News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Livingston Academy has met the requirements to be known as a STEM certified school.
Interim Director of Schools Donnie Holman said the school has met 16 standards recognizing quality in science and math based learning.
“If our students were to transfer to another institution, this recognition would make it much easier,” Holman said. “And also, there is industry certifications affiliated with that, which means a lot of industries do recognize that and that will help our students get a job.”
Holman said earning the accreditation has been a long process that first started several years ago. Holman said high school graduates will have a stamp on their diploma indicating the STEM certification.
“Overton County worked closely with a lady named Connie Smith,” Holman said. “She worked at the department of education for many years, and she’s been a director of schools for other districts. She has a strong background in education.”
The recognition comes from Cognia. The non-profit organization that accredits primary and secondary schools throughout the United States and internationally. Founded in 2006, Cognia represents more than 36,000 institutions with a total of 25 million students and 5 million educators in about 80 counties.
“This is one of the organizations she is affiliated with,” Holman said. “So, several year ago she mentioned this to some of the board members one of those being Mike Gilpatrick, and he is still on the board. Mike Gilpatrick and some others were interested in seeing our school system and especially our high school be STEM certified.”
