By Rebekah Martin

Hartselle Enquirer

Barkley Bridge Elementary School recently hit another milestone in preparing its students for the future. The school last week received its Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics certification, making it one of only two schools statewide to receive the nod from AdvancED.

Angie Harris teaches fourth-grade math at Barkley Bridge. She said the STEM certification has been a four-year process that started with implementing project-based learning initiatives.

“AdvancED gives us 12 indicators of solid, rigorous STEM programs, and those indicators guide the program into meeting soft skill needs of today’s workforce,” Harris said. “(STEM) just readies our students for whatever they’re going to do in the future – whether they want to go on to college or advance into a career. Those skills will serve both of those trajectories.”

Harris said test scores at Barkley Bridge have steadily improved through the years of implementing project curriculum and STEM curriculum. She said pursuing the STEM certification is another way the school can prepare today’s students for tomorrow.

“This is a way to best serve the kids to get them ready for whatever career path they take,” Harris said.

“I am so very proud of our Barkley Bridge family. This certification validates that we are doing what is best for our students. Our children learn to be innovative, creative and problem-solvers,” Barkley Bridge principal Tina Towers said. “The culture of Barkley Bridge ensures our actions of preparing our students with the strategies, skills and knowledge to be successful in a STEM field or any other career our students choose.”