The newly opened John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School in Aurora is an innovative learning facility designed to address regional and national deficiencies in science, technology, engineering and math education. Starting this school year, 150 elementary and middle school students have been attending the new John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School located on the Aurora University campus. The STEM Partnership School serves students in third through eighth grades from four regional public school districts. The four participating school districts, the university, and governmental, not-for-profit, and corporate partners—including Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, Caterpillar, Waste Management, Nicor Gas Company, and Tellabs—have worked cooperatively to plan facilities, in conjunction with Aurora University and Cordogan Clark & Associates Architects and Engineers.
The innovative STEM Partnership School leverages the community as a laboratory to help create the workforce and leaders of tomorrow. The facility and its new educational model represents a collaboration among University officials, school district leaders, teachers, nonprofits, local businesses and legislators. The School is staffed through a unique professional development strategy that engages teachers from the partner districts as faculty while they complete AU graduate coursework and become leaders in mathematics and science education. The fields of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering are important economic catalysts that move both industry and the service sector forward. Even as globalization makes these high-demand fields more important, the United States faces serious knowledge deficiencies in human capital surrounding these critical subjects. On the whole, many of today’s students have not been achieving in STEM subject areas at the high levels necessary to compete for jobs in even the near future.
In response to this national challenge, Aurora University and its community partners established the Mathematics and Science Education Center of Aurora University in 2009 through an award from the Dunham Fund. Under the leadership of the Institute for Collaboration of Aurora University, the Center has created an innovative model for mathematics and science education in a diverse urban community, and this model can be replicated across the country. “A hands-on education in math and science is important for our community’s young citizens,” says Aurora University President Dr. Sherrick. “It arms them with the tools they need to grow, achieve and succeed in life.” The building’s design includes eight grade-school classrooms, an open forum where classes can work together and six labs that will be shared by University and STEM school students. The labs focus on different areas of science including energy, biomedicine, and biomaterials. Scientists and business leaders provided expertise in developing the labs. Nicor Gas Company, for instance, played a significant role in the energy lab.
The classrooms’ vibrant color palette are illuminated with natural daylight and much of the piping, plumbing, insulation and shelving is exposed to create awareness with students on how the building’s systems function. Most classroom tables and labs stands are on locking wheels granting instructors the flexibility to engage students through different teaching methods and spacial arrangements. Electrical cords are fed from the ceiling above to allow equipment to plug in virtually anywhere, eliminating a traditional “back” or “front” of the room to promote the flexibility of each space.
A vegetated roof garden and a roof-top greenhouse are available to supervised students. To follow in concept, the school’s boiler room and data center are enclosed with glass partitions so students can observe. Funding from a $3.5 million capital investment announced by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, augmented with $9 million in private dollars, has recently enabled The STEM Partnership School to begin construction. “We must be sure that all of today’s children are prepared and ready for the opportunities of tomorrow,” Governor Quinn said. “STEM education is hands-on approach to learning that makes the classroom to come to life and allows minds to grow.”
