By Gerri Miller
Elmore/Autauga News
Millbrook Middle School (MMS) hosted the Elmore County Board of Education Tuesday afternoon and the spotlight was on the County’s growing Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) programs.
MMS Principal Sean Kreauter first announced that the school had been named one of only 31 schools in the state to win Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS) School of Distinction for the 2020-21 school year. The award was created in 2001 to recognize schools in Alabama that showcase outstanding programs and services to students. Each school was nominated by its superintendent with 138 school programs nominated statewide.
Teachers and staff from MMS, Coosada Elementary, Airport Road Intermediate School and Stanhope Elmore High School gave details on how they have incorporated STEM and STEAM, (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs into their classrooms.
Sixth grade teacher Christen Atkins told the board about Project Lead the Way, a STEM program where students could learn about Infection Detection and Automation and Robotics in fifth grade. In sixth grade, students were introduced to Design and Molding and App Creators programs.
Assistant Principal Dr. Renee Tucker talked about how the concepts taught in fifth and sixth grade are incorporated into a junior high curriculum where students can take Medical Detectives, Hands-on Engineering and a physics class.
There are also opportunities for students who are interested in Computer Science for Innovators, Coding and Programs, Energy and Environment and Automation and Robotics. They are also learning about algorithms and mechanisms.
The program is not limited to gifted students. “All students have the opportunity to take these programs,” Dr. Tucker said.
Students from MMS’s Robotics Team gave the School Board a demonstration using IQ robots. The students design their robots and code them to play a game. The students get hands-on experience building and programming robots to solve problems.
School Board Superintendent Richard Dennis congratulated the MMS Robotics Team on a recent victory. The school’s teams placed second and eighth in finals for grades 6-8 in the SCORE Vex IQ Robotics Competition. The fifth-grade team placed second and eighth for finals. The teams will compete in the state competition in Auburn this weekend.
Dennis said the goal is to get a STEM lab in every middle school in the county. “All of this shows that STEM programs are not just in the Tech Center,” he said.
Dennis also recognized Holtville High School Principal Kyle Futral for being named 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year by the Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP).
Futral will be recognized at the Awards Luncheon during the CLAS Convention on June 14, 2022 at the BJCC in Birmingham. The CLAS Convention is the largest gathering of school leaders in the state of Alabama.
Dennis gave the Board a construction update and said it will soon be move-in day for the expansion of the County’s Career Tech center. He said in July a kitchen upgrade project will begin for Stanhope Elmore High School.
Dennis also introduced Redland Road Elementary School’s new Principal Cory Eckstein. Eckstein was previously Assistant Principal and has also served as Instructional Technology Leader at Tallassee City Schools.
Next month’s meeting will be at the Elmore County Technical Center.
