Westlake Schools awarded $17K STEMM grant

The Westlake City School District was awarded a $17,575 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation (MHJF) grant to help staff provide students with 21st century skills balanced with substantive subject matter in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine).

The one-year grant – "Utilizing STEMM Problem-Based Teaching and Learning" – will support STEMM professional development for up to 16 math, science and pre-engineering teachers at Lee Burneson Middle School and Westlake High School. Westlake will partner with the Cleveland State University STEMM Education Center to train teachers in project-based learning (PBL) and how to implement projects within the classroom.

PBL is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working through a process of sustained inquiry in response to a complex question, problem or challenge. The grant will support professional development that explores the basics of PBL through best classroom practice, tools and project libraries, and project development.

Westlake High School biology teacher Melissa Barth and Associate Superintendent of Instruction Kathi Maxwell collaborated on the grant application.

“This is a significant investment in teaching and learning that will result in profitable returns for both students and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Scott Goggin. “This plan of instruction will significantly shift the way our students learn and empower our staff to lead that change.”

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Volume 11, Issue 14, Posted 10:07 AM, 07.16.2019