About STREaM Inc.

The Education STREaM Inc. is a research, developmental, and consulting firm. The learning center takes a cultural approach to the professional development of teachers that will effect change in academic achievement and career choices of students in the areas of science, technology, reading, engineering, and mathematics (STREaM). In addition to its many other areas of expertise, STREaM also evaluates educational programs and gathers data to effect student learning in many areas. With this information, STREaM has created such valuable in-house programs as the Educator Learning Institute and the Student Academy, both of which contribute dramatically to the improved academic achievement of all students. Using its goals of research, development, and consultation, STREaM focuses on those students whose educational, social and societal advancement have been arrested by inadequate educational services. These conditions integrated with poverty, race/ethnicity, limited English proficiency, disability, and family circumstances have resulted in inequities in their academic achievement. By examining these cultural issues, STREaM can better understand how these students can reach their fullest potential. We have learned, as so many have, that equality in access is not always equal to equity in access.

Through proposal writing seeking government grants and employee initiatives, STREaM works to reflect the tradition and commitment it so strongly believes in. As we interact with our communities and secure funding, our ultimate goal is to provide the highest quality of professional materials for students, teachers, administrators, parents, and communities in areas that are in need of the most help. We can then be assured that our children will achieve at their highest level, socially, academically, and globally.

Mission Statement

The mission of The Education STREaM Inc. is to provide educators throughout the nation with standards- and research-based resources and professional development materials, thus enabling them to identify, design, and implement quality education.

STREaM Goals

Target Groups

Historically underrepresented groups: African Americans/blacks, Hispanics/Latinos (Latinas), and Native Americans, with particular attention to African Americans/Blacks who live in areas where they are truly in the minority. They are sometimes left out of the equation developed to solve the problem. For example, the state of Texas until recently (as in NCLB) was allowed to leave out African Americans’ standardized testing data if the number of African American students in the school was less than 30. It is important to note that STREaM provides specialized training for tutors through the Institute. We will work with all children and seek to appropriately educate every child regardless of their socio-economic status (SES).

Development Activities

Our goal will be to use technology to accomplish the following goals within our programs. We will design and develop the following:

The STREaM Educator Learning Institute will provide professional development for teachers, tutors, college instructors, and K—14 administrators. Each of these professionals has learned that tutoring services often has potential long-term effects on students. Research has shown that the positive effects on personal self-esteem, motivation, study habits, and general knowledge of a subject are well-documented. STREaM Inc., therefore, takes great care in providing our professionals with the highest quality of in-service training to allow them to upgrade and refresh their skills so that they can meet the academic demands of a diverse student population in the most professional manner possible. All of us in the field of education are aware that No Child Left Behind (NCLB) mandates that by the school year 2008/2009 every child in America must be taught by a “highly qualified teacher.” It is the goal of STREaM, Inc. to assure teachers that we will work to support their needs to maintain their status as highly qualified professionals.

Of utmost importance to STREaM Inc. is the design and development of a virtual space for mentoring where students can interact with professionals, where students can interact with other students, where teachers can interact with other professionals and where teachers and their entire class can interact with a mentor. This is one of our ultimate goals.

No Child Left Behind

No discussion of the STREaM Academy would be complete without mention of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB, 2001) that was signed into law On January 8, 2002. This purpose of this law that President George W. Bush signed was to improve student learning and achievement. Many schools have been successful in improving achievement of disadvantage students using the goals set forth in this act. Research has suggested that in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction and student learning, professional development should be sustained, intensive, and classroom focused.

Ongoing opportunities for enhanced professional development of mathematics and science, in particular, that improves teacher knowledge of the subject matter and promotes strong teaching skills is a necessity. The design of professional development will center on content knowledge, the principles of effective instruction and student learning, a commitment of time and resources for implementing development over an extended period of time, and the employment of professional development styles that engage teachers collaboratively rather than focusing on them as individuals.

Professional Development

It is important to note that the professional development provided must encompass the following components:

Subject Content Knowledge

Creating opportunities for ongoing professional development for educators to allow them to improve their subject matter knowledge.

Standards

The curriculum and subsequent instruction must be based on State standards. Teachers must be provided with substantial opportunities to fully comprehend and use standards-based subject content and be able to select the appropriate curriculum for their classroom.

Pedagogy

STREaM, Inc. is committed to focusing on the strategies and styles of instruction that professionals use in the classroom. We rely on scientifically researched-based instructional practices. We promote hands-on inquiry activities; integration of technology into curricula and instruction and ongoing, authentic assessment of student understanding. Our tutoring services provide for each child the ability to learn and master the skills that will set the path for lifelong motivation, knowledge of important subject matter, and personal self-esteem.

We are dedicated to these goals and are confident that our program is a success second to none.