The cover of a brochure explaining Project Lead the Way’s “Innovation High School” project-based learning curricula.

I just left the the little movie theater in our town, where a few people were meeting to learn about the new directions Lake Roosevelt High School is embarking upon with new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curricula and more.

Science teacher Ralph Rise was very happy with a turnout of about 18 people (including him and me), but I was a little disappointed with that number. That’s probably because I understand what a huge directional change this will be — for the better.

It’s not easy to change the culture of a school, Rise noted. Hell, it’s not easy to change the culture of a three-person office, but cultural transition is what is about to happen at Lake Roosevelt High School.

Because of years of after-school work with interested students, who repeatedly won statewide science contests, little LRHS has earned the attention of a lot of people in this state, the right people, some of whom helped score the school a $1 million-plus grant.

The school is launching new curricula for STEM education. And we’re not talking about a fresh set of text books. Project Lead the Way’s biomedical curricula will immerse students in projects that spur inquiry, not in lecture settings.

I’m excited for LRHS and for the students in our community who are about to encounter, right here in river city, some of the most advanced thinking in educational curriculum development.

What do you think?