During the 2023–24 school year, Sherman ISD brought together district and campus staff, teachers, parents, and community partners to develop its 2024–2027 strategic plan.
“We looked at what we wanted our student experience to be from prekindergarten through grade 12,” said Amy Pesina, assistant superintendent of Sherman ISD. “One focus area that emerged was the need for high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). When we looked at what we had for science, it didn’t provide the level of rigor and alignment our students and teachers needed.”
The district formed committees of teachers, principals, parents, and students to review potential science curricula, and they selected STEMscopes Science for grades K–8. Schools began using the program in fall 2024 and added STEMscopes Math for K–Algebra 1 in fall 2025.
Since then, the percentage of students performing at or above grade level on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) has increased in both science and mathematics.
Consistency was particularly important to Sherman ISD, the largest and fastest-growing public school district serving Grayson County, about 65 miles north of Dallas.
“STEMscopes’ vertical alignment provides continuity and consistency for our students,” said Pesina.
“That consistency and alignment — not only from classroom to classroom, but also between schools — is so important,” said Jeff Chancellor, principal of Piner Middle School. “When we’re with our professional learning communities (PLCs) and planning, we know we’re all working from the same place. When we’re comparing data, we know it’s consistent data.”
“That consistency is also important for hands-on lab experiences,” he added. “We have a high mobility rate in our middle schools. With STEMscopes, we’re making sure those experiences are consistent for students across the district.”
Both STEMscopes programs integrate print and digital materials to deliver engaging, standards-aligned instruction for all learners, including multilingual learners. In addition, hands-on kits aligned with the lessons provide resources to spark curiosity and support experiential learning.
“STEMscopes Science and STEMscopes Math are helping us build a STEM culture,” said Abby Homer, coordinator of STEM and federal programs for Sherman ISD. “We want to implement project-based learning, create curiosity, encourage creativity, and promote engagement — and those two programs are right in line with what we’re trying to do.”
STEMscopes is built on the research-based 5E lesson model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate). It also includes additional phases for Intervention and Acceleration. With the 5E+IA model, Sherman ISD teachers can adjust the pace and depth of instruction to meet students’ needs while providing multiple ways for students to develop and strengthen their understanding.
“STEMscopes gives teachers the materials they need whether students are below grade level and need extra support or above grade level and need opportunities for extension,” said Pesina.
Chancellor sees that in practice at his campus. “STEMscopes makes differentiation easier,” he said. “The rigor and responsiveness of the programs support growth for students at all different levels throughout the year.”
Teachers can also monitor students’ progress and adjust instruction as needed.
“The flexibility within each scope makes it possible for teachers to pivot and offer different activities or reteach something differently,” he said. “At the end of the day, it reaches more students by addressing different learning styles than traditional instruction does.”
STEMscopes’ 5E+IA model also encourages students to talk through their thinking and learn from one another.
“There has been a big push the last few years for student discourse, and the 5E model supports that at a high level,” said Chancellor.
That can be especially valuable in math, where some students may come to class believing they aren’t good at math.
“Math is difficult for some students, and it sometimes gets a bad rap,” he said. “The 5E model and inquiry-based instruction allow all students to be vulnerable at times. They see that they can make mistakes, talk with one another, and learn from different perspectives. They also see that the lightbulb may go off for them and their classmates in different ways and at different times, and that’s okay. It gives them confidence.”
Homer agrees. “STEMscopes allows students to do math and science in ways they’re comfortable with. A student may not understand something explained one way, but they might be able to understand it a different way,” she said.
“Students really like the hands-on activities in STEMscopes,” Chancellor added. “They like being able to see how things work. It shows them the real-world applications of math and science.”
For teachers, having a common set of high-quality, standards-aligned materials makes it easier to plan instruction.
“With STEMscopes, lesson planning is now very streamlined in our PLCs,” said Chancellor. “Teachers know they have a strong Tier 1 curriculum that is high quality and aligned to all our state standards.”
For Pesina, having a common instructional foundation means teachers can spend less time determining what to teach and more time on how best to teach it.
“Having consistent HQIM in every classroom takes the guesswork out,” she said. “Teachers have the resources to create the experiences we want all our students to have — and they still have a lot of autonomy in the programs.”
Since implementing STEMscopes Science in fall 2024, the percentage of Sherman ISD students scoring at Meets Grade Level and above on the science STAAR has risen by 4 percentage points in grade 5 and by 14 percentage points in grade 8.
Sherman ISD – STAAR Performance Levels
Percentage at Meets Grade Level and above
STAAR – Science
|
|
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
|
Grade 5 |
17% |
20% |
21% |
|
Grade 8 |
30% |
34% |
44% |
Since implementing STEMscopes Science in fall 2024, the percentage of Sherman ISD students scoring at Meets Grade Level and above on the science STAAR has risen by 4 percentage points in grade 5 and by 14 percentage points in grade 8.
STAAR – Mathematics
|
|
2025 |
2026 |
|
Grade 3 |
25% |
30% |
|
Grade 4 |
31% |
31% |
|
Grade 5 |
28% |
32% |
|
Grade 6 |
20% |
32% |
|
Grade 7 |
28% |
32% |
|
Grade 8 |
27% |
29% |
STAAR – Algebra 1 (Spring)
|
|
2025 |
2026 |
|
Algebra 1 |
33% |
41% |
The end-of-year results reflected the growth teachers saw throughout the year.
“All of the things students need to know by the end of the year are incorporated in the STEMscopes curriculum, which is reassuring for our teachers,” said Chancellor. “We saw student growth on our benchmark tests and unit assessments throughout the year, and we surpassed a lot of the goals we set at the beginning of the year.”
As the 2026–27 school year begins, he looks forward to building on that momentum.
“We can pick up right where we left off with STEMscopes,” he said. “Looking forward, that’s going to expedite students’ success as they move through elementary school and into middle school.”
Sherman ISD leaders believe those strong, consistent learning experiences will benefit students throughout their educational journey.
“Teachers are building strong foundations and creating equitable learning experiences for our students, which will help them as they move on to high school and into college and careers,” said Homer.
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