Contentnea-Savannah Joins Frink, Northwest in State STEM recommendation
Contentnea-Savannah joins list of schools recommended for state STEM distinction Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School has been added to a growing list of Lenoir County Public Schools campuses recommended to the State Board of Education for recognition as North Carolina STEM Schools of Distinction—joining earlier recommendations for E.B. Frink Middle School and Northwest Elementary.
The recommendation marks a major milestone in a months-long process that requires schools to submit a detailed application and host a site visit from a review team with the Department of Public Instruction. It does not guarantee final designation, which will be determined by a vote of the State Board of Education in the fall.
At Contentnea-Savannah, Principal Dr. Heather Walston said the journey to recommendation has been a schoolwide effort rooted in student engagement and hands-on learning from kindergarten through eighth grade.
“When people traditionally think of STEM, they think about a 30-minute science experiment,” Walston said. “But STEM today is about engagement—it’s strategies that help students think, solve problems, and grow academically.
Whether they’re five or 14, we want our students collaborating, creating, and connecting to the real world.” The application submitted by CSS included extensive written narratives, supporting documentation, and a website built by longtime STEM coach Mary Riddick. The portfolio earned the school a full-day site visit, during which reviewers observed learning in 15 classrooms across all grade levels.
“They got to see our students working in teams, our teachers facilitating instead of lecturing, and classrooms full of movement and conversation,” Walston said. “We don’t want our school to feel like a museum. It should feel like a construction zone—active, loud in the right ways, and full of learning.”
Earlier this year, E.B. Frink Middle and Northwest Elementary were also recommended following similar processes. Both schools built their applications around classroom evidence, community connections, and a culture of innovation.
“We realized we were already doing the work—collaboration, inquiry, hands-on problem solving—across every subject,” said Frink Principal Dr. Michael Moon. “The process helped us learn how to tell that story.”
At Northwest, Principal Christy Eubanks credited the staff’s collaboration. “We didn’t reinvent our lessons—we highlighted what was already happening,” she said. “The teachers, students, and community really came together to show what Northwest is all about.”
For Contentnea-Savannah, being a STEM School of Distinction isn’t about a title—it’s about purpose.
“Our motto is ‘Every student, every day, whatever it takes,’” Walston said. “This recognition is just one more way of showing that we are doing everything we can to prepare our kids—not just for a test, but for life.”
All three schools that went through the STEM process this year have been recommended to the State Board, affirming LCPS’s commitment to providing a well-rounded, high-quality education that emphasizes innovation, real-world learning, and academic excellence across all grade levels.
“It’s an incredible milestone for Lenoir County Public Schools and a powerful testament to the outstanding teaching happening in our classrooms every single day. This achievement reflects our educators, students, and leadership teams' relentless dedication, collaboration, and hard work. It’s the result of thoughtful reflection, strategic planning, and a shared commitment to excellence. As we celebrate this success, we’re also looking to the future with great anticipation, LCPS STEM Coordinator, Dr. Stephanie Harrell, said.
Next year, LCPS will have an additional three schools ready to complete the STEM distinction process, something Dr. Harrell is confident will be successful.
“Our unwavering focus on student learning will continue to drive remarkable outcomes across our district.”
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