About Us
The Itz'at STEAM ACADEMY aims to prepare students for careers and further study in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics on a campus that has a modern science lab, digital media studio and maker space.
Itz'at Academy
a leading secondary school
Students will have a wide range of on and off campus learning experiences designed to ensure they have the creativity, knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to succeed at work or in higher education. Students will have a wide range of on and off campus learning experiences designed to ensure they have the creativity, knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to succeed at work or in higher education. These experiences will allow students to connect with their communities and address the issues that affect them.
Each learning cycle, students will complete a sustainable development project as they practice design-based thinking and learn to use modern technology to create images and objects. This technology includes digital media computers and software, scientific equipment and state of the art construction tools such as 3D printers. The technological focus of the school fosters a STEAM mindset of logical thinking, curiosity, innovation and inventiveness.
School focus
The school will focus its pedagogy and curriculum on contemporary teaching and learning practices through an integrated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education while at the same time providing a full curriculum for students including: Belizean studies, foreign languages, ethics and systems thinking. In its experimental nature, the school is designed to push the frontiers of secondary education in Belize.
Vision
Young people prepared with knowledge, skills, and integrated experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to build a sustainable future for themselves and their communities.
Mission
The mission of the Steam Laboratory School (SLS) is to create a diverse and inclusive school community that inspires young people—including girls, those from marginalized social, economic or cultural groups and those with special educational needs—to advance their knowledge and understanding of the world and to engage in concrete actions that lead to improvement of their own lives and the lives of those around them. SLS prepares students for careers and for life, through competency-based programs and individualized, authentic learning experiences. SLS builds knowledge of STEAM throughout Belize through its work with young people, educators, and local and international partners.
History
The Itz’at STEAM Academy formally known as the STEAM Lab School is an initiative of the Belizean Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST) to provide a new, transformative secondary school education for students in Belize. Developed in partnership with MIT and the Inter-American Development Bank, the Itz’at STEAM Acacemy will open its doors to an initial cohort in September 2023, and will grow over time to its full capacity of 300 students by 2026. The school will be built in Belize City, centrally located on a campus shared with the ITVET.
The use of “STEAM” and “Lab” in the school’s name provides a clear directive for how the school will operate. As a lab school, SLS is committed to cultivating and sharing innovative pedagogies and constantly exploring best practices in an experimental, iterative, and reflective manner. STEAM, an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, is a set of subjects whose combination extends beyond the sum of its parts.
STEAM embodies processes, approaches, and attitudes that focus on both interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to learning. It implies that digital technologies are an important part of the educational experience as powerful tools that enable discovery, creativity, and new connections within the curriculum. STEAM education also nurtures future-oriented, creative, collaborative and ethical problem solvers through practical, project-based activities that promote design and critical thinking.
Values
The Itz’at STEAM Academy cultivates and fosters the following values in its school community.
- Collaboration – by working in partnership with different stakeholders in the country, including teachers, businesses, community organizations, and others
- Innovation and Experimentation – by positioning the school as an innovation hub that cultivates, reflects, and shares best pedagogical practices and uses of digital technologies
- Resilience – by equipping students with the skills and perspectives to face adversity and embrace change
- Integrity – by adhering to the highest ethical standards
- Inclusion – by recognizing the intrinsic value of different ways of being, thinking and knowing, to create a school culture and climate where students with various needs, aspirations and interests can thriveDiversity – by committing to creating and maintaining a diverse school community and curriculum
- Respect and Responsibility – by remaining mindful of the value of each person and of the earth, and consistently encouraging choices that will foster healthy, meaningful relationships and help to protect and preserve our environment.
We Have a Great Team
Our Management team comes from a variety of professional backgrounds from across Belize.
We establish strategic partnerships with the world’s most experienced and committed education institutions.
John Newport, Principal of the Itz'at STEAM Academy
John has spent his career focusing on improving students’ experiences. He has been employed as a teacher, education development officer, teacher educator, and curriculum developer in Belize, the United Kingdom, Nepal, and Brazil. He believes education can change students’ lives by engaging them in designing real, technologically-driven solutions to issues facing local, national, and global communities.
Christine Coc, Vice-Principal of the Itz'at STEAM Academy
Christine is dedicated to improving education quality by incorporating technology into the classroom. Over the course of her career, she has held several positions including trainer, quality analyst, and science educator. Inclusive STEAM education is her goal for Belize. In her view, Itz’at STEAM Academy will offer learners an alternative schooling model tailored to their needs, enabling them to develop their passions as they acquire the necessary skills and personal characteristics to achieve their future dreams.
