West Sedona School wins 3-year statewide STEM grant5 min read

West Sedona School was one of five schools in the state chosen for a three-year grant through the APS/Phoenix Suns Charities/NAU STEM Focused Schools for the Future program. Wildcat STEM team members include, from left, Patty Falsetto, Kelly Cadigan, Theresa Zaun, Chris Patterson, Maureen Barton, Principal Aaron Coleman and Deb Sanders. Photo by David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers

Christmas came early for West Sedona School as teachers and administrators found out recently that the school was just one of five chosen in the state to receive a prestigious grant geared toward the future of education.

The three-year grant is through the APS, Phoenix Suns Charities, Northern Arizona University STEM-Focused Schools for the Future program. The grant focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics — better known as STEM.

According to information on the program, “The Phoenix Suns Charities — STEM Focus Schools for the Future in Phoenix is a professional learning program designed for K- 8 schools that are interested in integrating STEM learning school-wide. The purpose is to assist Arizona public schools to develop a more STEM-literate workforce by building school capacity to design and implement effective STEM instruction.

“The Center for Science Teaching and Learning at NAU will guide schools to provide experiences which encourage students to use an interdisciplinary STEM approach to solve real-world issues, develop critical 21st-century skills and become better prepared for living in a complex global society.”

Each school will identify a leadership team consisting of an administrator, at least four teachers from the school, and a community partner to participate in the program to facilitate long-term and sustainable school change. School leader­ship teams will receive 138 hours of professional learning.

WSS will be partnering with the Friends of the Forest nonprofit and the U.S. Forest Service.

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“In a nutshell, I think I said the stars aligned or it was the perfect storm,” Principal Aaron Coleman said of the grant, noting that the school district has been STEM-certified in the past. “We were up for re-certifica­tion, so we wanted to look at other partnerships and STEM options. We have a group of people who were part of the original STEM accreditation, so I basically tasked Deb Sanders and others to research some options.”

Sanders, the grant point person for the school, said they wanted to seek out a new partnership but above all, they wanted more than “just a certificate on the wall.”

“We wanted something of substance,” she said. “Unfortunately, when I explored it online, the due date was the end of February and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, we missed this opportunity.’ Nonetheless, I went with my gut and called and the director said due to the pandemic, they extended the deadline until March and there was one opening left.”

What’s better — the school was accepted for the grant even before applying.

“I was told we checked off every box in terms of the application,” Sanders said. “I do agree — the stars aligned for our school because we were looking for some pretty lofty, systemic changes that we knew we’d have to make. This grant has those expectations and it gives us time over three years. It provides the training and our STEM team will become the trainer of teachers.”

The Northern Arizona University team will provide several on-site visits to help with the program and help plan various proj­ects that are skill-based that include all aspects of STEM. Embedded within the program is a project that incorporates the school and its partners — Friends of the Forest and the USFS.

“This way there is a direct link in helping the commu­nity,” Sanders said. “I think that’s pretty powerful. It’s not a one-and-done type of science project. It keeps giving as we continue to improve.”

Training is currently underway for the school’s STEM team in preparation for next school year, which begins in the fall. During the final year of the grant the school will be evaluated on its performance.

In terms of qualifying for the grant, Coleman said the school benefited from having been previously STEM certified, so not every school in the state was eligible. Sanders said the program also sought schools where students may not have the same opportunity as others with the STEM area.

Teacher Kelly Cadigan, a member of the STEM team, said she feels the grant provides a huge opportunity for the students to learn not only academic skills but life skills as well.

“It will teach them how to be part of the community and to show them how to make a positive impact,” Cadigan said. “It’s an exciting oppor­tunity for our students. This will be a life-long skill for them to take on and we’re very fortunate to have the opportunity to provide this type of learning.”

Sanders said the projects they will undertake will be led by the students with oversight by the teacher or as she put it, “The teacher is the guide on the side, not the sage on the stage.” Meaning, the students will be encouraged to come up with projects and solutions. Sanders said this will be something new for both the students and teachers.

“That’s huge and will require a shift in the approach,” she said. “We have trainers coming in who will be helping us to determine what that shift looks like and how is it accomplished. The students are providing the answers and the brainstorming rather than teachers presenting a lesson. That’s why it’s called inquiry-based STEM projects.”

An example she gave is that Friends of the Forest has a graffiti problem. It’s presented in a questioning format for which the students provide the answers.

“This really is a student-inspired path and process and that is something very exciting for teachers by seeing the project the students choose to take on and how they plan to get there,” Cadigan said. “We will guide their process but the motivation is truly coming from within each student.”

Ron Eland

Ron Eland has been the assistant managing editor of the Sedona Red Rock News for the past seven years. He started his professional journalism career at the age of 16 and over the past 35 years has worked for newspapers in Nevada, Hawaii, California and Arizona. In his free time he enjoys the outdoors, sports, photography and time with his family and friends.

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