Marshall to open STEM academy

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academy will be a fully operational high school for gifted students. It will be part of the new Applied Engineering complex announced last week.

Stan Maynard, associate dean in the Marshall School of Education, says he hopes to raise the level of education in the state.

“If you create an environment where students can excel, they will rise to that occasion, because they are now challenged and they have that support,” Maynard said.

He says he hopes to give schools around the state an example to follow.

“The intent is to develop a model for other high schools in West Virginia to come in and begin the process of emulating, so those at a rural school can ask what they could do,” Maynard said.

Maynard says the school will serve students in Cabell County and surrounding counties. He says it will give students who can handle it the opportunity to do college work by the time they are juniors.

“They’re able to progress through the academic program at an accelerated rate depending on their mastery of subjects, so many of the students are able to complete high school at the end of tenth grade,” Maynard said.

Because the engineering complex is still several years from being built, Marshall will start the program online next spring. High school students will take these online classes much like college students do today.

The academy would be the first of its kind in the state, but it’s an idea that’s been around for a long time, says Marshall President Stephen Kopp.

“I came from Illinois and back in the 1970’s the Illinois math and science academy was established,” he said.

“It’s one of the premier high school academies in the country for math and science education,” Kopp said.

Other STEM academies for elementary and middle school students have been started by Marshall at Kellogg Elementary and Vinson Middle in Wayne County.