Hispanopedia Wiki
Articulo de referencia

Escuela STEM Highlands Ranch

Coordenadas : 39°33′22″N 104°59′52″O / 39.5560°N 104.9979°O / 39.5560; -104.9979 {{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=080345...

Hispanopedia WikiContenido en espanolLectura gratuita
Coordenadas : 39°33′22″N 104°59′52″O / 39.5560°N 104.9979°O / 39.5560; -104.9979

La escuela STEM Highlands Ranch , anteriormente conocida como STEM School and Academy , es una escuela pública autónoma con un plan de estudios centrado en ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas ( STEM ), ubicada en Highlands Ranch, Colorado . El edificio escolar se encuentra en un parque empresarial junto a Central Park, [ 2 ] un centro comercial. La escuela ofrece educación desde preescolar hasta el último año de secundaria a más de 1700 estudiantes de toda el área metropolitana de Denver.

En 2019, fue escenario de un tristemente célebre tiroteo masivo , en el que un estudiante murió y otros ocho resultaron heridos.

Historia

Creación e historia temprana

La escuela abrió originalmente como STEM School and Academy para 480 estudiantes, de 6.º a 9.º grado, el 15 de agosto de 2011. [ 3 ] Estaba dirigida por el director David Floodeen. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] En 2012, la junta directiva contrató a Penny Eucker como directora ejecutiva. Se agregó un grado cada año hasta que tuvieron de 6.º a 12.º grado en 2014. Ese año, STEM terminó sus renovaciones y convirtió su gimnasio en una escuela secundaria de dos pisos, que contenía una sala de pesas, un salón de arte con horno y un laboratorio de química. En los años desde su apertura, la escuela pasó de estar clasificada como una de las de menor rendimiento en Colorado al número 10 en el estado (puntajes SAT). Y clasificada en el 9.º lugar en el país por US News & World Report. [ 4 ]

La primera promoción de STEM en 2015 estuvo compuesta por 30 estudiantes. La junta directiva deseaba expandirse, lo que llevó al arrendamiento y la remodelación del edificio contiguo y a la incorporación de la primera promoción de quinto grado en otoño de 2015. [ 4 ] De los 113 alumnos originales de quinto grado, solo 25 permanecieron en STEM durante el resto de su educación primaria, secundaria y preparatoria, y se graduaron como la promoción de 2023. Estos estudiantes fueron conocidos como los "alumnos originales de quinto grado".

Los grados K-4 se agregaron en otoño de 2016, convirtiendo oficialmente a la escuela en una escuela K-12. [ 4 ] Al pasar a formar parte de KOSON Schools en 2017, la escuela cambió su imagen y su nombre a STEM School Highlands Ranch, adoptando un nuevo eslogan, una nueva declaración de misión y un nuevo logotipo. [ 4 ]

En 2018, se implementaron programas contra el suicidio para ayudar a reducir las probabilidades de suicidio y tiroteos en las escuelas.

tiroteo masivo de 2019

A mass shooting occurred on school grounds on May 7, 2019, leaving one student dead and eight others injured.[5] The shooting was carried out by two students from the school.[6]

Expansion to present

In the fall of 2019, STEM School Highlands Ranch purchased the building that housed grades K–5.

In the fall of 2020, STEM purchased the neighboring building to house its P-TECH program (Grades 13 and 14) and the Business Offices for STEM School Highlands Ranch as well as the Charter Network Main Offices of KOSON Network of Schools.

Campus and facilities

The main school buildings have three engineering labs, four computer labs, a chemistry lab, a weight room, two gyms (Secondary and Elementary), and three parking lots which encase the building on all but the north sides of the school facility. The eastern side of the school has a playground for grades K-5. The north side of the building has a recreation area with picnic tables where high school students can eat lunch. South of the elementary building there is a small building for the P-TECH college course, there are 3 classrooms primarily for P-TECH courses, however some high school level classes are held in this building.

Additions and remolding

In the fall of 2021, the school finalized a master plan which includes four new classrooms, a secondary gym, middle school commons and a grand entry way. The planned finish date was in late 2022, but construction finished in early 2023.

A grand opening ceremony was held on February 1, 2023, and students got their first look at the new secondary gym, weight room, locker rooms, gender neutral bathroom, middle school commons, FRHS storage spaces, and grand entry way.[7]

The new gym allows the school to be a part of CHSAA[8]

KOSON Network

KOSON Network of Schools was founded in 2017, and is a collection of charter schools in Colorado. Currently, there is only one school in their network, STEM School Highlands Ranch. Two other proposed schools, STEM School Denver and STEM School Sterling Ranch, have been denied by Denver Public Schools and Douglas County School District.

The efforts for replicating the flagship campus of STEM Highlands Ranch began in earnest in the fall of 2021, the school hired a Replication Officer and officially organized KOSON as the Charter Network organization. The applications for STEM School Denver (K-5) and STEM School Sterling Ranch (K-12) were submitted in March 2022, however, the applications were denied by Denver Public Schools and Douglas County School District RE-1.

KOSON currently operates inside STEM School Highlands Ranch's P-TECH building, also known as the Charter Network Main Offices.[9]

CEO and CIOs

Matt Cartier currently holds the position of CIO.

In 2012, Penny Eucker was named CEO, she resigned from her position in 2022.[10]

Dr. Karen Johnson became CEO after Penny Euker's resignation,[11] however, in May, 2023, she announced her retirement from KOSON Schools.

In the Fall of 2022, the KOSON/STEM Board of Directors established the official Search Committee to review the current CEO Roles and Responsibilities to provide edits and suggested changes for the revamped KOSON leadership role. The Search Committee determined that the role may be a CEO role officially, switching to using Chief Innovation Ambassador as a descriptor.

The CIO is responsible for strategic vision, building stakeholder relationships, fundraising, replication, overall accountability for the KOSON Schools Network, and maintaining alignment with the policies and strategic direction of the KOSON/STEM Board of Directors. The position will report directly to the KOSON/STEM Board of Directors and work to accomplish Board established yearly objectives and benchmarks.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑"STEM SCHOOL HIGHLANDS RANCH". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  2. ↑"Central Park development in Highlands Ranch shaping up to have healthy living theme". October 12, 2017.
  3. 12"STEM to host parent meetings". Colorado Community Media. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  4. 12345"Our History – STEM School Highlands Ranch". Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  5. ↑Associated Press. "Shooting at suburban Denver school leaves 18-year-old male student dead, sheriff says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  6. ↑Healy, Jack; Stack, Liam (May 7, 2019). "School Shooting in Colorado Leaves 1 Student Dead and 8 Injured". The New York Times.
  7. ↑Bostel, Nicole. "Secondary News and Updates (02/24/23) | STEM School Highlands Ranch". Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  8. ↑"Member Schools List & Map". chsaanow.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  9. ↑"Welcome to KOSON Network of Schools | KOSON Schools". Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  10. ↑"Eucker unexpectedly resigns as KOSON charter CEO: STEM to continue efforts to open new schools". Colorado Community Media. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  11. ↑Bostel, Nicole. "Karen Johnson Named Interim CEO of KOSON Schools | STEM School Highlands Ranch". Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  12. ↑"Meet TIME's First-Ever Kid of the Year". Time. December 3, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2023.