Sandusky
Perkins STEM School
Located in Sandusky, Ohio, Perkins Township is a Midwestern community that was part of the Firelands – land set aside for Connecticut residents who lost their homes in the late 1700s due to the American Revolutionary War. Today the township is characterized as a peaceful community with tourism, farming, commerce and industry as important local industries.
Within Perkins Township resides the Perkins Local School District, a mid-sized school district that could mirror many districts in the state. But what makes the school unique is its vision to transform teaching and learning to become a national STEM school model.
In partnership with organizations including Apple, Inc., Sierra Lobo and NASA’s Plum Brook Station, Perkins STEM Schools will ensure that students develop the skills to thrive in the 21st century. Apple, with its history of technological innovation, is positioned to provide counsel in integrating technology into the classroom – starting with the implementation of a one-to-one laptop program. And Sierra Lobo and NASA’s Plum Brook Station will provide students and staff with opportunities to explore the fields of rocketry, cryogenics and space.
Ultimately, Perkins STEM Schools will allow students in grades 6-12 to utilize inquiry-based, collaborative learning to derive solutions to real life problems.
School Snapshot
What is the vision of the Perkins STEM School?
“The emphasis of the Perkins STEM Schools (PSS) will be to create a challenging, learning environment which will support students taking risks and will allow them to be inventive, creative problem solvers.” The school will focus on technology and the space industry.
Who can attend the Perkins STEM Schools?
All students in grades 6-12 will be served by the conversion of the Perkins middle and high schools into a comprehensive STEM school model. Initial enrollment will include students currently enrolled in the district. It is anticipated that 1,500 students in grades 6-12 will be a part of the STEM school program when at full operation.
What are the school’s teaching and learning philosophies?
Students at Perkins STEM School will be expected to attain high levels of understanding through interdisciplinary curricular themes including global awareness, financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy, civic literacy, health literacy, arts, and humanities. Perkins STEM School teachers will work on teams with representatives from the various partnering organizations to develop these interdisciplinary units.
When does the recruitment start for both teachers and students?
The Perkins STEM schools – consisting of Briar Middle School and Perkins High School – will be conversion schools, so the initial teacher corps will come from within the Perkins Local School District. Likewise, the initial students enrolled will be those currently enrolled in the district. Additional students from the region will be encouraged to attend the schools as space permits.
When will the Perkins STEM Schools complete their conversion?
Perkins took the first step toward conversion this fall by implementing a one-to-one laptop program in both the middle school and high school. In fall 2010, the school will implement a full STEM curriculum in grades 6 and 9. Each subsequent year two grades will be added until the full conversion of the school for grades 6-12 is complete in fall 2013.
