Parents, students and teachers urge board to keep McDonough STEM coach and extension teacher

Dozens of speakers at the June 17 Middletown Board of Education meeting urged the district to keep McDonough Elementary School’s STEM coach and STEM extension teacher after the administration included those positions in a list of potential reductions.

Parents and students described small-group, project-based instruction, invention fairs, robotics and STEM extension activities that they said have improved critical thinking and engagement. “This program made my older son, who was previously extremely bored with school, actually enjoy school and want to go every day,” parent Becky Fiquero said during public comment.

Several current and former McDonough staff described the day-to-day work of the coach and extension teacher. “She was in my classroom on a regular basis,” said fifth-grade teacher Jackie Goodrich, describing support with project-based learning, assemblies and science fair work. Retired STEM extension teacher John Ferrero said the program, started in 2015, was built to give “each student what they need,” and that eliminating the positions would remove institutional knowledge and daily project supports.

Students in the TAG (talented and gifted) program also spoke. Fifth-grader Jackson Powwow said the program “helped us be more creative and productive,” and another student, Angelina, described specific activities: “We pushed through Math Olympiad, worked together in the stock market game,” she said.

District leaders told the board that McDonough would remain designated a STEM academy and that Project Lead The Way (PLTW) would be the district’s selected platform for an updated science and engineering curriculum. Rebecca Diot, who supports PLTW implementation in other district schools, said PLTW provides teacher training, bilingual resources and a three-year onboarding process. Superintendent Vasquez Matos said PLTW funding opportunities and existing grant work could be used to support implementation.

Parents requested clearer data on science scores and an explanation of the timing and communication behind staff notices. “Why were the STEM coach and teacher given notice of a layoff prior to the budget being voted on?” parent Paige McMullen asked.

Board members and administrators said they would continue discussion: the board rejected the district’s mitigation plan and asked staff to return with revised proposals and grant updates. District leaders said Rebecca Diot would spend three days a week at McDonough during launch, and that PLTW offers extensive teacher support and external grant opportunities.

Ending Parents and students said they would press the board and city leaders for alternatives before final staffing decisions are made for the coming school year.