Piner High School�SPARQ Foundation�STEM Program Facility
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Contents
Conclusion
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Executive Summary
The SPARQ Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization comprised of educators, parents, and students. Our mission is to foster an environment where students, faculty, and community work collaboratively to broaden young people’s interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
The SPARQ Center and the Piner High School STEM Certificate Program seeks to provide all students with an engaging and inspiring STEM curriculum that extends beyond the classroom. In doing so, we seek to meet the academic needs of all students and prepare them for further studies, successful careers, and active participation as scientifically literate citizens in a dynamic technological society.
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Executive Summary
This strategic plan presents the direction for the education programs, operations, and management of the SPARQ Center through 2026. As a non-profit, our staff operate and manage many aspects of the SPARQ Center, by means of donations, memberships, and income from educational and tourism programs. In addition to providing public and private events, our staff continue to manage a variety of student research opportunities through the Piner High STEM Certificate program.
Our vision is to be recognized as a leading center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education in Sonoma County, serving Piner High students, families, the surrounding Piner High community and beyond.
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Strategic Context
Through the opportunities we give students to explore their creativity in a wide range of scientific and technical disciplines such as GIS, advanced rocketry, astronomy, HSB (Health Science and Biotech), environmental studies, computer science, Make, and mathematics, our STEM program provides challenging, relevant and rewarding opportunities for future generations to be part of making the world a better place.
Finding meaningful solutions to problems like climate change, infrastructure, pollution, sustainability, etc. are vital to the survival of Earth and its many species.
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Purpose & Mission
Our purpose is to give our young people a place to foster their interest and passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and to inspire young people to pursue further education or careers in STEM fields to help meet the growing future demand for individuals in these industries.
By creating an environment where students and faculty work collaboratively to broaden student knowledge of an interest in science, Piner High School seeks to provide all students with an engaging and inspiring science curriculum that extends beyond the classroom. In so doing, we seek to meet the academic needs of all students and prepare them for further studies, successful careers, and active participation as citizens in a constantly changing technological world.
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Core Values of our Program
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Core Values - Self-motivated Inquiry
Our STEM goal is to create a culture where students apply science as a lens to any problem solving situation across disciplines.
Almost any topic can be researched, provided that it can be studied using the process of science (scientific method).
As youth engage in mentored self-directed authentic research, they gain competence in mastering the skills, practices and communication of science.
Student-directed research opportunities increase student interest in science research as a creative and rewarding endeavor and exposes them to STEM career opportunities.
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Core Values - Effective Communication Skills
Expression of their thoughts and processes in a clear and precise format using both written and verbal communication is a focus of the STEM Certificate process. Students are coached in the art of storytelling to make their presentations interesting to their audience as well as informative. Students develop effective communication skills by:
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Core Values - Community & Career Connections
The SPARQ Foundation builds and maintains community connections through the activities of their director and board members.
We reach out to parents, alumni, academia, industry, and our local community to give students opportunities to make solid career connections. Our members strive to provide both monetary and experiential resources for both our educators and Piner High School student body that supports STEM education. Our mentor program is vital piece in bringing authentic STEM experiences to our students.
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Core Values - Student Centered, Project-Based Learning
Under guidance from a faculty advisor and at least one professional mentor, students develop projects that meet their STEM goals and satisfy their STEM Level 2 or 3 Certificate requirements. PBL’s are relevant experiential opportunities for students to apply the process of science within the context of real world environments.
Student field trip opportunities:
Academy of Science SSU & SRJC
Science and Tech Museum Industry Partners
Chabot Space & Science Center San Jose Tech Museum
Robert Ferguson Observatory Environmental Science
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Core Values - Research-based Methodology
Students learn the essentials for developing clear testable hypotheses, data collection, analysis procedures, project organization, and writing skills to create solid and innovative and, sometimes, original publishable quality research. For example, our Astronomy students publish their data to the AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers) databases for other astronomers to use. Where possible we have our students participate in existing real life studies where they contribute to science (citizen science).
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Core Values - Professional Collaboration
Students engaged in STEM projects are free to work with faculty mentors, but we also encourage mentoring from the professional technological and scientific community here in Sonoma County. Our mentor programs include Tony Alcocer for High Powered Rocketry, Steve Smith for Photometry and Astrophotography, and Jacqueline Levy from Living with Lions to name a few. Our students work with dozens of mentors during a typical school year. Opportunities range from engineering and design, environmental stewardship, medical and GIS internships to name a few..
Professional guest speakers from outside Piner HS at our monthly STEM Cafes have included UC Berkeley, SSU and SRJC professors, local non profit groups, industry professionals, and STEM PHS alumni in STEM fields.
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SPARQ Center Objectives
Objective 1: Inspiration and Education
Objective 2: Programs and Events
Objective 3: Community Awareness
Objective 4: Inclusivity
Objective 5: Increase Research Opportunities
Objective 6: Partnerships
Objective 7: Volunteers and Staff
Objective 8: Financial Management
Objective 9: Capital Improvements
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Objective 1: Inspiration and Education
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Objective 2: Programs and Events
Provide inspirational and educational science-based experiences for students and our local community..
Expand both our on-site events and outreach opportunities.
Build on our understanding of visitor expectations and needs by utilizing feedback gained online and in-person.
