The Country School and Byron Academy Partner to Increase Participation of Girls in STEM

The Country School is partnering with Byron Academy to provide young women with exposure to and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), a national education priority. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, about one-quarter of bachelor’s degrees awarded to men are in STEM fields, compared with one-tenth conferred on women. 

At The Country School, STEM - or its expanded acronym, STEAM (to incorporate art) - is also a priority. This summer, the coeducational, PreSchool through 8th Grade independent school created a STEAM lab and hired a STEAM teacher to integrate science, technology, engineering, art, and math into the curriculum at all levels.

STEM is founded on the idea that schools need to prepare students to address the world's problems and that scientific discovery and technological innovation will play a critical role. In addition to teaching skills, STEM emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, global citizenship, and working collaboratively.

The partnership between TCS and Byron builds on a strong foundation. With its long-standing commitment to hands-on learning and scientific discovery, a large number of Country School graduates - both male and female - have chosen to make their careers in STEM fields. Click here to read about TCS alumnae in STEM or here to read a Byron Academy profile of TCS alumna and parent Marietta Lee '83, an engineer.

The Byron-TCS partnership provides additional opportunities for young women in grades 6, 7, and 8 to become exposed to STEM careers and to hear from women role models. The partnership is part of a national pilot program, which is offered at no-charge to The Country School or its students. Each female student in The Country School Middle School has been invited to participate. Most of the programs will be online, accessible from any computer with an internet connection. Over 2,000 young women from around the United States will be participating during the fall. Young women with an interest in science and technology are invited to join at www.ByronAcademy.org.

"We are so grateful to Byron Academy for providing our girls this special opportunity," said Dr. Laurie Bottiger, Head of School at The Country School, who made advancing STEAM one of her priorities when she took over as head a year ago. "It has been thrilling to meet some of our young alumnae who are working in these fields, and with programs like this partnership, we will only see more."

Byron Academy, founded by new Country School parent Ryan Duques, offers a simple formula to engage female students in STEM education: expose, engage, propel. First, the Academy exposes young women to STEM-related education and career paths with real-life examples via weekly technology discussions, a monthly speaker series, and volumes of role models. Students then have the opportunity to engage in projects with discussion leaders, instructors, or their peers. Finally, students are able to take advantage of unique STEM courses, college search and preparation services, and a closed STEM social network.

“This unique program combines research and best practices to offer young women with an engaging way to be exposed to the opportunities in STEM related fields,” Mr. Duques said. “Participating students will have the opportunity to listen to leading women in STEM, connect to peers and STEM professionals, receive academic support, and become part of a community that works collaboratively to build confidence.”

Founded in 1955, The Country School is located on a 23-acre campus on Opening Hill Road in Madison. Programs are designed to educate curious, enthusiastic, motivated learners and small classes allow close attention to the academic, social and emotional development of each student.  A focus on 21st century skills, including design thinking and STEAM, helps prepare students for the future. Studio and performing art, PE, service learning, and Outdoor Education are integral parts of the curriculum. The Country School strives to empower young people to reach their highest, not only in school but in life. To read more about STEAM at TCS, click here.