Roger D. Gehring Academy of Science and Technology was honored recently as a National Blue Ribbon School, the only school in Nevada to receive the distinction this year.
The big picture: The U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools are “high-performing schools” or “schools making great strides in closing achievement gaps.” Gehring Academy is one of only 14 schools nationwide to be honored in both categories.
- Gehring Academy cited high levels of student engagement, interdisciplinary learning that addresses real-world problems, strong teacher retention, and an open-door policy with staff as key factors contributing to the school’s success.
What they’re saying: “Our educators foster curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving,” Principal Sarah Robinson said. “Incorporating STEM education throughout our instruction gives students the skills and motivation to succeed now and in the future.”
Gehring Academy forms community partnerships with STEM professionals, who help take learning to a new level, Assistant Principal Erin Erdman said. She added that the partnerships guide students’ understanding of the “why.”
Students are engaged in inquiry-based problem solving, Erdman said, that uses the engineering design process.
- For example, the school’s fourth-grade students participate in a three-month-long study on sustainability. They begin by studying fossil fuels in English Language Arts, designing sustainable homes in math, and then creating them in science.
Over the past two years, Gehring Academy has increased its family engagement.
- There is weekly communication to families via Parentlink and monthly Pastries with Parents gatherings in partnership with the school’s PTA, which provides treats, and the school provides information on important topics such as homework and MAP testing.
Noteworthy: Gehring Academy offers robust professional learning opportunities, often led by the school’s staff, who are experts in STEM curriculum and problem-based learning.
“The most impactful measure of the professional culture at Gehring is our transparency with staff and families as well as our belief in shared leadership,” Robinson said.
