Students at Goshen Elementary have greater access to STEM education than ever before starting in the 2021 to 2022 school year. Pike County Schools is expanding its science, technology, engineering and math programming on the campus, ensuring that important learning tools are available to all students.
“We’ve had STEM academies that started in fifth grade and then the full-blown academy in 10th grade. But those are competitive programs where students have to apply to get in,” says Jennifer Lee, who is in her first year as principal after two years as assistant principal. “We wanted something that would carry over to more than the handful of students in each grade chosen for that.”
With the expanded program, all Goshen students from kindergarten on will be able to benefit from the county’s STEM resources. That includes access to a full STEM learning lab complete with computers, 3D printers and 3D microscopes to inspire them.
In addition to the STEM program, the elementary school also plans to develop a new walking trail and to bring a therapy dog to campus as part of its efforts to create a comfortable learning environment for all students. Lee is also thankful for the school’s strong partnership with South Alabama Electric Cooperative.
“Our students have attended programs put on by SAEC,” she says. “And, of course, they’ve provided scholarships and even donated items to our programs in the past.”
Goshen High School Assistant Principal Dr. Jamie Rich hopes to expand on the STEM skills students learn in the elementary school with valuable hands-on educational opportunities. With six years of experience as the director of Goshen and Pike County’s Agricultural Academy, Rich knows a thing or two about the benefits of those programs.
“We offer several short-term certificate programs in welding, nursing, paralegal, mechatronics and several other fields,” he says. “Many people know about the First in Flight program that offers flight training. That’s been extremely popular.”
Last year, in the Agricultural Academy alone, four students earned short-term certificates and two earned Associate of Science degrees. That program is the result of partnerships with Enterprise State Community College for core classes and Wallace State Community College of Hanceville for agricultural classes.
“We have also developed a great partnership with Troy University for these programs,” says Rich. “The main thing is we try to provide students with hands-on training in career fields so they can see what they might want to do when they graduate.”