Barnesville School District Working to Achieve STEAM Designation
The Barnesville Exempted Village School District is looking to earn an official Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Designation for its effort in hands-on and project based learning.
STEAM is an educational approach with science, technology, math, engineering, arts and mathematics to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning. STEAM is an extension of STEM but integrates the arts to encourage creativity and a more rounded approach to learning.
The district’s goal is to apply and earn a STEAM Designation from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in February 2026. The designation signifies the school employs highly effective teachers and leaders who meet the needs of the whole child. STEAM schools have well established partnerships with business, non-profit organizations, institutes of higher education and other entities in their communities to prepare students for post-high school success, according to the DEW.
“This initiative is about creating a culture where learning is hands-on, connected to the real world, and built around our students’ strengths and interests,” superintendent Micah Fuchs said. “Barnesville Schools are committed to growing opportunities that not only prepare our students for the future but also strengthen our entire community.”
The Ohio STEM Committee, Ohio STEM Learning Network and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce are committed to ensuring every learner is challenged, prepared and empowered, the DEW states. Additionally, STEM and STEAM education provides an opportunity for all students to discover and learn, pursue a fulfilling post-high school path and to become resilient, lifeline learners who contribute to society.
For Barnesville Schools, STEAM is a philosophy focused on student engagement, creativity and problem-solving, Fuchs said.
The district is working with Bridges to STEM through Battelle Laboratories, aligning practices with Ohio’s STEM design principles. It is also collaborating with LearnInspireED, focusing on student agency to help students take ownership of their learning. Fuchs said these partnerships provide the framework and development needed for the designation.
Fuchs added community and business partnerships are vital for the designation success. AMfg Laboratories in Barnesville, located in the old 5B’s building, reached out to collaborate with the district, while Belmont College has expressed interest in dual enrollment and hands-on learning opportunities for Barnesville students. The district is also working with the Barnesville Area Education Foundation (BAEF) to secure grants for the program.
Fuchs expressed his gratitude for the agencies playing a role as they work toward obtaining designation.
Elementary School principal Zack Powell applied for a grant from the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN) to enhance project-based learning, in which the school received $5,000. The district also hosted an artificial intelligence summit to empower teachers to explore artificial intelligence tools, making STEM learning more accessible across all grade levels.
“STEAM develops critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. By investing in this initiative, we ensure students are college and career ready,” Fuchs said. “It also strengthens the school-to-career pipeline and attracts families and businesses who value innovation.”
The next step for the district between now and February, is to continue aligning with the Ohio Design Principles for STEAM schools, document student-centered learning, expand community partnerships, highlight teacher success stories and submit the application through the OSLN.
Fuchs said the district encourages staff to provide more hands-on instruction and more activities that stimulate creativity and independence for students. He added he believes the job market is going to change for the new generation, making STEAM a skill for occupations and careers outside of college.
No schools in Belmont County are STEAM designated. However, Shenandoah Elementary and Shenandoah High schools in the Noble Local School District are designated as is McKinley STEM Academy elementary school in Steubenville.
Curriculum director Clint Abbott added this designation would mean more interdisciplinary activities, integrating technology and engineering into a lot of non typical pathways.
Abbott said most teachers in Barnesville schools are already teaching in this fashion. He added the district would need to have common language or vocabulary to incorporate the practices.
“A common misconception with STEAM is that it’s all technology based, or it’s all AI based, but it’s not. It’s just a process of teaching by involving all of those disciplines.”
The district had a smart teaching professional development day on Sept. 24 that incorporated AI training. Now, most of the teachers in the district are TechCred, which is a credential recognized by Ohio for technology-focused skills.
The Attorney General’s Office has offered reimbursed grants for AI-type training in schools, and the district has applied for the grant every month it’s eligible. At this point, the district has leveraged about $75,000 worth of training opportunities for staff.
“It’s evident that the state of Ohio is realizing what’s going to happen with industry and business in the near future,” Fuchs said, “so they’re investing in this, and we’re trying to take advantage of that.”
Both Fuchs and Abbott have been involved in education for decades. They have seen shifts come and go but believe hands-on learning is something that will aid in student success right out of school.
“When we think about the career opportunities going to be available in the future, a lot of your trades are currently begging for workers, and that’s all hands on learning,” Fuchs said. “A lot of the occupations that will exist we may not even be aware of because technology is advancing at such a rapid pace.”
Fuchs added STEAM helps students think creatively, innovatively and critically, which is built through interdisciplinary hands-on instruction, lab type activities and collaborative activities.
Fuchs and Abbott emphasized it’s important to educate students while connecting classes, including social studies, math, science and reading.
A lesson could include incorporating courses by discussing a similar topic but still reaching the standards of the specific class.
Abbott said having STEAM designation matters for the district because, “It’s what’s best for kids.”
This puts a spotlight on the district and the work that is already underway that can potentially help the entire area, he said. Additionally, when families relocate, schools are looked at first. If they see Barnesville Schools are STEAM designated, they’ll realize this district takes education seriously.
“Our STEAM journey represents a shared investment in the future of Barnesville,” Fuchs said. “By empowering students to think creatively, problem-solve and collaborate through hands-on learning, we’re preparing the next generation of innovators and strengthening the heart of our community at the same time.”
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