Continue to create and deliver programs that meet student and community needs.
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Objective 3: Community Awareness
Actively reach out to the community.
Position us both as the primary STEM education facility in Sonoma County, as well as a venue for students to have a professional caliber experience.
Develop relationships with local media outlets to promote our program and events.
Promote our membership program and increases the number of SPARQ Center advocates and ambassadors throughout our community.
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Objective 4: Inclusivity
Ensure all members of our community are represented in our visitors, volunteer group, and board.
Continue building our board and volunteer group in a way that represents our diverse community.
Create programs that meet the needs of, and embrace, the multiplicity of our student body and community.
Retain the ability of all individuals, in every socioeconomic level, to benefit from our programs.
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Objective 5: Increase Research Opportunities
Develop STEM research opportunities that support our Purpose and Mission giving students the opportunity to learn the process of science by doing science.
Facilitate student research through collaboration with local and national scientists, engineers and mathematicians.
Ensure the optimal condition of the observatory, planetarium, and GIS lab, making them available for student research use.
Utilize solar observing telescopes for solar research and student demonstrations.
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Objective 6: Partnerships
Leverage our existing technology partnerships while creating new ones to further our development of STEM education opportunities for students.
Develop education partnerships with schools and other youth-related organizations for the purpose of furthering our educational mission, research opportunities, and mentoring programs.
Partner with organizations and businesses to leverage both our on-site and outreach events, and to build community awareness of the SPARQ Center.
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Objective 7: Volunteers and Staff
The lifeblood of any non-profit organization is having active and dedicated volunteers and staff.
Maintain a friendly, inclusive environment where volunteers feel welcomed, heard and valued.
Engage school staff and faculty to be active in achieving the SPARQ Center mission, and to create a student culture where science is used as a lens across disciplines.
Hire consultants as necessary to provide unique STEM research opportunities.
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Objective 8: Financial Management
Financial viability through reliable financial management planning and processes and diverse sources of income.
Financial Sustainability by regularly reviewing our costs and revenues and altering both if necessary.
Financial Governance and a balanced budget.
Exploring government and foundation grants and corporate sponsorships.
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Objective 9: Capital Improvements
Maintenance on building and surrounding grounds to ensure public safety and aesthetics.
Improve the existing facilities for educational use and for utilizing the observatory for daytime programs.
Obtain funding for capital works to make necessary upgrades to observatory, GIS lab, planetarium, educational outreach and grounds.
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Key Strategies
Several factors are critical in determining the success or failure of the SPARQ Center. These key areas must be attended to and actively managed for us to achieve our mission and reach our strategic goals. These critical success factors include:
People & Leadership
Financial Management
Programs & Events
Process & Infrastructure
Partnerships
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Key Strategies - People and Leadership
People are the vital resource.
Recruitment and retention of board members, faculty and student volunteers who are dedicated, highly trained and passionate with a people centered focus on our mission in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Leadership drives an organization
Strong strategic direction by the board, student and faculty committees offering broad strategic thinking, effective management, and good communication and planning is a priority of the SPARQ Foundation.
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Key Strategies – Financial
Financial stability and sufficient revenue are needed to both meet current SPARQ Foundation needs and expenses and provide opportunities for growth, through expanded public and student programs, fund raising, sponsorship, grants, and donations.
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Key Strategies - Programs and Events
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Inspirational education, youth, and scientific programs and events are well promoted and valued for their knowledge content and enjoyment (see yearly statistics).
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Key Strategies – Process & Infrastructure
Process
Efficient and streamlined operations that are continually updated and improved.
Infrastructure and Equipment
Effective and reliable infrastructure, equipment and facilities that are technologically relevant and continually maintained and upgraded.
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Key Strategies - Partnerships
Local educational and Industry partnerships need further development and nurturing. This includes partnerships for STEM resources, Speakers, Student internships and monetary.
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Conclusion - SPARQ website�
The SPARQ Center has been in operation since 2014. While it is still a “young” organization it has grown tremendously. Since 2015 over 900 students have completed at least one of the three STEM project levels. Of those, 19 have achieved Prospect STEM Certificates to honor their successful completion of all three STEM project levels and have graduated high school to being successful college students in a variety of scientific and technical disciplines. The monthly STEM Cafes and SPARQ Digital Theater programs have been a resounding, often standing-room only, success.
With success comes increased demand on programs and services. We’ve come to a critical time in our organization in that the demand for our programs and services have been growing beyond the capacity for our resources to be able to keep up.
The goal of this strategic plan is to clarify the desired future we would like to achieve. It provides guidance to the SPARQ Foundation board of directors, management staff, Piner High School faculty, volunteers, and all our stakeholders, to help us achieve our vision of being recognized as the primary center for high school science education in Sonoma County, serving students, families, and the general public. We must be agile, cognizant of trends, embrace continuous improvement and keep moving forward.
Through the exceptional passion and dedication of our volunteers, board, staff, donors and especially our students, we are confident that we will succeed in reaching our objectives.
However, we also realize that we cannot plan for every challenge, but we will continue to learn and grow from our experiences. In order for the SPARQ Foundation to be a success throughout the next several years we must stick to and embrace our purpose and mission; respect and value the contribution of all our stakeholders; celebrate our successes, and continue to inspire the students to value evidence and reach for the stars.
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