The Tuxedo Union Free School District is proud to announce that George Grant Mason Elementary has earned the National Certificate for STEM Excellence (NCSE) - Campus Certification from the National Institute for STEM Education (NISE). The NCSE recognizes individual school campuses for their commitment to and systematic support of teachers’ understanding and use of high-impact, evidence-based STEM instructional strategies.
This credential adds to George F. Baker’s acquisition of the same distinction in May 2022, making TUFSD the first New York State school district to earn certification at the elementary and high school level.
GGM STEM teacher Mariah Klimowich initiated the process in September 2023, and with the help of the GFB certification team and NISE, was able to complete the process in six months. The NCSE Certification requires schools to authentically apply processes and resources to elevate a culture of STEM teaching and learning in their buildings with 15 different Teacher Actions relating to 27 program indicators.
As part of earning the NCSE - Campus Certification, five GGM educators also earned the National Certificate for STEM Teaching (NCST), further contributing to the district’s collective STEM expertise. A total of 20 faculty members district-wide have received, or will soon receive, the National Certificate for STEM Teaching (NCST).
District STEM Advisor Marco Margotta says that STEM learning promotes critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork skills. “Our goal at TUFSD is to develop higher level thinkers, and equip them with the tools that will help them solve real world problems. We are proud to have added this certification at the elementary level. It demonstrates the district’s commitment to STEM education and ensuring our students are equipped with skills that will help them succeed in the 21st century.”