On this past weekend, Isis McReynolds, Nakia Sanders, Jean Schley, Kimberly Anthony, and Melvin Lowe attended a Robotics Training in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Each of these educators serves as a robotics' advisor for students at DCW and TPS. The workshop was part of a STEM grant via a collaboration between the University of Alabama, Tuskegee University, and Macon County Public Schools. The teacher training took place at Central High School which included other educators from across the state.

These educators enhanced their Lego Robotics programming skills, to include directional programming, sensor programming, manipulation of speed, and robot construction. All of these skills are taught within the Macon County Schools under the umbrella of its robotics' initiative. Robotics education has been a part of the Macon County curriculum scope since summer 2010; we are now STEM engaged and making much student progress.

There is a tremendous amount of talent among our teacher-educators. These and other teacher/student attributes would not have been readily identified without the leadership of Superintendent - Dr. Jacqueline A. Brooks. It was June 2010 that Dr. Brooks determined that robotics would be a worthy instructional improvement investment for Macon County. From this, the proof has been well noticed and is most responsive towards the student's instructional needs. Macon County currently has robotics instruction at 5 of its schools; BTW, TIMS, TPS, NHS, and DCW. In short, the grant has provided each educator who attended two Lego Robots with programming credentials to be used within their classrooms for STEM enhancement.

Please see the inserted link:

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20111113/NEWS/111119727/1007?p=1&tc=pg&tc=ar

Mrs. Jean. P. Schley and Ms. Nakia Sanders were featured in the Tuscaloosa News.