The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts was recognized as a semifinalist in the inaugural National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools Innovation Awards.
ASMSA received recognition in the NCSSS Innovation Student Program Awards. NCSSS is an organization that provides a forum for specialized secondary schools focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics to exchange information and program ideas.
As part of its 30th anniversary year, the organization created the awards program to recognize inventive student programming and partnerships in education. ASMSA submitted an application featuring the Coding Arkansas’ Future initiative, which provides computer science education for students across Arkansas as well as educator development and facilitating a professional learning community for teachers.
Since the initiative was first announced, more than 3,000 students have gained new skills through its distance education opportunities. Last year alone, the program accounted for one-in-five young Arkansans exploring computer science at the high school level.
Twenty-five percent of the state’s licensed computer science teachers have participated in the yearlong cohort experience, and ASMSA has provided some form of professional development to 40 percent of the state’s licensed computer science teachers.
ASMSA Director Corey Alderdice complimented the work of the school’s faculty and staff in accepting the award.
“ASMSA’s community of learning is humbled by the recognition from our colleagues at NCSSS,” Alderdice said. “Member institutions are some of the most innovative and dynamic schools in the United States. Being named a finalist in the inaugural awards program is a testament to our faculty and staff’s commitment to outreach, educator development, and sharing best practices that benefit students and teachers across Arkansas.”
NCSSS Executive Director Todd Mann praised ASMSA and the other award winners for their efforts.
“Our award winners have gone above and beyond in their pursuit of academic excellence and enhancing the student experience,” Mann said. “They should be exceedingly proud of their achievements, as should our semifinalists, all of whom are doing tremendous work around the country advancing the cause of STEM education.”
To learn more about NCSSS, visit ncsss.org