TUCSON, Ariz. — A kickoff event for the "STEMAzing" teacher leader program was held at the Flowing Wells Unified School District on Tuesday.
About 20 educators were on hand for the launch. With the help of a grant from the Thomas R. Brown Family Foundation, the idea is to develop a hands-on approach to curriculum and get ahead of new state standards.
"The new science standards are really pushing teachers to shift their instruction to having students doing science, and using the science and engineering practices and becoming scientists and engineers," said DaNel Hogan, the director of the STEMAZing Project.
Hogan says science will continue to be important in learning 21st Century skills for future careers.
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students can expect to become scientists by doing. District officials say every student kindergarten through 12th grade will be impacted.
"I want the students to get some excitement around science," said Sarah Smallhouse, the foundation president. She says science is about asking questions and exploring, at at one point almost any student of science will be surprised about what they discover.
When teachers see what is successful in the classroom, they will be able to share with their peers. The program will run for two years.
