Vision: The vision for Alief STEM is that all students will have access to high-quality education to prepare them for STEM-based careers, enabling them to make informed contributions to public discussions of important scientific issues, and fostering lifelong learning in science and engineering.

Mission: "The mission of Alief STEM is to provide a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education using a method of hands-on teaching and learning is employed where students learn to apply academic content by creatively solving real-world problems with innovative design-based thinking to prepare students for future career opportunities." [1]

[1] National Science and Technology Council. (December 2018). CHARTING A COURSE FOR SUCCESS: AMERICA’S STRATEGY FOR STEM EDUCATION

The Alief STEM Academy began in the 2015-16 school year at Killough Middle School, Olle Middle School, and Alief Early College High School. Using a school-within-a-school model, approximately three hundred seventh grade students and one hundred ninth-graders joined twenty-five teachers in our inaugural year. The following year we increased our enrollment to nearly nine hundred students when our middle schools added eighth grade to the academy, and our high school added the tenth grade. To start the 2017-18 school year, Alief STEM Academy added sixth-grade academies at Klentzman Intermediate School and Youngblood Intermediate School, and eleventh grade at Alief Early College High School. For 2018-19, we have added four Elementary campuses to our STEM Academy, the Life Sciences Innovative Academy for Pharmacy Technician or Construction Technology, and twelfth grade to our high school offering. In 2019-20, Alief STEM added four Elementary campuses (Alexander, Hicks, Horn, and Smith Elementary).

2020-21 UPDATE

Alief STEM continues to grow and is proud to welcome two more campuses:

• Hearne Elementary

• Heflin Elementary

Bob Fulbright, District STEM Facilitator

I am developing a STEM network for the students and staff of Alief ISD by actively collaborating with the Texas Education Agency, Educate Texas, higher education institutions, industries, other T-STEM Academies, and nonprofits involved in STEM in order to assist campuses and the district with planning and executing STEM conferences, showcases, STEM nights, orientation, and write curricula for all content.

Dr. Gelyn Roble, Science K-6 Coordinator

In my role as elementary and intermediate science coordinator, I work with district and campus leadership teams in promoting interdisciplinary STEM strategies into the core curriculum. I collaborate with colleges and universities to build teacher capacity in promoting scientific literacy and in the successful implementation of problem-based learning. I network with public, private, and non-profit organizations at the local, state, and national level to help bring meaningful and relevant STEM opportunities for teachers and students in Alief ISD.

Dr. Karen Jacobs, Secondary Science Coordinator

I partner with area superintendents, principals, district coordinators, interventionists, campus STEM coordinators, and campus staff to identify program needs, align, develop and implement pacing guides, lessons, problem and project-based learning, and assessments.

Dr. Betty George, District K-6 Science Strategist

As the K-6 Science Interventionist at Alief ISD, I work very closely with the K-6 Science Coordinator, Dr. Gelyn Roble to continue to build scientific literacy, STEM, and technology integration into the science classroom.  It is our focus to prepare students to be future leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by providing them with opportunities to participate in hands-on learning and literacy rich activities.

Tasha Thomas, Secondary Science Interventionist

I have a strong working knowledge of research-based STEM instructional practices, especially those that work best with highly diverse populations. My role is to actively participate in STEM core content planning, and design interventions for students who struggle in STEM coursework and for those who advance early.

• Alexander Elementary School

• Alief Early College High School

• Budewig Intermediate School

• Hearne Elementary

• Heflin Elementary

• Hicks Elementary School

• Horn Elementary School

• Killough Middle School

• Klentzman Intermediate School

• Life Sciences Innovative Academy

• Mata Intermediate School - Dual Language STEM

• Miller Intermediate School - Dual Language STEM

• Olle Middle School

• Smith Elementary School

• Youngblood Intermediate School