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NEWS RELEASE
Clayton County Public Schools
Department of Communications
For Immediate Release
Contact: Charles White
CCPS Communications
Telephone: (770) 652-3725
March 31, 2015
Rex Mill Middle School (RRMS) Receives STEM Certification
Becomes the second middle school to earn designation
RMMS is the first school in Clayton County to be awarded STEM certification by the Georgia
Department of Education (GaDOE) and the second middle school statewide!
STEM certification is an extensive on-going process conducted by GaDOE to verify specific indicators of
STEM excellence implemented by the students, the staff and the community of the school. STEM is an
acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The designation came following a visit to the school on Tuesday, March 31, from a team representing
GaDOE and surrounding districts. “The team visited Rex Mill Middle to observe the STEM Magnet
Program,” said Eboni Chillis, coordinator of the district’s Career, Technical and Agricultural Education
(CTAE) program. Team members focused on how students were solving real-world problems: innovation
of a STEM lab funded by a grant from Coca-Cola and Emergency Management Disaster Plans.”
“We are so proud of the commitment to excellence exhibited by the students and staff at Rex Mill,” said
Luvenia Jackson CCPS Superintendent. “Every core interaction should be connected to real-world
possibilities. We know this happens in CTAE and definitely in STEM which assists our students in
critically thinking through the problems that challenge us today and that will continue to challenge in the
future.”
GaDOE awards STEM certifications at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Schools must
utilize creative instruction and strong partnerships to encourage students' passions for science, technology,
engineering and math. To earn STEM certification, the school has to submit an extensive, evidence-based
application showing that it meets the rigorous criteria, such as evidence of teacher collaboration, business
and industry partnerships, high levels of math and science instruction and an integrated, project-based
STEM curriculum.
A formal recognition ceremony by GaDOE is expected to take place sometime during May 2015.
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