D鈥橝ndre Weaver, a product of 海角直播, returned to the city and became principal of Gwendolyn聽Brooks College Preparatory Academy in 2012 after a one-year position as Assistant Principal at Walter Payton聽College Preparatory Academy. At the time of his arrival at Brooks, the school lacked access to Science,聽Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) resources, resulting in the students鈥 reduced motivation to learn聽about STEM subjects and careers.
In 2014, with support from The Fund, D鈥橝ndre launched an ambitious plan to integrate the science and math聽departments at Brooks into a unified STEM program. Along with Dr. Steven Rogg, director of STEM education,聽he used the 2014 Summer Design Program as an opportunity to redesign science and math learning in their聽school.
During the Summer Design Program, D鈥橝ndre, Steven and the rest of the Brooks team decided to dissolve the math and science departments and create a new STEM program, with聽the goal of transforming Brooks into a national model for urban STEM education.
The leaders designed a unique curriculum that would both challenge students with project- and design-based聽learning, as well as prepare them with the necessary skills for college and careers. The new curriculum and聽classrooms would foster collaboration among students and teachers and promote STEM literacy. The newly聽formed STEM department requires each of the classroom teachers to be certified聽to teach both math and science
Currently, the Brooks staff has fully enrolled the freshman class into its聽new STEM program. By the 2017-18 school year, D鈥橝ndre envisions聽a school-wide, fully integrated STEMprogram for all grades.