Three Lenoir County schools advance toward North Carolina STEM School of Distinction site visits

District staff told the board that three Lenoir County schools advanced in the North Carolina STEM School of Distinction process and will host review teams for site visits in April and May.

Dr. Stephanie Harrell (presenter) described the state’s STEM school rubric, a multi-step evaluation that includes a rubric-based self-assessment, an application with artifacts, and, for schools that advance, an on-site observation and interviews with students, teachers and community partners. “The application process is pretty rigorous,” she told the board, and noted the rubric covers student opportunities, community connections, school culture, leadership development and K–12 to postsecondary pathways.

The district submitted three schools this cycle. Staff said Continuous Savannah K–8 piloted the NC rubric during the program’s early years and had to complete the full recertification this cycle. The presenters said the state’s process is now typically three years between full certifications and that the district is preparing the schools for site visits.

Board discussion praised the district’s effort; one board member said the designation would “provide more learning and teaching opportunities for these students, teachers, and staff, and will result in more successes for our district.” No board action was required at this stage; staff will proceed with site-visit preparations.

Note: transcript contained some school-name transcription artifacts; the district’s presentations named specific schools advancing to site visits and staff spelled out the rubric and timeline.