-Discovery Education’s Digital STEM Curriculum Resources and Professional Learning Set to Help Educators at Four More District Schools Create Dynamic STEM Learning Experiences-
Silver Spring, MD (June 17, 2019) — Texas’ Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD) today announced the expansion of its multi-year partnership with Discovery Education, the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms. In this collaboration’s latest phase, Discovery Education will support four more HCISD schools as they launch a new effort to accelerate the growth of the school system’s culture of STEM teaching and learning.
HCISD is located in one of the nation’s fastest growing regions–South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley–and is dedicated to preparing its students for success in the area’s rapidly expanding economy and beyond. Last year, in support of HCISD’s strategic plan, Transforming Learning for Global Achievement, Discovery Education began providing educators in the district’s STEM2 Preparatory Academy dynamic digital content and sustained professional learning they are now using to create engaging, STEM-focused digital learning environments. In this new stage of partnership, Discovery Education will support educators at two more HCISD elementary schools and two HCISD middle schools as they create immersive STEM learning experiences that will heighten students’ college and career readiness.
“Discovery Education’s dynamic digital resources and sustained, job-embedded professional development were initially chosen by HCISD to support our strategic plan’s key goals,” said Harlingen Consolidated Schools’ Chief Academic Officer Alicia Noyola. “Together with Discovery Education, educators at the STEM2 Preparatory Academy are having great success as they use these resources to deliver high-quality instruction that results in maximum student achievement. Expanding this powerful partnership will help us replicate this success in even more schools.”
Two HCISD elementary schools—Travis Elementary School and Rodriguez Elementary School—will shortly begin integrating Discovery Education STEM Connect into classroom instruction. STEM Connect is a cutting-edge, web-based, interdisciplinary K-8 supplemental resource that helps students develop the creative, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills they need for success beyond graduation, and was recently awarded the prestigious CODiE award by the Software and Information Industry Association. Featuring flexible, modular learning units, STEM Connect provides students an easy-to-follow educational experience that includes real-world challenges, career connections, and hands-on activities. In addition, the educators at these two schools will also participate in Discovery Education’s STEMformation initiative.
A comprehensive, three-year system of professional development, STEMformation helps educators strengthen and sustain a culture of STEM at individual school sites and guides educators as they master STEM instructional strategies. With a focus on developing high-quality STEM lessons, creating transdisciplinary lessons and units, and vertically aligning STEM education school-wide, STEMformation provides the robust professional development, job-embedded coaching, and administrative leadership to create a center of STEM excellence.
In addition, educators from two HCISD middle schools—Vela Middle School and Gutierrez Middle School—will participate in Discovery Education’s STEM Leader Corps capacity building model. A four-year system for scaling STEM education, STEM Leader Corps is a sustainable capacity building model that develops and nurtures teachers and administrators as they support STEM in their school system. Both STEMFormation and STEM Leader Corps have been certified as meeting the Global STEM Alliance (GSA) STEM Education Framework, which was developed by the New York Academy of Sciences and SRI Education.
“Harlingen Superintendent Dr. Arturo Cavazos, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Alicia Noyola, and the entire HCISD team are playing an incredibly important leadership role in accelerating STEM education in South Texas,” said, Phillip Mikula, Director of Educational Partnerships at Discovery Education. “We look forward to continuing to support HCISD’s work to prepare their students for future success.”
HCISD educators will also be supported by the Discovery Education Community as they transform students’ learning experiences with dynamic digital media. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Community connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing and inspiration.
For more information about Discovery Education’s digital curriculum and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Facebook, follow us on Twitter at @DiscoveryEd, or find us on Instagram and Pinterest.
###
About Discovery Education:
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms. Through its award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia resources, and the largest professional learning network of its kind, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning and improving academic achievement around the globe. Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms and primary schools in the U.K. and reach over 5 million educators and 51 million students in more than 90 countries. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to empower teachers with customized solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.
Contact:
Discovery Education
Stephen Wakefield
Email: SWakefield@discoveryed.com
Phone: (240) 463-2894