The Catholic Diocese of Arlington is proud to announce Nativity Catholic School, which serves preschool through eighth grade in Burke, Virginia, has been recognized as a 2024-25 STEM School of Excellence by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA).
Nativity is the only new school in Virginia to receive this honor, and one of only two in the state to have been awarded the distinction this year.
“Thanks to the dedicated leadership of Principal Maria Kelly and the strong support of pastor Msgr. Bob Cilinski in partnership with parents, Nativity Catholic School offers students a faith-filled education focused on academic excellence. We in the diocese are proud of Nativity’s recognition as a School of Excellence and look forward to their continued success,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.
Mark Harrell, director of ITEEA's STEM Center for Teaching and Learning, praised Nativity’s academic strength.
“We at ITEEA are incredibly proud of and grateful to Nativity Catholic School for its dedication to fostering STEM literacy for all students. Your hard work and commitment to excellence is truly inspiring. We celebrate your achievements and look forward to seeing the amazing things you will continue to accomplish,” said Harrell.
In total only 34 schools, elementary through college both in the United States and abroad, received the award.
Maria Kelly, principal of Nativity Catholic School, was excited to share the news with her pastor, parents and students.
“This recognition is for the school’s outstanding commitment to providing a robust integrative STEM education experience,” Ms. Kelly said in an email to the school community.
The application process consisted of detailed questions about school offerings, activities, expectations and opportunities. The 18-page application included photos, videos and detailed descriptions of how Nativity incorporates STEM into their daily curriculum. A school qualified for the distinction of “Excellence” if they earned 200 points or more on a rubric of questions. Nativity earned 260 points.
“We are thrilled that Nativity Catholic School is being recognized in this way. Their thoughtful and intentional approach to integrating STEM education into their rigorous curriculum took great teamwork under Ms. Kelly’s leadership. We are grateful for the efforts of all who made this well-deserved recognition possible,” said Dr. Joseph E. Vorbach III, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Arlington.
