Penn Hills School District’s Linton Middle School unveiled a recently completed STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lab, as well as a New Directions room.

On Sept. 15, the school district also welcomed Sen. Jay Costa (D-Forest Hills) to tour and dedicate the upgraded spaces.

First on the tour was the New Directions room, a modified in-school suspension room that utilizes root-cause analysis, mediation and mentoring for students who are feeling distracted and disengaged due to self-esteem issues, bullying or trauma at home.

Formerly the registration office, the New Directions room has been modified with funds from a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grant to become a warm, friendly and welcoming environment run by certified counselor Mary Wakefield. It can hold up to 15 students at one time.

“We work with folks here who just need some extra assistance. It allows us to dig deeper and really listen to the students,” Wakefield said.

Superintendent Nancy Hines reiterated how much this new approach has helped.

“We really immersed ourselves in major reform to treat to the actual problem and not just focus on punishment. As a result, there’s been a drop in suspensions, expressions of aggression, and administration can now be directly involved in helping to enrich,” Hines said. “All these pieces have been combining to improve the culture, and now that we have the culture in check, we can handle the academic side.”

Hines credited Wakefield’s approach for making the New Directions room a huge success.

“Mary is focused so much on personality, manners and helping, and the kids really take to her. The parents know that she cares,” Hines said.

In the New Directions room, Costa spoke with youth engagement school specialists from Pressley Ridge, a Pittsburgh-based youth support organization, who are the first to engage students when tensions or disagreements occur. They are also involved in the support process encompassing the New Directions room with the goal of helping students break the cycle of negative behaviors.

Costa also participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a brand new STEM lab at the school. The lab was funded by a Ready to Learn grant through the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. The mission of the organization, named after the late father of baseball legend Cal Jr., is “creating safe opportunities for youth in need to develop valuable life skills, build character, connect positively with local law enforcement, and learn how to make productive choices for their future.”

The $35,000 grant was matched by the district and used to fund the construction of the lab, along with all equipment, furniture and supplies. The center features a wide array of STEM-oriented learning opportunities, including a 3D printer, work benches and tools. The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation will continue to provide support as the center moves into the future.

“We’re not just giving the center and saying, ‘See you later,” said Tim Bancells, assistant director of STEM with the Ripken Foundation. “The school will have constant contact with the Ripken Center.”

The lab is one of 248 like it across 18 states, and the first one in the Pittsburgh area. It took five months to build.

“The hope is that this is the start of getting more centers like it in the area,” Bancells said.

Renel Williams, district director of teaching, learning and assessment, said that the lab has already been successful in a short period of time.

“The students have been very engaged. It’s been amazing. Mr. Rich Staley just called me to tell me how much he loves his job,” Williams said regarding one of the lab’s teachers.

Costa said he was impressed with the substantial developments that Penn Hills School District has taken to improve learning opportunities.

“My experience here today at Penn Hills was very enlightening. There’s tremendous work being done, and the progress that they have made over the course over the last few years has been remarkable, not only on the financial side, but the academic side as well,” Costa said. “The opening of the STEM lab is critically important, because these are the key areas of learning that kids need engaged in and to be working in when they advance to the high school level and beyond. It’s important to get them acclimated to this type of education.

“What’s nice about this is that it’s a learning program, but it’s fun for the students as well, and it lets the kids experiment and bring out a creative side that helps them want to continue to participate in this space moving forward. Engaging them at this moment in time is critically important for their future development.”

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