In just one evening, Middleburg Academy's Board of Trustees led a $50,000 challenge that inspired parents and supporters to donate more than $125,000 to bring a STEAM curriculum to its campus to dovetail with its well-established college prep program. Like other schools, Middleburg Academy has fiber optics, laptops, Chromebooks and iPads for its students and faculty. What has been missing is the STEAM curriculum that applies technology to a fully integrated learning initiative. STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. It's the newest and most innovative program available today and is being adopted by the best schools across the country.

"What struck us this past year was that our students are moving at a lightning pace with technology, and our curriculum needs to reflect their world where technology is part of everything," said Colley Bell, Head of School. "The logical step is to focus on a fully developed array of STEAM courses that will prepare our students for college life and beyond. Our plan is to incorporate this curriculum throughout the school and with every student."

Middleburg Academy's strength has always been the intimate connection between the faculty and students. With the student-to-teacher ratio of 8:1, Bell is convinced that incorporating the curriculum throughout the school is essential to the success of the students where STEM will impact over 70% of all professions in the job market by 2020. "Most educators and schools are focusing on STEM. With the inclusion of arts in the curriculum, we believe it will add a creative, human and aesthetic component," added Bell.

Being exposed to a STEAM curriculum needs to transpire early to be most successful. "We realized that 9th grade is almost too late for many students and more prospective families, particularly from public schools, are asking about 8th grade." said Bell. So as STEAM gets initiated in the fall of 2015, so will an 8th grade pilot program at Middleburg Academy. The school has traditionally enrolled students in grades 9 through 12.

The 8th grade pilot program will include only a few students who will be enrolled for the year and fully integrated into the STEAM program. "They may access advanced courses and stretch themselves before the 9th grade, which is when the official high school transcript is recognized," said Jan Healy, Assistant Head of School and College Counselor.

Although Northern Virginia is known for its strong public schools, less than 7% in the public system are touched by truly robust STEM courses. "The sheer numbers make it difficult for public schools to embrace this new curriculum in such a way," added Bell.

The key to the initiative is a fully trained faculty at Middleburg Academy. The school has added a computer educator who teaches computer languages and programming. Additionally, art teachers are bringing in 3-D printing, 3-D drawing and encaustic paint to the curriculum.

"STEAM is also perfect for us because of our surroundings," said Bell. "We have a lot of land, a pond, Goose Creek and natural beauty in Loudoun County. Biology, art, physics, history, chemistry and poetry are all around us, and we can teach students in a real-world environment."

New Leadership, New Vision

The school has advanced beyond the expectations of its Board of Trustees. Chairman Mike Hoover shared, "We now have a leadership team that has brought a focus to what is important to us--the students and their experiences." When Hoover and Board members walked the halls of the school this year, they were proud. "The atmosphere is clearly one that has the students' development in mind. Watching the students work with the vast array of technology we have, as well as the very human moments as students run school meetings, demonstrate that we have a unique educational opportunity here."

There is a lot on the horizon for Middleburg Academy's campus as well. Plans are underway to restore the 110-year old stone stable for an equine program that will make Middleburg Academy the only day school with an on-campus riding and equine program in Northern Virginia. Summer STEAM and outdoor programs are also in the works for 2016.

Bell said, "We are, and will always be a very human enterprise. So as technically-charged as the world becomes our families will find in Middleburg an independent school where the whole child emerges confident and prepared for the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century - their century, their world and their life before them."