CTMS has been fortunate to have STEM professionals willing to come into our school or invite 
our scholars to their facilities and workplaces. We can confidently say that every single child in 
the STEM academy gets multiple opportunities to make real-world connections from the 
curriculum to a variety of STEM careers or professions. Our business partners aid with activities 
such as the following STEM competition teams: Technology Scholar Association (TSA), FBLA; 
and with STEM-enriched camps and before or after school programs. To accommodate parent 
schedules, school clubs are offered throughout the week in the morning and afternoon. 

Research suggests that authentic learning is meaningful. Scholars must be able to make real-world 
connections. “Authentic learning is learning designed to connect what scholars are taught in 
school to real-world issues, problems, and applications; learning experiences should mirror the 
complexities and ambiguities of real life.In our STEM Academy, our two most impactful paths 
to build real world connections and create extended opportunities are through extracurricular 
clubs and field trips.