INCITE! Paths to Excellence

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INCITE! Paths to Excellence works with schools, educators and administrators to create, review, and refine educational programs.  These programs can be integrated to combine the curriculum across various content disciplines. The relationship between the various academic areas is well-known, yet teachers need support to create cross-curricular materials. Paths to Excellence initiates and analyzes the needs for these programs, creates the program, directs the professional development to implement these programs, and evaluates and does the follow-up needed to monitor and tweak the programs.  All programs will show a relationship between subject areas that can be aligned to state standards. Programs encompass students’ needs including social and emotional wellness. Programs can also be developed to accommodate students with special needs and students who are at risk of failure.

 

INCITE! Paths to Excellence

MISSION: To create cutting edge educational programs with integrated arts and academic relationships that enhance students achievement and critical thinking skills for all learning styles and student populations.

VISION: To serve students of all learning styles and in all populations to reach their potential and become lifelong learners who value the interconnectedness of the arts with academic disciplines to succeed in the 21st century.

PURPOSE: To serve PK – 12 education to make it more comprehensive, inquiry-based and experiential so that students will learn critical thinking and problem solving skills to become life long learners prepared for the 21st century.

PRINCIPLES:

• TO VALUE THE INDIVIDUALITY OF EACH STUDENT AND TEACHER.

• TO RESPECT THE TALENTS AND INTELLIGENCE OF ALL STUDENTS.

• CREATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

• DEVELOP HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR PARTNERS

• TO ACT WITH HONESTY AND INTEGRITY IN ALL ACTIONS.

WHAT IS STE[a]M?  This concept is not a new one – consider the work of Leonardo Da Vinci, the first innovator of STE[a]M. He could do it all-music, visual art, design and inventions.  Many educators today realize the importance of innovation, creative thinking and engaging the right brain in science and math activities.  Think of the person who created markers that smell like food or tinker toys and Erector sets to build and create.  What does a Rubik’s cube have to do with music? What happens when a yo-yo has a different design? Innovation is not new.  It is time to reignite creativity in our children to be prepared for the jobs of the future. Who knows what lies ahead?

Turn  STEM into  STE[a]M Engaging students through the arts develops cognitive connections that improve academics by fostering innovation and creativity. Turn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) into STE[a]M (add “A” for the ARTS) as an outlet for creative expression, inspiration and inventiveness.  Only a few decades ago, the United States was at the forefront of technology. We put a man on the moon.  Now our students have fallen behind. Education must change for our students to become competitive in the global marketplace.  Thomas Friedman warned in his book, The World is Flat, that the US must work at producing more creative and competitive young people to keep pace with modern technology.