Education Grad Awarded $30,000 from CIA to Support STEAM Education at Local School

By: Erik Pedersen, Senior Communications Manager

BALTIMORE – A graduate of Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Leadership in Teaching: STEM master’s program was the recent recipient of a $30,000 award sponsored by the Central Intelligence Agency to promote science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education at his school in Northeast Baltimore.

Scott Hartman M’21, who has spent the past 10 years teaching science at Hamilton Elementary/Middle School, earned the funding through the CIA’s Mission Possible – Makerspace Nation program. The $30,000 top prize was distributed to one school each in the cities of Baltimore, Richmond and Washington DC.

Hartman was informed of the news following a surprise appearance from administrators while he was teaching last week. The announcement, in which Hartman received a ceremonial check from the CIA, was featured on WBAL-TV 11.

“It was such a wonderful moment,” Hartman said. “It’s a very big piece of the puzzle to make our library space more usable. This will provide our students with a great resource that is going to be both engaging and highly educational.”

The funding will lead to the creation of a makerspace room at Hamilton filled with a variety of high and low-tech items to benefit the entire student body, which ranges from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Younger students will have the chance to develop their problem-solving skills through Legos and wood blocks, while opportunities for higher-grade students include the ability to experiment with a new 3D printer.

“A makerspace area can connect what we’re learning in traditional classroom settings with hands-on learning, which will allow students to build more meaning on their own instead of just hearing it in a lecture format,” Hartman said. “That leads to better retention, increased engagement, and more fun for everyone involved.”

Hartman received his bachelor’s degree in history, but quickly discovered the need for math and science teachers as he began his professional career. Improving his knowledge in those areas was one of the key factors that led him to NDMU’s Leadership in Teaching master’s program.

“Enrolling at Notre Dame was really impactful for my career,” Hartman said. “It opened my eyes to a lot of different aspects of STEM, from curriculum development to the learning theories and practices around STEM and STEAM education.”

Hartman credits one class in particular, Introduction and Exploration of Design, Technology and Engineering, for having a strong influence on his teaching style at Hamilton.

“That was a very hands-on class for us, and it’s exactly what I want my classes to be,” he said. “I looked forward to going to it, and I really felt like I was getting something out of it. That’s been a model for how I’ve developed curriculum for classes at Hamilton.”
 

Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.