July 26, 2017 - Timpson ISD is proud to announce the designation it has received from TEA (Texas Education Agency) to become one of only 6, K-12 T-STEM (Texas Science Engineering, & Mathematics) academies in the state.
The 2017-2018 school year will begin its journey into the STEM arena. Students will begin accelerated Math TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills) in lower grades to ensure that they can graduate high school with college hours in Algebra, Calculus, Statistics, and even Engineering. Students currently are taking dual credit Biology and Chemistry classes which will allow them to graduate with 16 college hours in Science.
T-STEM students in elementary and junior high will be allowed the opportunity to fall in love with hands on learning. Timpson elementary and junior high are setting aside time each day to focus on engineering projects. These projects will incorporate Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, and Electrical engineering to name a few. Timpson’s STEM Leadership Team attended a convention in Houston that was sponsored by Educate Texas. T-STEM school districts attended the conference and were awarded the opportunity to attend a myriad of STEM seminars.
The leadership team was then allowed to tour STEM field occupations in places such as Conoco, Shell, Anheuser Busch, and NASA. It was a great opportunity for our STEM Leadership to better understand some of STEM field opportunities that await our students. The Math and Science teachers from our High School also attended a two day STEM Academy in Texarkana. We saw hands on student engagement and excitement for education.
The progression of the curriculum was apparent from campus to campus with a progressive increase in rigor. Texarkana’s STEM academy encompassed student driven learning, an ability for student articulation, and a persistent model that encouraged problem solving at its best. This model facilitated critical thinking skills at the very earliest age. We are grateful for the opportunity to develop a STEM academy which will work hand in hand with our Collegiate Center.
We are also proud of the influx of students we have had into our dual credit/Collegiate Center program. In one short school year we have tripled the enrollment in our dual credit program. We have several academic partnerships which include Texas State Technical College (TSTC), University of Texas at Permian Basin (UTPB), Panola College, and Western Texas College (WTC). These multiple partnerships were a necessity when considering the pathways of certain careers, cost to our school district, and the needs of our local businesses.
We are partnering with local businesses as well. These partnerships are a vital component of our Collegiate Center. It is our hope that we can fill the needs of our local employers with quality applicants.
We are thankful for the partnerships we have already formed with Tyson, Eastman, General Shelters, and Smith Sawmill. We have met with the Timpson Area Chamber of Commerce, the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce, and the Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation who were instrumental in giving us the needs of the local businesses and industries in our area.
The vision and progressive thinking of our Superintendent, Dr. Mid Johnson, and Timpson ISD’s board of trustees is a blessing to our students, staff, and community here in Timpson. If a district is complacent, they are stagnant, and already falling behind, we are moving forward at Timpson ISD. Proud to be a Bear!!!
