District announces the implementation of STEM curriculum at the annual Kennett Education Foundation Dinner
By P.J. D’Annunzio, Staff Writer, KennettTimes.com
Kennett Education Foundation donors celebrate raising money for the Kennett Consolidated School District — and a new math and science focused curriculum.
PENNSBURY — For the Kennett Consolidated School District educators and Kennett Education Foundation members gathered at the Mendenhall Inn on Wednesday night, the message of “consistent persistence” delivered by speaker Kevin Reilly — a former Philadelphia Eagle and cancer survivor — was timelier than ever.
The nation has fallen behind in mathematics and science achievement in comparison to other industrialized nations. Fewer American-born students are becoming doctors, engineers, and scientists. On the local level, KCSD’s remedy to this backslide is the implementation of the STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
The looming problem, however, is that inadequate funding from Harrisburg — due to Gov. Tom Corbett’s education cuts — makes the creation of this program almost impossible for the district to achieve by itself.
That’s where the Kennett Education Foundation steps in.
“The Kennett Education Foundation is a non-profit organization established by a group of administrators, Kennett High Alumni, parents, and local community members who came together to support public education,’’ KEF Vice-President Susan Mangan said. “Our primary purpose is to fund scholarships for graduating seniors, we also have a list of grants that we have in place for our educators for sustaining programs or trying a new one, and finally, tonight, we are going to start a new one with Project Lead the Way.”
Former Philadelphia Eagle Kevin Reilly speaks about overcoming challenges.
Project Lead the Way is a non-profit organization founded by engineers, teachers, and college professors dedicated to providing in-depth STEM training and comprehensive curriculum to school districts.
Through fundraising and silent auctions at the KEF Dinner, the Foundation was able to raise approximately $9,500 to put towards roughly $30,000 of start-up costs for the STEM program. The district will be responsible for funding the faculty training aspect of STEM implementation while KEF makes up the difference with funds allotted from its budget.
Although some KCSD residents have balked at the idea of spending district money on a new program while in the throes of a financial crisis, district administrators feel that the benefits of the program far outweigh any detriment the start-up costs may impose.
“[STEM] provides us with the opportunity for growth that challenges us as a public education system to deliver new programs to meet the trends and job markets of the future,” KCSD Business Manager Mark Tracy said. “It provides a challenging, rigorous program of study. It is a pathway for STEM-related fields of study. It bridges and connects in-school and out-of-school learning opportunities, student exploration of STEM and related careers, and prepares our students for successful post-secondary employment, education, or both.”
Members of the Kennett High Robotics Team show off their work during the dinner.
Also present at the dinner was the Kennett High Robotics Team showcasing their recent competition awards. Through their work in the fields of science and technology, the students of the Robotics Team have come to represent the high achievement associated with the STEM curriculum, providing proof of what concentrated study in those fields can produce. A case in point, their mechanized creation: The Demonator.
Finally, in keeping with the optimistic theme of the night, Kevin Reilly shared his thoughts on the challenge that awaits KCSD and its students.
“I firmly believe that you guys and gals in this room tonight are on the right track with in the manner of teamwork to raise the level of education in your community,” he said. “I just visited Kennett Square ironically five times in the last six weeks, and I have seen the growth that has gone on there; I see the community effort with people coming together. You have a dream: to be better than what you are…there may be no such thing as magic, but there are miracles. As long as there’s an organization like this, they can happen everyday right here in Kennett Square.”
To learn more about Project Lead the Way and KCSD’s involvement in STEM, refer to https://kennetttimes.com/?p=2910
