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OUR

IMPACT





Key Design Elements

Stillman College & IDBA Lab School

Community Partnership to Deliver a First-Class Education

The Lab School concept helps to build academic excellence by incubating new ideas for student success, developing students’ curiosity about college, and allowing young teachers to train in live classroom environments.

Impact of the Lab School

Degree Program Rotations

All students in grades 6-9 experience 4-week rotations through Stillman’s degree departments, observing labs, engaging with professors & degree-seeking students, meeting career experts, &, as appropriate, participating in college research before selecting a Program of Study as a high school student.

Impact of the Lab School

Dual Enrollment Courses

Every High School student beginning in grade 10 will earn up to 30 credit hours engaging in college-level course material facilitated by Stillman College faculty to expose students to potential college majors and advanced academic materials.

Impact of the Lab School

Technology

Middle & High school students interested in technology, including Cybersecurity & Amazon’s AWS Cloud, earn Credentials, engage with software & tech programs, & further explore their college interests. Students begin working toward degrees in high-demand careers, including participating in cybersecurity competitions, designs, & internships. Each student also gains immediate access to Amazon’s job board that allows them to submit their credentials &  be paired with the company for immediate employment after graduation.

Impact of the Lab School

Intervention, Tutoring, and Mentoring Supports

As an HBCU Lab School partnering with the College of Education, future educators will collaborate with IDBA teachers to provide tutoring and academic support to students during the Workshop Blocks and School Wide Intervention Blocks to ensure that every IDBA student receives additional support with academic and enrichment courses, learning tasks within projects and college level courses.

    The Dream Big Way

    Core Tenets: Passion, Purpose, Power, Perseverance

    I Dream Big Academy

    Discover Your Passion:

    Ignite Your Inner Flame

    The first step towards a fulfilling life is discovering your passion.
    It’s essential to explore various interests, hobbies, and activities to
    find what truly ignites your inner flame. By identifying your passions,
    you can start focusing your energy and time on the things that matter
    most to you.

    I Dream Big Academy

    Uncover Your Purpose:

    Fulfill Your Destiny

    Once you have discovered your passion, the next step is to uncover your
    purpose. This involves understanding how your skills, talents, and
    interests can contribute to the world around you. Finding your purpose
    will provide you with a sense of direction and fulfillment, enabling you
    to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

    I Dream Big Academy

    Embrace Your Power:

    Harness Your Strengths

    To achieve your passion and purpose, it’s crucial to embrace your power.
    This means recognizing and harnessing your strengths while addressing
    any weaknesses. Developing self-awareness will empower you to take
    control of your life, overcome obstacles, and create opportunities for
    growth and success.

    I Dream Big Academy

    Persevere with Persistence:

    Overcome Adversity

    Lastly, perseverance is vital in maintaining a pathway to passion,
    purpose, power, and perseverance. Embrace challenges as opportunities
    for growth and remain resilient in the face of adversity. With
    determination and persistence, you can overcome any obstacle that stands in the way of achieving your goals.

    Our Pathway to Dreaming Big, The Dream Big Way

    Use our pathway map to lay out what students at each grade level are introduced to:

    6th Grade

    Learners are introduced to the Design Thinking Framework and begin tapping into their interests and passions

    7th Grade

    Learners begin to understand their Aptitudes and how it aligns to their interests and passions

    8th Grade

    Begin deeper dive into college and career explorations

    9th Grade

    Explore college programs, conduct job shadow activities, and develop a Pathway Map for College and Career

    10th Grade

    Begin Dual enrollment courses and complete a semester-long community service project and a separate technology-enriched project

    11th Grade

    Complete an Entrepreneurial Program and Launch

    12th Grade

    Complete a Career focused Internship and Final Exhibition of Work 

    Project Based Learning

    Project Based Learning gives students active roles in their learning to explore and investigate topics of interest while developing essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication. Teachers help students explore and incorporate diverse perspectives and experiences into PBL by using authentic scenarios and case studies that reflect the backgrounds and experiences of students.

    Advisory & House System

    Advisory and House Systems provide safe spaces rooted in relationships and education equity so all students can succeed academically when given the academic and holistic support they need to thrive. The advisory system is a structure where 15-17 students are assigned to a specific advisor who provides guidance, support, and mentorship throughout their academic journey.

    College and Career Exploration

    We collaborate with students to create personalized learning plans that align with their needs, interests, and goals, empowering them to take ownership of their education. By pursuing long-term, interdisciplinary projects, often in partnership with industry professionals and community members, students engage in solving real-world challenges that fuel their motivation and passion.