Problems:
of knowledge workers for the 21st
century economy
•Deficit
•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”
Challenging
Immersive
Public
Learn with peers
Learn with expert faculty
Learn with practicing scientists
Statewide
Diverse
Residential
Comprehensive
Applied
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
Development
Building,
Grounds, &
Site
Configuration
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
Timeline
2011 – Kick-off campaign
2012 – Planning year for all aspects of Academy
Hire principal and president and locate
Academy
2013 – Hire teachers, residential counselors, and
launch summer middle graders’ camp
2014 – Freshman class enters
2018 – Graduation of inaugural class
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