Grants totaling nearly $900,000 from the Grable Foundation and the Fund for Excellence, have been awarded to bring STEAM programming to Pittsburgh Public Schools.
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) will be available to students K-12 pathway for children in Pittsburgh Public Schools.
The school board is anticipated to accept the grant at a legislative meeting Wednesday, April 22.
“We knew we would not be able to launch this effort alone. We are grateful for the continued support we have received from the local foundation community. It is only because of this support that we are able to launch STEAMS in PPS,” said Superintendent Linda Lane.
STEAM education combines several multiple disciplines into project learning to help students gain a better understanding of how science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics relate to the real world.
The school board was considering closing the district’s smallest school, Pittsburgh Woolslair PreK-5 located in Bloomfield. Woolslair had 110 students for fall 2015. However, the new school board gave the school a reprieve. Woolslair supporters created a new plan for the school, a STEAM magnet, which would attract more students throughout the city of Pittsburgh and expand schools’ population.
Contingent on funding, the board approved the following actions: Pittsburgh Woolslair PreK-5 to Adopt STEAM theme with a partial Magnet. Pittsburgh Woolslair will become a partial magnet for the 2015-2016 school year beginning with grades K-12.
The School Board approved the development of a K-12 pathway for district students on Sept. 23 of 2014. The plan opens up space at Pittsburgh Woolslair PreK-5 through a partial magnet. This will enhance Pittsburgh’s Lincoln PreK-5 in Technology and Pre-Engineering Program. STEAM will be emphasized at Pittsburgh Schiller grades 6-8, and will begin the exploration of STEAM programs for Pittsburgh Perry High School.
Strengthening the Technology and Pre-Engineering program at Pittsburgh Lincoln was identified as a priority in the District’s Whole Child, Whole Community Plan. Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year Pittsburgh Schiller 6-8, a Classical Academy Magnet will offer a STEAM magnet option to incoming 6th graders.
The Grable Foundation also provided a second grant of $480,000, which will be used in support of the development of curriculum, instruction, professional development, and technology as well as the creation of STEAM labs.
Shaun Tomaszewski, district STEAM coordinator, said the program will be across the curriculum, and he hopes to have one extensive module per grade level each nine weeks.
A portion of the grant will also support the development of a mini- grant program for teachers across the district interested in bringing STEAM practices into their classrooms.
A grant of approximately $391,000 from the Fund for Excellence will support STEAM’s curriculum development, family and community engagement, and field trips for students.
“We’re also committed to spreading this innovation to all of our buildings so these STEAM mini-grants will be available for individual teachers or principals so that they can develop STEAM activities and learning experiences for kids in their own spaces,” Tomaszewski said.
Now school-wide STEAM programs for Woolslair, Lincoln, and Schiller will be moving forward. Each school will also have a STEAM lab that will be available to the students. They are still being designed, but each are expected to have enough sinks for washing hands, solid surfaces for working and movable furniture.
“I wish we had Perry High School STEAM available to use while I was a student,” said Perry graduate Michelle Chapman. “I feel STEAM is a necessity in the classroom, because it will teach the skills and knowledge we need to be successful in the real world.”
Schiller eighth grader Hussein Haji, of Perrysville, said the STEAM Projects have helped to make this his favorite year at Schiller.
The District is excited to explore the enhancements to Pittsburgh Public Schools, and expanding the technology and skill in the classroom.
“We’re always open to exploring any and all models that could support our students,” said Ebony Pugh, public information officer of Pittsburgh Public Schools.
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