Elko County School District (ECSD) and Adobe Middle School have received a $1 million sub-grant from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) to support non-traditional and at-risk students. This substantial funding will enable us to partner with NOLA Education to launch a Star Academy program at Adobe Middle School, starting in the 2024-25 school year.
Star Academy offers a customizable, comprehensive STEM-inspired curriculum that focuses on project-based learning to re-engage middle school students. This program will provide a hands-on approach to workforce development, linking standardized curriculum with real-world career opportunities. The target is to support over-aged, academically challenged, and at-risk students, ensuring they have the resources and guidance needed to succeed.
The Star Academy will focus on four core subjects: math, science, English Language Arts (ELA), and social studies. It is designed to serve up to 80 students per academic year.
During the week of June 17, the newly selected teachers for the Star Academy underwent training and were introduced to the core curriculum. The educators are social studies teacher Kenny Maderis, English language arts teacher Savannah Flores, science teacher Tai Costa, and math teacher James Brawley.
The program’s all-inclusive “school-within-a- school” model includes all classroom equipment, furnishing, and materials, as well as comprehensive year-round onsite support and professional development.
Proven at nearly 100 sites over 15 years, Star Academy has marked the turning point in the lives of tens of thousands of young people across 14 states. The program is expanding rapidly as more and more school districts find it to be an ideal solution for closing learning gaps and addressing intervention needs.
“We are extraordinarily excited about this wonderful opportunity for our students to benefit from this unique type of instructional design and delivery. We believe that this curriculum solution, focused on instructional recovery and acceleration, will have a much-needed impact with unlocking the potential of this cohort of students,” said Elko County School District Superintendent Clayton Anderson.
“We are very grateful to the Governor's Office and DETR for providing this significant investment in our students. We look forward to realizing just how much this opportunity will enable us to reach new educational heights.”