Katherine Johnson Elementary receives Christine Darden STEM Community Partnerships Award
Posted: April 18, 2025
Katherine Johnson Elementary School was honored with the prestigious Christine Darden STEM Community Partnerships Award given by the Family and Community Engagement Learning Network and Successful Innovations Inc.
The award was presented on April 17 at the Innovations in Family Engagement Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina.
A cross-departmental collaboration between NNPS Family and Community Engagement specialists, STEM leads and Instructional Technology coaches worked together on the STEM Night event that was recognized.
The Darden award recognizes individuals and schools that have made significant contributions to enhancing STEM education and impacting family engagement in these vital fields, according to the FACE Learning Network's website. The award celebrates innovative initiatives that empower families to engage with science, technology, engineering and math, creating a supportive environment for students to strive.
The award honors the legacy of Dr. Christine Darden, who was a NASA aeronautical engineer and one of its iconic Hidden Figures.
"Congratulations to Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School on being honored with the prestigious Christine Darden STEM Community Partnership Award," said Tiffany Jones, NNPS coordinator of Family and Community Engagement. "This recognition celebrates the school's continued commitment to fostering strong STEM connections and impactful community engagement."
"We also commend Ella Fitzgerald Middle School and Saunders Elementary School on their well-earned nominations - your dedication to excellence does not go unnoticed."
STEM is the integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, combined with meaningful problem-solving and real-world application, according to Tami Byron, NNPS STEM instructional supervisor.
"In NNPS, this work is supported by a division-wide effort that connects school staff, STEM leads, instructional technology coaches and family engagement specialists to create engaging, hands-on STEM experiences for students and families," Byron said. "This year, we launched a strategic initiative to bring high-quality STEM Nights to every elementary and middle school, an effort made possible through strong partnerships and shared commitment across the division."
Teamwork was integral to this award-winning community outreach initiative.
"I would like to express my sincere appreciation for this incredible partnership," Jones said. "The STEM leads, ITCs and FACE specialists worked in close collaboration to design and deliver meaningful, engaging STEM experiences for our families.
"By connecting with our valued community stakeholders and partners, we've built strong STEM pathways that not only drive deeper learning but also inspire innovation, exploration and community engagement."
