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Georgia Department of Education awards STEM certification to Cobb County’s Wheeler High School

MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org
Dorie Turner Nolt, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 656-5594, dnolt@gadoe.org  
Gilda Lyon, STEM coordinator for GaDOE, 404.463.1977, glyon@doe.k12.ga.us

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Oct. 25, 2012 - The Georgia Department of Education has awarded Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) certification to Wheeler High School in Cobb County.
 
The department presented the school’s Center for Advanced Studies in Science, Math and Technology with the certification at an Oct. 16 ceremony that included state and local officials, as well as business partners.
 
“Programs like the one at Wheeler High School will help fill the void of STEM professionals in Georgia’s labor market by tapping into students’ passions for science, technology, math and engineering,” State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge said. “I am proud of the work being done at high schools like Wheeler to prepare students for the 21st Century workforce.”
 
To earn STEM certification, the school had to submit an application showing that it meets rigorous criteria, such as evidence of teacher collaboration, business and industry partnerships, high levels of math and science instruction and an integrated, project-based STEM curriculum. A team from the Georgia Department of Education visited the school to observe the program.
 
Highlights from the Wheeler High School application include a requirement that all seniors complete an internship with a company where the student develops a research project and presents it at the end of the school year. The school also sees strong support from parents and community members who provide money for STEM projects and equipment for students.
 
Wheeler is the fifth school program to become STEM certified in Georgia. The others are:
·        Marietta Center for Advanced Academics
·        Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology
·        Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology
·        Henderson Mill Elementary
  
Learn more about STEM schools at http://stemgeorgia.org/.

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