New chapter begins in Waukesha schools

Waukesha — On Sept. 1 a new chapter begins in the long history of the Waukesha School District with two charter schools that will be emphasizing science, technology, engineering and math.

Those areas of emphasis are embodied in the name of the school, the Waukesha STEM Academy, which has been created thanks to the efforts of school officials, the community and federal grants.

Ryan Krohn, principal of the schools that will be housed in the former Saratoga and Randall elementary schools, said anticipation and excitement are high with the opening of the schools.

"We are primed and ready," said Krohn, a principal in the district for eight years.

The genesis for the charter schools began a few years ago when officials began to look at closing some schools and took a closer look at "what was good for our community," he said.

What came out of that debate was the use the agreement to adopt the rigorous curriculum of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Academy.

Hybrid concepts

Todd Gray, district superintendent, wrote a grant, which the district received. Officials then studied models used across the country.

The result in the district was excitement with the idea of highly engaged students.

"This is the second year of the grant and we are primed and ready for a quick transformation," Krohn said.

Thus far, 760 students have enrolled with 300 more on a waiting list.

There is an integrated approach to the program with a lot of collaboration. Though the student-to-teacher ratio will be similar to the other Waukesha schools, there is a major difference. Teachers team-teach with as many as three or four teachers in a classroom at a time. The district is also partnering with Carroll University and there will be aides in the classroom as well, Krohn said.

Students will be exposed to hybrid concepts learning the four specific groups in connection with the other disciplines, such as reading, writing, history and the arts.

Summer training

"This new charter school will provide equal opportunities for all children to be involved in a unique, innovative, relevant, and rigorous elementary and middle school experience," according to the district's website.

"Students will receive differentiated instruction in the core academic areas in addition to daily opportunity to apply and use their knowledge to solve problems, create, innovate and work in teams to develop team leadership skills. STEM concepts and methodologies will be integrated throughout all curricular areas.

The STEM program will be 21st Century skills driven, standards-led, and will focus on how students learn. Instruction will be based on research on learning and teaching in grades K-8 and on research on learning science and mathematics as it relates to culture, gender and society. Technology will be an integral component in the daily teaching and learning activities," the website said.

An example of an integrated lesson would be looking at the art and engineering design utilized in Harley-Davidson products, Krohn said.

Krohn said the teachers are ready for this new challenge spending the summer training for the program.

And the community was been a huge supporter he said.

"People reached out and supported" the program, he said.

Next week, the district will be primed and ready to embark on this new chapter in educating Waukesha's youths.

Then & Now

Then: Randall Elementary School, 114 Charles St. and Saratoga Elementary School, 130 Walton Ave.

Now: Waukesha STEM Academy (grades K-5 Randall campus, grades 6-7 Saratoga campus)

No. of Students: Approximately 760

Focus: Science, technology, engineering and math

Principal: Ryan Krohn

Opens: Sept. 1, 2010

Information: waukeshastemacademy.com