The Lighthouse
Volume 2 / Issue 4
Mr. Michael WIlliams, Mr. Eric Trippe, and Ms. Benora McCain-Wigfall have been selected as Making STEM Matter Master Teaching Fellows! They are esteemed educators at Chesapeake Math and Instructional Technology Academy - North Elementary in Laurel, Maryland.
Over the past 10 years, Mrs. Benora McCain-Wigfall has been a STEM coordinator at CMITNES Elementary. As STEM coordinator, she works hard to implement more STEM in the school. One of the things that she has advocated for is a STEM class where students could learn inquiry-based, real-world applications and critical thinking lessons. STEM has been her passion since working at CMIT North Elementary in 2014.
Mr. Eric Trippe is a ten-year teaching veteran at CMIT North Elementary School. He is a passionate, dedicated teacher committed to student-centered, engaging, and differentiated instruction. He also has proven leadership skills with nine years of experience guiding and supporting fellow teachers in creating collaborative environments that drive optimal classroom outcomes as a lead teacher. He attended Maryland public schools and earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Mr. Michael Williams' path to education wasn't the traditional one. He wasn't always a teacher, but his passion for STEM and a desire to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged populations led him here. An NSF grant for career changers in STEM professions allowed him to transition from sales to the classroom, where he saw firsthand the need for engaging and effective STEM instruction, particularly for students from underserved communities.
Driven by this need, he was selected to be part of another cohort funded by a second NSF grant, one that allowed him to become a STEM master teacher. This experience not only deepened his own understanding of STEM pedagogy but also equipped him with the skills and knowledge to support and mentor other educators in effectively integrating STEM into their curriculum.
The Making STEM Matter Fellowship will allow him to continue promoting equitable access to quality STEM education for all students, focusing on integrating maker spaces in the schoolhouse.
Through a collaborative effort between Towson University, Morgan State University, PGCPS, Open Works (a nonprofit makerspace organization dedicated to educational and economic development in Maryland), and funding from the National Science Foundation, Maryland Teacher Fellows will engage in ongoing professional learning that will improve their instructional practices, cultivate teacher leadership and build capacity in PGCPS and the state of Maryland for maker-enhanced, culturally relevant STEM teaching.
The Making STEM Matter (MSM) Fellowship is a five-year program to improve instruction in Prince George's County Public School System (PGCPS) by promoting teacher leadership through justice-centered pedagogy and makerspace technologies. The program begins next month and runs through December 2029!
Mr. Michael WIlliams, Mr. Eric Trippe, and Ms. Benora McCain-Wigfall have also been honored by Mr. Yilmaz Ak, our CEO, as the first recipients of the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation STAR Award, which is dedicated to acknowledging outstanding achievements within our Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation Community.
Mr. Adam Dartici spearheaded and created a digital gallery memorializing the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation 20th Anniversary Art Contest. Scholars from our schools submitted their finest renditions of commemorative artwork. They utilized various art media and visually represented the momentous accomplishment with beauty and pride.
Upon reflection on two decades of the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation’s commitment to Lighting the Way for Excellence in Education, witnessing the artistic brilliance that emerged from this special anniversary art contest was truly inspiring. The passion and dedication displayed in each piece have celebrated the foundation’s journey and added vibrant colors to the tapestry of our shared history and brilliant future.
The artists explored diverse interpretations of the theme and utilized various styles that reflected the unique perspectives of our Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation community. The creativity on display was inspiring, from brush strokes to pencil lines' intricacies. The artwork is a testament to the foundation’s unwavering dedication to fostering creativity, innovation, and self-expression among its students.
The winners of the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Art Contest are:
Grades K-5 Winners:
1st Place - Mia Almonte - Chesapeake Math and Information Technology Academy - North Elementary
2nd Place - James Donovan - Chesapeake Math and Information Technology Academy - South Elementary
3rd Place - Isaiah Day - Chesapeake Science Point Elementary School
Grades 9-12 Winners:
1st Place - Dailyn Wray - Chesapeake Math and Information Technology Academy - North High
2nd Place - Liana Torres - Chesapeake Science Point High School
3rd Place - Angel Adesogi - Chesapeake Math and Information Technology Academy - North High
Once again, congratulations to all the winners and participants for making the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Art Contest a resounding success! Your artistic contributions have added a beautiful chapter to our foundation’s rich history, and we look forward to many more years of fostering creativity, learning, and community spirit.
The Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation, hosted The CLF Bridge Builder Invitational Competition. Dr. Richard Woo, a long-time sponsor of the event, and Mr. Ashish Vadalia, CLF STEM Program Manager, were elated to host seventy-two future engineers (18 teams) from CMIT South Middle/High, CMIT North Middle and High, and CSP Middle/High School.
The competition fosters an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among middle and high school students by engaging them in a practical and competitive engineering challenge. In this competition, participants are tasked with designing and constructing various types of bridges that aim to carry as much weight as possible while weighing as little as possible, focusing on achieving an optimal strength-to-weight ratio. Teams of 3 similar grade students research bridge types and designs, perform experiments to test their designs for strength and efficiency, and then construct a bridge based on their findings. The competition serves as a platform for students to apply engineering principles, enhance problem-solving skills, and collaborate in team settings, promoting STEM education through hands-on learning and real-world application.
Our scholars hope to be able to participate in the 2024 Annual Bridge Building Competition in April 2024!
The Maryland Charter Alliance hosted MD charter schools for Charter Advocacy Day in Annapolis on January 31, 2024. Scores of students and families, school staff, charter operators, board members, and supporters visited the Miller Senate Office Building, Maryland House Office Building, and the Maryland State House in the state capitol to advocate for passing Facilities Funding for Public Charter Schools.
Currently, Maryland does not provide facilities funding to public charter schools, compelling them to look to their annual per-pupil allotment (PPA) to help pay for facilities. Those participating in Charter Advocacy Day appealed to their delegates and senators to join 10 states and districts that have recently enacted legislation related to facilities funding for public charter schools.
The Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation operates schools in Districts 21, 25 (Prince George’s County), and 32 (Anne Arundel County). We sincerely thank the MD Charter Alliance of Public Charter Schools, St. Anne’s Church Parish House, delegates, senators, and their staff for being hospitable, gracious, and accommodating of our eager advocates.
