The district will work with Toyota as they redesign their international teaching with a focus on STEM. A first team, consisting of curriculum experts from AAPS, will visit Singapore either in the spring or summer of 2013, according to Green. Singapore has been identified as a country at the forefront of STEM education.

The possible partnership had been mentioned by superintendent Patricia Green three months ago at a board retreat. From Chronicle’s report out of the board’s Aug. 1, 2012 retreat:  ”Green mentioned that the district has been approached by a major corporation studying the world’s best education districts for studying STEM. There have been preliminary talks of partnering with AAPS to focus on connecting biology and STEM initiatives, with potential trips to Singapore, a leading country in STEM initiatives, paid for by the unnamed company, Green said.”

This brief was filed from the board room of the Ann Arbor District Library in downtown Ann Arbor at Fifth and William. A more detailed report of the meeting will follow.