The Indian Hill School District is thrilled to announce the district’s designation by AASA, The School Superintendents Association and JASON Learning as one of only six elite learning institutes recognized in the country for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) instruction in grades kindergarten through 12. The recognition was presented during the AASA National Education Conference on Wednesday, February 14, in San Diego, Calif.
“The work of a team matters; the collective experience of striving together forges the ability to accomplish the most significant goals,” said Indian Hill CEO/Superintendent Kirk Koennecke. “Since 1989, only five districts have attempted the work, and created the unparalleled learning opportunities we have for every student at Indian Hill. I am so proud of our students; I am so proud of our faculty; I am so proud of our administrative team. I am forever grateful to work alongside a Board of Education that understands the importance of investing in this learning.”
“This achievement highlights the hard work and commitment to STEM education of not only one school in Indian Hill but the entire Indian Hill School District and community,” said Dr. Eleanor Smalley, President and CEO of JASON Learning. “We are proud to stand alongside Indian Hill on this exciting journey of empowering future STEM leaders.”
The STEM Certification, awarded by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) in collaboration with JASON Learning, recognizes a school district’s dedication to providing outstanding STEM education to its students. By meeting rigorous criteria and demonstrating exceptional proficiency in STEM instruction, Indian Hill has distinguished itself as a leader in preparing students for success in the fields of STEM.
A History of STEM Learning Excellence
The national designation comes following state accolades in May 2023, when Indian Hill Primary School and Indian Hill Elementary School were recommended for recognition by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN), achieving the status of best in the state for STEM learning after receiving the ODE/OSLN STEM Designation. Year over year, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) has recognized Indian Hill High School as a “PLTW Distinguished School” for STEM, one of less than 200 high school programs nationally to receive this distinction.
Indian Hill’s selection by AASA in collaboration with JASON Learning was based upon proven commitment to a comprehensive STEM learning experience, including:
• Beginning from kindergarten, Indian Hill consistently incorporates scientific thinking and real-world problem-solving opportunities, leading to structured internships and externships at the high school level.
• The school effectively challenges its staff with targeted training programs and strategically planned goals, ensuring that every member of the Indian Hill team has the necessary time to create high-quality learning opportunities.
• STEM initiatives are at the core of student expectations, with leadership actively facilitating organic teacher development.
• Indian Hill demonstrates a strong commitment to building students' technical capacity and offering continuous STEM exposure and development opportunities throughout their educational journey.
“This is the right work – for our students, for our community, for public education, and for our world,” said Koennecke. “We are excited at this moment in our Brave history, and we continue to look to the future, always pushing ourselves to see how we can continue to evolve our educational practices towards excellence. We hope to never arrive at a final destination for STEM learning, and that is what makes the journey so uniquely Indian Hill.”
Photo caption: The Indian Hill School District was named one of only six elite learning institutions recognized in the country for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) instruction in grades kindergarten through 12 by AASA and JASON Learning during the AASA National Education Conference on Wednesday, February 14, in San Diego, Calif.