Tacoma, WASHINGTON (13 February 2014)  —  Franklin Pierce High School has been named a 2014 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Lighthouse school by the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The school is one of only seven schools in the state to receive the honor.

STEM Lighthouse schools originated in 2010 with the Legislature’s passage of House Bill 2621.The bill directs the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to designate lighthouse schools. The schools “serve as resources and examples of how to combine the following best practices:

• Small, highly personalized learning communities;
• An interdisciplinary curriculum with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), delivered through a project-based instructional approach; and
• Active partnerships with businesses and the local community to connect learning beyond the classroom.”

As part of the recognition, Franklin Pierce High School will receive $18,000 that will be used to promote and develop STEM education, including technical assistance and advice for other middle schools and high schools that are creating their own STEM environments.

Washington State Superintendent Randy Dorn attended the Franklin Pierce School District Board of Directors meeting on 11 February 2014 to present an award and banner to the high school. Superintendent Dorn commented that the STEM lighthouse schools chosen this year had outstanding model STEM programs as determined by a group of professional educators and STEM industry leaders.

“It’s a great honor to be chosen as a lighthouse school,” said Dorn. “It makes those schools leaders in STEM education. Other schools will look to the seven for guidance on how to successfully teach STEM.”

Franklin Pierce School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Hewins said, “The district is pleased to receive this statewide recognition. We are proud of our strong STEM programs, and look forward to grow such programs in quality and number so that more students can take advantage of these opportunities.”

L to R: CTE Director Sly Boskovich, FPHS Business Teacher Ariel Dykstra, FPHS STEM Teacher Kristina Ufer, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, FPHS Medical Science Teacher Tiffany Disney, FPHS STEM Teacher Aimee Marubayashi, and FPHS Assistant Principal Cris Turner.