Dunwoody Elementary Awarded Prestigious State Certification

Dunwoody Elementary has been recently honored with the highly sought after STEM certification from the Georgia Department of Education, making it the third in the state to ever do so.

The state gives this distinction to schools that successfully implement a cross-educational platform that relates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to lessons across all subjects.

“STEM is truly a paradigm shift in how we approach and teach science and math,” said Jennifer P. Sanders, principal of Dunwoody Elementary, in a recent press release. “It is a way to capture a child’s natural curiosity to help them learn.”

Initiatives like this one are part of a national effort to encourage the development of STEM skills among U.S. students.

According to Sanders, the recognition will also strengthen the school’s grant applications for its future projects, and other area schools are now looking to Dunwoody Elementary for adaptations to their own curriculum.

“I am thrilled beyond words to have achieved STEM certification,” Sanders added. “I am overwhelmed by the support and talent of our teachers, and I am amazed at the spirit our students have shown in the pursuit of this title. STEM has brought our community together with hard work and determination.”

Working toward STEM certification was a concerted effort on the part of Dunwoody Elementary faculty, staff, and parents---one that has already paid off. According to the school, science accountability test scores went up 5 to 6 percentage points among students in third and fifth grade in the first year of STEM program implementation.

“This is an outstanding achievement by the faculty, staff, and parents of Dunwoody Elementary,” said Michael Thurmond, superintendent of DeKalb County Schools said in the release. “This teamwork demonstrates what can be accomplished when everyone works together for the common good of the students.”

Photo credit: STEMGeorgia.org

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