applications for the $1,500 grant are due April 12, 2019 for funding to use in 2019-2020.