Mann Middle School holds community input summit on STEM transition

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – A panel of nine Mann Middle School students gathered before Abilene ISD staff, administration, and parents Thursday for a set of community ‘summit’ events. These events are aimed at informing the future direction as the district determines the best changes for Mann’s transition into a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) campus. This event is just one portion of the larger changes coming around the district under the newly adopted and TEA-provided System of Great Schools .

“It’s an exciting time in the life of Abilene ISD as we start to imagine our future. Or re-imagine our future,” AISD Superintendent Dr. John Kuhn told the crowd.

Mann Middle School was awarded a TEA School Action Fund redesign grant to assist in implementing community and student-desired changes to campus structure and classroom learning procedures. Dr. Kuhn said Thursday’s Summits are the first step in that process. The administration took into acco unt the opinions of staff, students, and parents as it shapes the transition plan.

“We need to design a model of education that meets their needs. Who better to talk to about the needs of the kids than the kids themselves,” said Kuhn.

A few areas of public interest have risen from the conversations. Kuhn shared that the panel of nine students has mentioned a desire to see more hands-on learning opportunities and a possible increased focus on teaching ‘soft skills,’ which are non-technical skills needed in the workforce, such as time management, leadership and productive communication. All aspects will be taken into account as the classroom learning structure is modified.

“They were extremely honest this morning about the things they love about Mann as it currently sits. But also things they would like to see in the future. Things that may be a little bit different than the old sit-and-get type of classroom,” Kuhn explained.

Mann Middle School Principal Chad Drake said he has been pleased with the quality and quantity of community involvement in this process.

“After our first meeting, we heard great things from students. They talked about a desire to connect with each other during the school day. They gave really good answers about what learning should look like and sound like in the classroom,” Drake said.

Kuhn clarified that under the System of Great Schools structure, the TEA has provided AISD with tested and proven methods of implementing such changes efficiently and effectively while incorporating community and student needs to tailor the changes best at each campus.

“The TEA is interested in making sure that we follow research-based projects and things we can implement in our school district. It’s not just throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something will stick. We’re trying to do things that have shown to be successful in communities like ours,” said Kuhn.

While this is still the early phase of the transition and changes that the System of Great Schools will bring to the district, Kuhn says he is excited to see the positive growth this process will bring.

“I’m excited beyond compare. I feel lucky to be here, thrilled to be here. There are a whole lot of really good people in this school district who want to do this right by kids. We want to be the school district of choice. We want to be the school district that people look at and say that is where I want my kid to learn,” Kuhn said.

The next major step in Mann Middle’s transition comes at the end of September 2024. At that time, Drake says the design team, which will consist of school administration, staff, parents, and community members, will work to decide what changes need to be made to the school structure and learning procedure to best suit the student population. Several other ‘design days’ will be held throughout the fall.

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