May 2, 2019 -- Gearity Professional Development School has been a STEM-focused elementary school for a number of years and now the designation is official. Gearity has been selected to join the Ohio STEM Learning Network, receiving word of the accomplishment in late April.

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District now has two elementary schools officially designated as STEM schools. Boulevard Elementary earned the designation in 2018. CH-UH is the only school district in Northeast Ohio with two STEM-designated elementary schools.

“Congratulations to Gearity on earning this important designation,” said CH-UH Interim Superintendent Dr. Brian Williams. “I commend principal Katrina Hicks and STEM program specialist Jackie Taylor for their leadership in this process. The staff, students, and Gearity community should be proud of this accomplishment. As a district, we appreciate the importance of having STEM schools to equip our students with an educational background in science and technology.”

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education provides students with a deep understanding of STEM subjects while incorporating inquiry-based learning and design thinking in all subjects.

Official designation recognizes a school’s design as an effective place for STEM learning and invites the school into the Ohio STEM Learning Network, a public-private partnership managed by Battelle. Thirty applications from schools across Ohio were considered this year, and just 14 were selected. 

The Ohio STEM Committee is a panel of policymakers, agency directors, and business leaders. The committee is supported by the Ohio Department of Education. 

“We are proud to welcome these new members of the Ohio STEM Learning Network as they join’s Ohio’s diverse, and fast-growing STEM community,” said Aimee Kennedy, Senior Vice-President of Education, STEM Learning and Philanthropy at Battelle. “Each new school broadens our perspective and grows the collective impact of this state’s strong STEM ecosystem.”

About the Ohio STEM Learning Network
The Ohio STEM Learning Network was created in 2008 with five schools. With the addition of today’s schools, the network grows to 69 total STEM schools. The schools are supported by seven regional hubs. For more information, visit www.osln.org.

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org. About Battelle
CH-UH is the only school district in Northeast Ohio with two STEM-designed elementary schools.