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ECISD receives Outstanding STEM Initiative award

district officials on stage after being presented with award
ECISD receives Outstanding STEM Initiative award

Honor comes from Mexican American School Boards Association

Ector County ISD is proud to announce the district has received the award for Outstanding STEM Initiative from the Mexican American School Boards Association (MASBA). District leaders accepted the award during MASBA’s annual conference last weekend.

Science in Action: ECISD’s Hands-On STEM Learning Initiative gives students hands-on opportunities to investigate scientific phenomena, collect real-time data, analyze evidence, and connect learning to the district curriculum. It is supported through Vernier Connections Powered by Penda.

“It is an honor to be recognized by MASBA,” said ECISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Keeley Boyer. “This award reflects the innovative thinking of our team and the hard work of our teachers and students.

“This initiative transforms science instruction from simply learning about science to actively doing science,” Dr. Boyer added. “And we saw immediate evidence of its effectiveness as our district improved in every STAAR performance category – Approaches, Meets, Masters – in 5th grade science, 8th grade science, and the Biology End of Course exam.”

The initiative ignites curiosity by giving students opportunities to explore scientific phenomena in ways that are interactive, visual, and connected to the real world. Students are not passive recipients of information. They ask questions, collect evidence, interpret data, identify patterns, and make sense of scientific concepts through investigation. This kind of learning builds the habits of mind that students need to become future scientists, engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers.

The platform includes digital tools that can support students through read-aloud, text translation, varied reading levels, interactive visuals, and immediate feedback. These supports are especially important for English learners and students who are still developing academic language in science. By reducing language barriers while maintaining rigorous expectations, the initiative allows more students to participate meaningfully in STEM learning.

ECISD has previously earned MASBA recognition for a number of initiatives including Workforce Development, Special Education, English Language Learners, and Outstanding School District.

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