Cypress School District highlights STEM expansion, sustainability and career‑readiness

Tandi Taylor, executive director of educational services, and STEM teachers on special assignment detailed how Cypress School District's STEM program has grown over seven years and now includes updated lesson overviews aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, new accessibility features for digital activities, and sustainability practices for hands‑on learning.

"It has been such a privilege to come before you tonight to be able to, share with you about our stem program," Taylor said, introducing the team. Presenters said every lesson now includes a teacher slide listing standards, Science and Engineering Practices and crosscutting concepts, with environmental principles embedded where appropriate to meet California requirements.

Staff described specific classroom updates: Seesaw activities now include audio directions and activity frames so students can choose text or video responses; TK modules have been reworked for play‑based small-group centers; and the district is reusing geranium cuttings and collecting pumpkin seeds to reduce material costs and model sustainability for students. "We now keep those geraniums and create cuttings," one presenter said.

The STEM team also recounted an April 8 solar eclipse program that provided approved safety glasses and differentiated eclipse journals across grade bands so students could observe and record the event safely. On waste reduction, staff reported initial custodial data from Morris showing a drop "from 30 bags to 10" between breakfast and lunch after implementing the organics‑waste sorting program required by Senate Bill 1383, and noted edible recovered food is redirected to Food Finders.

Taylor and her team outlined partnerships and grants supporting the work: the district collaborated with Orange County Department of Education for math framework planning, was featured by OC Waste and Recycling and Inside the Outdoors for its organics work, and received a National Geographic grant to fund play‑based nutrition and recycling experiences in TK and kindergarten.

Trustees praised the presentation and sought clarifications on vertical alignment to middle and high school programs and how the county math framework differs from earlier Common Core guidance. Staff said the new math framework adds more examples and produced most changes at the secondary level; at the district's elementary levels, the focus remains on conceptual understanding combined with needed automaticity.

The district plans professional development and lab‑day classroom visits to support teachers as the math framework is implemented, and trustees asked staff to return with updates on vertical alignment and demonstration lessons.