Stemerald City

Professional Development Recap | Hertford County Schools

This week at Hertford County Schools, Yo-yo and I teamed up for the first time to deliver a powerful professional development session focused on using heterogeneous grouping to increase student engagement and academic achievement.

Several attendees jokingly said we were “sandbagging” because they couldn’t believe it was our first time presenting together. The energy, collaboration, and flow of the session made it feel like we had been doing it for years.

During the session, we explored how the digitization of society since 1968 has transformed:
• How we are entertained
• How students consume and process information
• Why classroom structures must evolve to maintain engagement

Our goal wasn’t just to present ideas—it was to give teachers practical strategies they could use immediately and see results in their classrooms.

One of the most impactful moments of the session came when Yo-yo coached attendees through the process of grouping their own current classroom rosters. Instead of discussing grouping in theory, teachers worked directly with their student lists to create intentional heterogeneous groups that balanced academic strengths, learning styles, and peer collaboration.

This hands-on coaching helped teachers see exactly how the strategy could work in their classrooms the very next day.

Educators walked away with tools to:
✔ Increase student participation
✔ Strengthen peer-to-peer learning
✔ Improve classroom collaboration
✔ Support diverse learners within the same learning environment

The response from teachers was overwhelmingly positive, confirming that practical, ready-to-use strategies are exactly what educators are looking for.

Because of the strong feedback, we plan to offer this session to districts across the region, with a special focus on supporting beginning teachers who are developing their classroom engagement toolkit.

When educators collaborate and share strategies that work, students win.

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Written by: Jeffries F. Epps, staff writer It’s STEM Saturday for the high school cohort at STEMERALD City, and today’s session promises to be full of movement—literally. Students are diving into the world of advanced manufacturing and electronics with an exciting introduction to animatronics. The day’s focus? Understanding how servo motors bring mechanical creations to life and how those movements become part of larger animatronic systems....

A Bit of Servo Learning - STEMERALD CITY Written by: Jeffries F. Epps, staff writer It’s STEM Saturday for the high school cohort at STEMERALD City, and today’s…

🌍✨ At STEMERALD City Saturday Academy, the world is our classroom—full of discoveries waiting to happen!

Today, our high school cohort took learning outdoors and explored the fundamentals of data collection and analysis using real-time environmental sensors. 📊🌿

One key discovery? Humidity levels on the tennis courts increased the closer they got to surrounding trees and foliage. 🌳💧 A perfect example of how nature impacts data—and how our students are learning to think like scientists and engineers in real-world settings.

This is what hands-on, minds-on learning looks like! 🔍🧠

📣 STEMERALD City Saturday Academy is on the move! 🌳

Today, our classroom is Mazerick Park in Fayetteville! The high school cohort is taking STEM outdoors and getting hands-on with real-world data collection. Using the Databot sensor, students will gather and analyze atmospheric conditions as part of their ongoing exploration of science, technology, and the environment. 🌡️📊🌤️

This is what learning looks like—curiosity, data, and discovery in action. 💡🧠

Woooof!!!!! We know how to put on a doggone good STEM camp!!!

By: Jeffries F. Epps, Staff Writer Raeford, NC – May 10, 2025 In a tale that blends brains, beauty, and bots, Hoke County High School freshman Alice Trappier is proving that STEM isn’t just for scientists—it’s for stylists, too. Alice, who dreams of becoming a licensed hair stylist, recently took a detour through the world of technology and emerged as a champion....

Alice in (STEM) Wonderland - STEMERALD CITY By: Jeffries F. Epps, Staff Writer Raeford, NC – May 10, 2025 In a tale that blends brains, beauty, and…

YASSS!!!

Written by: Jeffries F. Epps, Staff Writer At STEMERALD City’s Saturday Academy, we believe that learning should always be meaningful—and a little sweet. Today’s session was a perfect example of how we infuse creativity and curiosity into academic skills. One of our students, a young artist and passionate baker, took her love of baking to a whole new level through the power of coding....

“Coding is a Piece of Cake” - STEMERALD CITY Written by: Jeffries F. Epps, Staff Writer At STEMERALD City’s Saturday Academy, we believe that learning should always be meaningful—and…