Bedford Central Cohort Takes Part in the Westchester Smart Start STEM Ambassador Program

This year, seven Bedford Central School District teachers joined a cohort of educators from around the region as part of the Westchester Smart Start STEM Ambassador program at Mercy University. Jennifer Basile-Montenegro, Margaret Browning-Barnickel, Denise Connolly, Amy Coughlin, Angelica Dardon, Gina Keidong and Randi Neglia successfully finished the program with a symposium on March 25.

Through 40 hours of professional development, the cohort was trained in student-centered instruction that leverages computer science, engineering and educational technology tools. They also took part in collaborative STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) lesson planning that will contribute to a statewide collection on the New York State Education Department’s website.

“The STEM Ambassadors program is an opportunity for Bedford Central School District to take part in a collaborative effort to grow STEM education in public schools in our region,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Amy Fishkin said. “With the addition of the new New York State Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards, it is essential that we remain current in the field and provide our K-12 students with high-quality STEM education. This is a critical step to preparing our students for the jobs of the future and engaging them in the iterative process of design thinking.”

Amy Coughlin, a fifth-grade teacher at Pound Ridge Elementary School, said that the program was “interesting and informative.”

She went on to discuss how the learning teachers did during the program has already begun to make an appearance in classrooms.

“The state gave us grant money to put toward materials to use in our classrooms,” Coughlin said. “Randi Neglia and I pooled our money to buy Gravitracks, which is an engineering STEM activity where students build a marble run. Students problem solved and used critical thinking to work together and overcome obstacles. Engagement was contagious!”

This is exactly the response the district had hoped for.

“We are excited to grow STEM teacher leaders in our district and contribute to a growing inventory of STEM units and lessons for teachers across New York State,” Fishkin said.