MANSFIELD — What is a STEM education?
For Principal Cara Will, STEM is more than just teaching science, technology, engineering and math. It’s a mindset that teachers carry through in the classroom.
“These strategies emphasize hands-on, project-based learning, problem-solving, collaboration and real-world applications to foster critical thinking and creativity,” Will said.
“They often involve interdisciplinary lessons that connect STEM concepts to everyday life and future careers, aiming to develop students’ analytical skills and prepare them for postsecondary success.”
Springmill STEM Elementary recently had its STEM designation renewed by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s STEM Committee.
Will spoke about the work that went into that designation at a school board meeting last week.
Springmill opened and earned its K-3 STEM designation from the state of Ohio in 2017, Will said.
The school applied to add grades 4-6 to its designated program in 2021. In that same year, the law governing Ohio’s STEM school designation was updated.
Will said the update included new, more rigorous standards. It also added a requirement for all STEM designated schools to reapply for designation every five years.
The new process included 13 criteria, each requiring at least three pieces of supporting evidence.
Springmill STEM applied for its redesignation in 2022. State officials conducted a site visit in 2024 and found the district met 10 of the 13 criteria.
“We managed in the two years to meet the requirements for 10 of these 13. That was a lot of work, because there are some very difficult things, especially for an elementary school,” Will said.
“A lot of this is really geared towards high school and middle school.”
This school year, Springmill resubmitted evidence for the three criteria it had missed in the first application. The state followed up in May to let school officials know they’d been approved without an additional site visit.
Kindergarten teacher Nancy Niedermier has been at Springmill STEM since it opened. She told board members the school has had several principals over the years, but none focused as much on professional development as Will.
“Until Cara Will came along, professional development in STEM thinking, teaching, integration was not a priority for us,” Niedermeir said. “Everyone just kind of did what we thought STEM was.
“It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of extra work for us, but I think our staff is dedicated and so proud of our STEM designation.”
Will, in turn, praised the dedication of the teaching staff.
“I could not have done this without my team,” Will said. “They are all on board with the goal of this school, and that’s to give Mansfield City School kids the opportunity to have a STEM education, which is one that is rooted in hands-on learning and in learning the careers that are going to be available to them when they graduate high school.”
Board president Chris Elswick shared a personal endorsement of the school on behalf of one of its students.
“My grandson loves his school. He loves his teacher and he makes major strides every year,” Elswick said. “It’s very encouraging.”
Will said the school has no intention of resting on its laurels.
Now that it’s officially redesignated, she hopes to continue expanding the grade levels offered at Springmill STEM, add more programs, continue teacher development and add a newly-required computer science class for sixth grade students.
14 students visit nation’s capital
Ed Golden, advisor for Mansfield Senior High School’s heritage and unity club, updated the board on a recent trip to Washington D.C.
Golden said he’s wanted to take students to the nation’s capital since he began his career in the district 10 years ago.
This year, he secured funds from the Richland County Foundation’s Fran and Warren Rupp Field Trip Fund, the Phillips Family Foundation, The Gimbel Foundation and the Tyger Booster Club.
Heritage and Unity Club members also raised funds to help cover the cost of meals and accommodations.
Golden and a team of chaperones took 14 students on a four-day trip over spring break.
The group visited the National African History Museum, the National Holocaust Museum, the World War II Memorial, the National Monument and Reflecting Pool, the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Nurses Memorial, the FDR Monument, the Korean War Memorial and the National Native American Museum.
“The trip cost almost $20,000 and it was 10 years in the making, but it was worth every penny,” Golden said.
The club also visited the National Veterans Memorial and Museum on Veterans Day, thanks in part to a donation from the Sons of Amvets Post 26.
On that trip, the club paid $20 to sponsor an American flag in honor of Army Veteran David Francis Winder. Winder graduated from Malabar High School. He was killed in action while serving during the Vietnam War at the age of 23.
Winder is one of eight Medal of Honor winners from Richland County.
According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Winder crawled unarmed through a rice paddy to administer medical aid to a comrade who had been injured by enemy fire. On his way to the man, Winder was shot, but he managed to reach the man and administer medical aid anyway.
Read Winder’s story here:
Winder then proceeded towards a second injured comrade. He was wounded a second time but continued on before sustaining a third, mortal wound within 10 meters of the man.
“This is important for kids to understand the cost for us to get to where we are,” Golden said. “I’m not saying we’re perfect, but a lot of people throughout the years gave their life.”
