More than a Label: Three LCPS Schools Showcase the Power of Inquiry-Based Learning

A student from Northwest Elementary conducts an experiment during the annual LCPS Elementary Science Olympiad, showcasing LCPS’ commitment to hands-on learning and innovative education.

By Patrick Holmes

When the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education added to the roster of STEM Schools of Distinction with a high-profile announcement last month, no school district in the state added more names to that list than Lenoir County Public Schools.

The recognition of Northwest Elementary School, EB Frink Middle School and Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School made LCPS one of only two districts with multiple honorees this year and, on the list of 63 STEM Schools of Distinction accumulating since 2014, one of only four districts with three or more recognized schools.

The honor, according to the schools’ principals, recognizes an ongoing effort to create an inquiry-based system of instruction that takes STEM values into all classrooms, rather than those focused on science, technology, engineering and math.

“I think this award lets the community know what we already know about our students and our school,” CSS principal Dr. Heather Walston said. “We are delivering a top-notch education to our students and they have a lot of opportunities here. We want the community to know that we’re working hard inside the walls of our building to provide the best for their children and that we’re thankful every day for the opportunity to do that.”

CSS, among the first in the state to earn STEM School of Distinction status 11 years ago, now holds that distinction along with national STEM certification from Cognia, the global nonprofit working in school accreditation and assessment. It is also the only traditional K-8 school on the state’s STEM School of Distinction list. The credit for achieving those honors goes to CSS teachers and staff for “giving our students what they need, which are strategies that engage the mind,” she said.

“STEM is not a ‘program’ at schools with recognition. It’s a mindset and approach to teaching and learning,” Dr. Stephanie Harrell, LCPS’s STEM coordinator, said. “STEM learning prepares students with the critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration skills they will need in a rapidly changing world. By emphasizing STEM, LCPS is ensuring that students are not only mastering core academic content but also developing the creativity and adaptability that employers and colleges are looking for.”

The five key attributes of a STEM School of Distinction are student outcomes, leadership, professional capacity, school culture and community connections. A year-long review of a school’s accomplishments in these areas by its teachers and staff form the basis for the application to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (DPI). After the application is reviewed at DPI, schools that advance in the process earn a site visit from the review team, which makes a final evaluation and a recommendation to the State Board of Education.

“It’s not possible to put on a dog-and-pony show for this distinction,” Dr. Michael Moon, EB Frink principal, said. “It is absolutely not possible to put together an empty application that looks good on paper and send it to Raleigh and get a ribbon. That’s not what this is.” The school’s site visit this past spring “was our opportunity to show people that what’s on paper is happening in reality every single day in the classroom,” Moon said. “As a school we talk all the time about ‘every child, every opportunity, every time’ and that’s what this STEM site visit really showcased. It’s not just something that’s happening in isolation in certain classrooms. You could have walked into any classroom and seen STEM strategies in action.”

Generating curiosity, empowering student creativity, encouraging resilience – LCPS extends those classroom goals into extracurricular activities that run the gamut from Science Olympiad and Science Fair competitions to technology clubs to Quiz Bowl, Battle of the Books and the statewide Quill Writing competition.

“The engineering design process is obvious when you’re in a STEM-centered classroom, but you find students using that model, the continuous cycle of improvement, in reading, math, social studies, pretty much everywhere,” Moon said.

Students today learn in a much different way than they did when Northwest Elementary principal Christy Eubanks began her career as an educator. “I think it comes down to engagement,” said Eubanks, a classroom teacher for 15 years. “Now, we’re competing for their attention against a host of distractions and STEM brings out that engagement. STEM activities are where the kids get to collaborate, they get to design together, they get to problem-solve together and it helps keep them engaged.”

Focusing on the STEM School of Distinction process encouraged Northwest teachers to create more hands-on, interactive lessons and, Eubanks believes, helped the school exceed state standards for students’ academic growth in last spring’s accountability testing. “Students were engaged in learning and they wanted to come to school because they knew it was going to be a fun project,” Eubanks said. “It all ties together with our academic goals.”

“This achievement represents the incredible work happening every day in our classrooms,” Williams said. “Our teachers, administrators and students have embraced a vision of learning that prepares young people not only for academic success, but for success in life. We’re proud that LCPS led all districts in North Carolina this year with the most schools earning STEM School of Distinction honors. That speaks volumes about the consistency, dedication and excellence across our entire school community.”

Innovating to meet the needs of 21st century students is hardly a new role for LCPS, which brought digital learning and iPads to all K-12 classrooms a decade ago and now boasts 15 schools with Apple Distinguished School designations, the most of any school system in the nation. “The district has invested heavily in the schools for us to have some of these processes and programs in place,” Moon said. “This STEM distinction is bigger than any one school.”

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