Somerton Schools Announced as NEF’s 2018 STEM Leadership Award Recipient

The Award is part of the National Education Foundation’s $100 Million National STEM Grant Initiative.

Somerton honored as 2018 STEM Award Recipient

National Education Foundation (NEF), the global non-profit leader in K-12 STEM Education, and the State University of New York (SUNY-Potsdam), part of one of the largest university in the US, just announced that Somerton City School District has won the 2018 National STEM Academy of the Year Award. The Somerton students advanced a grade level in math and reading in 6 months – a phenomenal achievement for any school district!

Somerton Superintendent Dr. Laura Noel states, “Our partnership with NEF and SUNY has been of great benefit to our students. It is a key component to differentiation within the classroom and extended success for students as they participate in our STEM academies.  It is an honor to be identified for the 2018 STEM Leadership Award recipient.  We look forward to our continued partnership with NEF and SUNY.”

The Award ceremony will take place at Somerton on May 11, 2018, and will be attended by local, national education, and civic leaders.

Our partnership with NEF and SUNY has been of great benefit to our students. It is a key component to differentiation within the classroom and extended success for students as they participate in our STEM academies. It is an honor to be identified for the 2018 STEM Leadership Award recipient. We look forward to our continued partnership with NEF and SUNY.

Dr. Laura Noel

Somerton School District Superintendent

This award celebrates the exemplary implementation of the NEF- SUNY STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Academy, and comes with a $5,000 award for the school district.

The STEM Academy at Somerton is funded 80% by NEF and 20% by the school district. Any disadvantaged school district in the U.S. is eligible for 80% – 100% grant from NEF. NEF has given over $200 million in such grants since 2000.

NEF provides funds and services to create a holistic STEM solution consisting of four critical elements — Academic via personalized learning mapped to every state’s standards, Application through STEM contests, Hands-on such as Robotics, and Pathway support to STEM careers. See video for additional information about NEF’s programs.

NEF believes in motivating students, teachers, and parents by providing teacher stipends, student cash awards, as well as teacher and parent training.

Dr. Appu Kuttan, NEF Chairman, an acclaimed global expert in STEM, states “NEF is concerned that the U.S. is ranked 31st out of 35 countries in math globally. Our world-class STEM Academies help students to improve their STEM skills and be better prepared for 21st-century jobs and college. Towards that end, NEF just launched a national $100 million NEF-SUNY STEM Grant program to help a million students nationally.”

Somerton’s success stands out as a clear example of how to cost-effectively improve student achievement by involving and motivating all the stakeholders — students, teachers, parents, and administrators.

School districts in Brocton, NY, Lehighton, PA, and Martins Ferry, OH are also being recognized for their achievements this year by NEF as the 2018 STEM Merit Award winners.

NEF and SUNY have created the most cost-effective, high-quality STEM education solution in the U.S. See www.stemgrant.org.

With STEM Academies in 20 states and several major cities, NEF’s ultimate goal is to provide world-class STEM education to students in the disadvantaged school districts/schools in the U.S.

For NEF Grants please call 703-823-9999 or visit www.stemgrants.org.