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Charles H. Barrows ranked in state, named STEM School of Excellence; North Windham rolls out peer‑visit initiative
Summary
The Windham superintendent recognized Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy for state ranking and national STEM School of Excellence honors; North Windham principal outlined a peer, non‑evaluative classroom visit program to strengthen instruction.
The Windham Board of Education on Jan. 21 heard several instructional highlights, including state and national recognition for Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy and a classroom‑based professional learning initiative at North Windham School.
Superintendent Dr. Iris Gomero said Barrows was ranked No. 81 among Connecticut middle schools based on math and reading performance and was named a 2025–2026 STEM School of Excellence by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association. As part of the honor, staff will attend the ITEEA annual conference in Virginia Beach where Barrows will be recognized with a School of Excellence banner. Dr. Gomero noted kindergarten students built skate‑park models to explore motion and energy as an example of Barrows’ hands‑on STEM work; Principal Eben Jones encouraged board members to participate in the school’s upcoming Invention Convention.
North Windham Principal Amy Majek presented an initiative titled "Iron Sharpens Iron: Together we grow stronger; learning from each other’s practice," which sets non‑evaluative peer classroom visits as a district expectation. Under the approach, each teacher will visit two other classrooms between August and December and two additional classrooms later in the year; mid‑year goal meetings will discuss lessons learned. Four staff members who participated in peer visits told the board the experience was safe, valuable and led to new instructional strategies and increased student engagement.
Dr. Gomero praised the work as aligned to district learning goals and said the visits create conditions for teachers to collaborate without added stress. The presentations were informational; no board action was required.
