Subject-Specific Offerings

Inside DoDEA Schools: Background

As someone who has taught various subjects and served as a deputy director in a private school, I can only imagine what it must be like to run a global educational system like the Department of Defence Schools (DoDEA). Let's look at the teacher qualifications, how much the tuition and costs are, and how the schools are accredited.

The Department of Defense Schools trace their roots to the aftermath of World War II.

• In 1946, the Department of the Army established the first schools for dependents of service people in occupied Germany, Austria, and Japan.
• These schools served children of American military personnel stationed abroad. Initially, the Army, Navy, and Air Force operated their schools separately.

Then, in 1964, the Secretary of Defense combined these into a single system.

• The Defense Dependents Education Act of 1978 formally established the Defense Dependents' Education System, authorizing the Secretary of Defense to operate a free public education system for eligible overseas dependents.
• This act provided Congressional authorization for the schools. Over time, the system has evolved.
• In 1992 it became known as the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), incorporating overseas and domestic schools.
• Today, DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, serving military families worldwide.

This video offers a look at the DoDEA schools in Europe.

Unlocking the Future: The Power of STEAM Education

As a classically trained musician descended from a long line of engineers, I have experienced the interplay and tension between my passion for music and my appreciation of how things work.

• When I studied trigonometry and Latin in high school, I never realized that STEM subjects would become a critical component of 21st-century primary and secondary education.
• Neither did I understand how the arts enriched my perspective on just about everything.

Canva generated this picture of students in a science lab.

In today's rapidly changing world, we must prepare students for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

• The focus on STEM has morphed into integrating arts subjects with STEM, creating the aggregation of disciplines we call STEAM. A STEAM education integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics in a comprehensive and cohesive learning environment.
• Most private K-12 schools are well-equipped to teach the benefits of a STEAM education, thus providing their students with a strong foundation for future success in their life and work as adults.

In the explanation of STEAM and the subjects that comprise STEAM that follows, I have included quotations from various sites devoted to STEAM, so that you can explore the approach in detail.

The Interdisciplinary Approach of STEAM

The concept behind STEAM education is the idea that these five disciplines are interconnected and that we should adopt

I've often wondered how my education would have turned out if computers and STEM had been part of the course offerings in the 50s and 60s. Of course, engineering is part of my DNA, with my father, uncles, grandfather, and great-uncles all having been chemical, mechanical, or civil engineers. Music and Latin were the subjects that interested me as a high school student. Fast forward to 1980. When IBM introduced the PC in 1980, I was awestruck. Then came the DARPA project called the Internet. I never looked back. I devoured technology and all its manifestations with an enthusiasm I had never experienced before. Against that personal backdrop, in this essay, I aim to see how I would integrate STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) into my grandchildren's educations.

Why is a STEM education important?

An education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is important for several reasons: Pair STEM with AI, and your students will be well-equipped to handle the career challenges of today's work environment.

It provides career opportunities

The workplace is changing rapidly. Education in STEM subjects can provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue careers in fields that are in demand.

STEM extends far beyond the classroom. There are many places where STEM shows up in the real world, and many students already unknowingly engage with it in their day-to-day routines. Highlighting how everyday experiences can relate to their STEM education is another way of

When you think of single-sex education as a choice or an option when you are thinking about sending your child to private school, the subject becomes a little easier to understand in the 21st century. Historically private schools have offered single-sex education for decades. Indeed many of our older K-12 schools were founded with the purpose of educating boys or girls separately. That's the way things were done back in the 18th and 19th centuries. Colleges and universities were also set up as single-sex institutions. For example, Harvard University was an all-male university until 1977 when its sister college, Radcliffe, merged with it.

Characteristics of single-sex schools

How do we define a single-sex school? By definition, a single-sex school is a school which educates boys or girls exclusively. As a general rule classes will not be co-educational. On occasion, neighboring boys and girls schools which have an established relationship will host co-educational classes.

What grades do single-sex schools offer? Typically single-sex schools are high schools offering grades 9 through 12 and a Post Graduate year where available. A handful of single-sex schools offer the middle school grades 6 through 9. Even fewer schools offer PK-12. You will also notice that middle school grades go up to grade 9 and high school begins with grade 9 as well. Actually, grade 10 is probably the most common entry point for private high schools. That’s one reason for the overlap of the grades.

There are several different kinds of

Editor's note: I recently asked Bobby Bossman, Director of SPIRE Academy, to explain and outline the kind of athletic programs and training which the Institute offers. It is one of dozens of athletic institutes around the country which give young women and men the chance to see whether they have the right stuff to take it a step further. ~Rob

1. How does a specialty institute such as Spire Institute handle the balance of academics and athletic training?

By having flexibility with each student's time and the ability to create custom daily schedules, our staff can plan the most appropriate training day unique to each student-athlete. Some athletes may require more or less time in academic training based on progress. We have the ability to accommodate accordingly by infusing more academic time when needed and allowing those who are ahead academically extra periods of athletic training. This is versus the traditional high school setting that blocks students into a 7:30am-3:30pm structured school day before athletic activities even begin.

SPIRE also has the ability to condense the academic portion of the day by removing some filler blocks such as study halls and P.E. classes to allow athletes opportunities to train in the mornings as well when their bodies are physically the freshest.

How do you advise your young athletes regarding their academics?

All of our student-athletes are advised to complete all require core courses as per the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). NCAA schools require college-bound student-athlete to build