MARS HILL
BIBLE SCHOOL
MHBS ACHIEVES STEM CERTIFICATION
For the past three years, MHBS has been actively pursuing the prestigious AdvancED (Cognia) STEM Certification. We successfully achieved this benchmark in October 2019, becoming the first private school in Alabama and one of only sixteen schools in the state to receive this distinction. At MHBS, STEM extends well beyond just science, technology, engineering and math. We include design thinking in all disciplines including art, music, language arts, and history. We want to provide the best education possible for our students because we understand that we are training students to be successful and prepared for jobs that may not even exist yet. The final findings from Cognia/AdvancED's stated, "#PuttingStudentsFirst... Mars Hill Bible School strives to implement a distributed leadership model that successfully empowers staff members and employs a staff of 'go getters' with a 'can do attitude' to deliver an all-inclusive quality STEM education."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Lori Eastep, Director of Communications 256-767-1203 ext. 2008
Mars Hill Bible School Achieves Cognia STEM Certification
Florence, AL —October 23, 2019— Cognia (formerly AdvancED) congratulates Mars Hill Bible School on receiving Cognia STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Certification for its TK-12 program, becoming the first private school in the state of Alabama to be STEM certified. MHBS is also the first TK-12 school in the Shoals, public or private, to earn STEM certification. This achievement is a mark of STEM distinction and excellence only offered to highly effective institutions that prioritize STEM education as a path to success.
Cognia STEM Certification is the first internationally recognized mark of quality for STEM schools and programs, signaling the growing emphasis placed on STEM education by educators, politicians and business leaders around the world. In earning this certification, Mars Hill Bible School has demonstrated its commitment to preparing its students for their educational and career opportunities of the future by ensuring its students will have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in their postsecondary pursuits and as workforce contributors in the 21st‐century economy.
In order to earn STEM Certification, MHBS had to demonstrate adherence to the Cognia STEM Standards as reflected by the school’s performance across a series of rigorous STEM Indicators.
The certification process provides a robust evaluation and continuous improvement process, supported by research‐based tools and resources. Achieving high scores across the indicators certify that students have been equipped and trained to be innovative, creative and systematic problem‐solvers across disciplines.
“We are so proud to have earned Cognia STEM Certification of our entire TK-12 program. This certificate is reflective of our commitment to preparing our students with the critical thinking and problem solving skills they will need to succeed in the workforce of the future,” said Dr. Nathan Guy, president of Mars Hill Bible School. “Our students are achieving at a higher level than ever before, and STEM certification will continue to raise the standards and provide us with the framework to continue to improve our STEM program and disciplines.”
Cognia’s STEM Certification Reviewers conducted a thorough review of Mars Hill Bible School’s evidence of quality STEM and conducted classroom observations focused on identifying student engagement and collaboration in the learning process using the Effective Learning Environment Observation ToolTM (eleotTM). Reviewers also interviewed key stakeholders such as school administrators, faculty and staff, parents, students, and external partners in order to verify the school’s commitment to connecting students’ STEM experiences in the classroom to the local community and the world at large.
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About Mars Hill Bible School
Mars Hill Bible School is a private, co-educational Christian school that encompasses TK-12th grades and a robust preschool program. The mission of MHBS is to encourage academic excellence and raise up committed, Christ-filled servant leaders who will make a difference in their own neighborhoods and around the world.
About Cognia
Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, professional services and consulting within a framework of continuous improvement. The result of the merger of AdvancED and Measured Progress, Cognia was formed to bridge the gap between school evaluation and student assessment. As a global non-profit working in over 80 countries, our 36,000 institutions serve and support nearly 25 million students and 5 million educators every day, Cognia is an undeniable force for enhancing schools, engaging students, and driving better outcomes for all. To learn more about Cognia’s products and services that support institutions in their continuous improvement efforts, visit www.cognia.org.