TAF e-news

Each year, the Center for Educational Effectiveness names the top 5% of schools in Washington State in terms of improvement in math and reading scores. TAF Academy was recognized as a School of Distinction in the middle school category. “The School of Distinction Award is well-deserved by both TAF Academy and Woodmont [another Federal Way school],” said Federal Way Public Schools Superintendent Rob Neu. “Both schools are taking innovative approaches to improve student achievement, and their hard work is paying off.” In September, TAF Academy was also named an Intel School of Distinction.

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Here’s something FANTASTIC – seven King County school districts joined forces as the “Road Map Consortium” — a reference to their participation in the Road Map Project, which is a collaboration among districts, educators, organizations (including yours truly – ahem) whose goal is to dramatically improve education in South Seattle and South King County. Anyway, these districts wrote an application together and won $40 million in federal Race to the Top funds to implement their plan – which will help students “Start Strong,” be “STEM Strong,” and “Stay Strong.” Wow!

TechStart students at Mount View Elementary are getting their robots ready to complete a world-class obstacle course built by teacher Nina Arens. Students must train their robots to go under a house, through a siren box, and more. Ms. Arens says her students are excited about learning STEM; when she gets to class each day, students are pressed up against the glass, mouthing “TechStart!” “The other day a student passed by me holding his robot and whispering ‘I want to be a scientist!’” she said.