Problems:•Deficit of knowledge workers for the 21st century economy•Wide disparity between districts in offerings for highly able students•Limited exposure to rich, integrated STEAM curriculum for all students

Solution: The Virginia Science Technology Engineering and Applied Mathematics (STEAM) Academy

“Where intellect and innovation converge”

Learn with peers Learn with expert faculty Learn with practicing scientists

Immersive

Residential

Challenging

Comprehensive

AppliedStatewide Diverse

Public

VA STEAM Academy has three components

1. Establish a public, residential academy for 1,000, 9th-12th grade Virginia students who show talent in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics

2. Create a middle school summer residential academy for highly able students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

3. Serve as an incubator/laboratory for integrated, K-12 STEAM curriculum and pedagogy for students and teachers across the Commonwealth using:

high quality, face-to-face and digital professional development online, on demand classroom instruction

Mission

To develop the next generations of creative, ethical, and imaginative STEAM leaders who understand and respect the humanities

Partners and progress

Plan of action: Establish core committees

Teaching and Learning

Human Capital

Fund Developmen

t

Building, Grounds, &

Site Configuratio

n

Teaching and Learning: Create a rigorous, internationally-benchmarked, relevant curriculum Design with subject matter experts and national leaders to serve on

the standing Teaching and Learning subcommittee Offer honors and advanced level courses Offer core and elective classes in science, engineering, mathematics,

wellness (PE), social science, English, world languages and fine arts Deliver cutting edge, evidence-based instructional training to

teachers across the Commonwealth Deliver digital on demand instruction to students across the

Commonwealth

Summer STEAM Pilot Camp

Free, one-week, residential camp for rising 6th-8th graders drawn from across the Commonwealth who show interest and ability in math and physics

Two tracks: Math/Encryption and Physics 50 available seats 300 applications to date, including competitive applications from

Suffolk public, private and home school communities Deadline to apply: March 15 Decisions April 2 Follow up

Human Capital: Governance, Faculty and Staff Governance:

• Consortium Steering Committee• Governance model • Governing Board + Regional Advisory Boards

Faculty and Staff: • Draw from industry, higher education, and certified secondary

teachers • Ensure a significant number hold masters or doctoral degrees• Provide endowed chairs to boost salary by 20% for 12 month

contract

Human Capital: Students (Admissions)

Develop a Virginia STEAM Academy pipeline through the existence of the 6-8th grade summer residential STEAM program

Describe an open and selective admissions process that includes:• School district apportionment • Weighted lottery• A range of judgment criteria (e.g., school records, essays,

references, exams, interviews, etc.) • A profile of the kind of student who will benefit from and

contribute to the Academy

Fund Development: Operating budget

$19 million annual operating budget • NCSSM has an annual operating budget of $20m. 93% comes

from state dollars. Remainder comes from school foundation.

• IMSA has an annual operating budget of $25 million. This includes operation of both the residential academy and statewide teacher professional development. 75% comes from state tax dollars. Remainder comes from donations from corporations, foundations, small businesses, and individual donors

Fund Development: Capital costs

Seek to control start up costs by securing land grant and/or repurposing buildings• The Virginia STEAM Academy Consortium intends to raise the

start up costs privately to fund acquisition and build out so that there is no debt service.

Fort Monroe: A site of interest

2011 – Kick-off campaign2012 – Planning year for all aspects of Academy

Hire principal and president and locate Academy2013 – Hire teachers, residential counselors, and launch summer middle graders’ camp2014 – Freshman class enters2018 – Graduation of inaugural class

Timeline

2011 – 1st Quarter 2013 Highlights

Pursued state and local support • Government

• Governor McDonnell and Lieutenant Governor Bolling • 30 named legislator champions representing both sides of the

aisle • Secured $200,000 planning grant from VA General Assembly • Secured 501c3 tax exempt status • Presented to Hampton Roads Caucus, Black Caucus, Education

Sub-committee of the Senate Finance Committee, House Education Committee, House Appropriations

2011 – 1st Quarter 2013 Highlights

Pursued state and local support • Government

• Senator Mark Warner, Congressman Bobby Scott• Secretary of Education and Deputy Secretary of Technology• State Superintendent P. Wright and Board President D. Foster• Hampton Mayor Molly Ward

2011 – 1st Quarter 2013 Highlights

Business and Philanthropy contacts • TowneBank • W.M. Jordan• Zel Technologies • Old Point Bank• Bank of the James, Lynchburg • Sun Trust Bank• Huntington Ingalls Industries• Newport News Shipbuilding• Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas asset management firm• BOSH Global Services

2011 – 1st Quarter 2013 Highlights

Business and Philanthropy contacts • Judge Richard Bray, CEO, Beazley Foundation• Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce • Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce• Microsoft• ExxonMobil

2011 – 1st Quarter 2013 Highlights

Public, K-12 contacts • Superintendent Linda Shifflette, Hampton City Schools• Superintendent Dave Stuckwisch, Portsmouth Public Schools• Superintendent James Merrill, Virginia Beach Public Schools • Superintendent Katrise Perera, Isle of Wight City Schools • Superintendent Deran Whitney, Suffolk Public Schools

2011 – 1st Quarter 2013 Highlights

Scientific and research community contacts• Signed MOU with Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility• Signed agreement with Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation

Center• Langley Air Force Base• NASA Langley • National Institute of Aerospace• Virginia Space Grant Consortium • Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, Blacksburg, and Region 2000

(Lynchburg) technology councils

2011 – 1st Quarter 2013 Highlights

Higher Education contacts • Signed MOU with Virginia Tech• Signed MOU with Old Dominion University • Signed MOU with Norfolk State University • Signed MOU with Virginia Military Institute (Applied Mathematics

Division)• Signed MOU with College of William and Mary, School of

Education • University of Virginia, Curry School of Education• Tidewater Community College • University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC)

2011 – 1st Quarter 2013 Highlights

Others• Secured MOU to pursue Fort Monroe for Academy site

• Executive Director, Fort Monroe Authority• L.D. Britt, MD, Eastern Virginia Medical School• Lou and Mary Haddad, Armada Hoffler • HBA Architecture and Interior Design• McDermott Ward Attorneys at Law • Barnes, Brock, Cornwell & Heilman PLC

2011 – 1st Quarter 2013 Highlights

Others• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics• Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy • South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics• Center for Excellence in Education • Center for STEM Education for Girls

For more information

Contact VA STEAM Academy Co-founders

Judy K. Stewart at 757.679.8856 or judy.stewart@vasteam.org or

M. Caroline Martin at 757.288.7508 or caroline.martin@vasteam.org