Dow’s Investment in STREAM Education Pays Off

Dow’s $150,000 Investment in STREAM Education Pays Off in BISD
Posted on 02/11/2021
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In the spring of 2018, Chief Academic Improvement Officer Clara Sale-Davis had a dream and vision of bringing STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Math) education to Brazosport ISD. Thanks to a three year partnership and $150,000 donation from Dow Texas Operations, and a commitment from the BISD Board of Trustees, the district was able to launch the program in the Fall of 2018 at three campuses - A.P. Beutel Elementary, Stephen F. Austin STEM Academy and Freeport Elementary. Since that time, every elementary school in the district has been able to create and launch their own STREAM lab and offer STREAM education to all students, kindergarten through fourth grade. 

The district utilizes curriculum from Pitsco Education, which is based on innovative programs including STEM Units and STREAM Missions where students experience age-appropriate instruction in a social and collaborative learning context while building valuable and transferable critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.

Brazosport ISD Superintendent Danny Massey said, “The STREAM labs have significantly  increased student engagement in important skill areas of collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. We are very grateful to Dow for their tremendous support for our local schools.” 

When asked why she felt so passionate about bringing STREAM education in BISD, Clara Sale-Davis responded, “I was so passionate about bringing STREAM to BISD because we needed to find new ways to train our students for jobs that haven’t even been imagined yet and provide learning experiences that spark passion!  These things take a re-imagining of education.” Davis added, “STREAM provides opportunities to apply content seamlessly to real-world challenges using the Engineering Design Process. Since we don’t know what specific careers our students will have in the future, we are building skills that will be beneficial no matter what field they enter.  Our goal is to make problem-solvers and innovators that are adaptable; students that can logically think through problems and arrive at solutions. Developing these skills will benefit our students in all aspects of their lives.”

From the moment Dow heard the project proposal about STREAM in BISD, they wanted to be a part of this innovative educational experience. Since 2018, Dow has invested $150,000 in STREAM education in BISD. “Dow believes interest in STREAM fields of study begins when our youngest learners have the ability to put their problem solving and critical thinking skills to work in a hands on, team environment. These are the very skills that will set them up for success as they progress through their elementary, middle, high school years and beyond, “ said Gabriella Cone, Public Affairs with Dow Texas Operations. Cone added, “At Dow we are committed to investing in programs that will build our workforce of tomorrow. As technology advances at such a rapid pace, we want to do our part to support our partners in education and to ensure our students have the most cutting-edge learning materials incorporated into their daily instruction. We want to ignite curiosity and excitement in the workforce talent of tomorrow in hopes that they will see the many possibilities a career in STEM has to offer.”

Educators and students alike love what STREAM has to offer. Chris Gibson, STREAM teacher at Stephen F. Austin STREAM Academy, said this about student growth attributed to STREAM, “Our students are benefiting from having opportunities to fail.  They are learning to be brave and creative; to take chances knowing it’s ok if it doesn’t work the first time or the first ten times. From these experiences, they are learning to persevere when asked to do hard things, to have grit, and the tenacity to keep trying.”

Dow’s investment in the STREAM program has provided vital 21st century skills to the campus learning environment and continues to enhance education in our classrooms. BISD will continue the STREAM program and hopes to build upon its success by expanding it to additional grades and campuses in the future. Community and industry partnerships are vital to a strong educational system, a strong community and a strong economy, and the Brazosport area is blessed with all three!


Dow STREAM Lab

Dow STREAM Lab
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