We are incredibly honored to share that Steel City has been selected as a host school for the Building Leaders Winter School Visit next Thursday! 🎉🔥
Leaders from across the country will be coming to Gary to see our city, learn about the work taking place at Steel City and engage deeply with the work happening inside our classrooms every single day. 🌎🏫 That is something we do not take lightly.
We are excited to open our doors and share our single site, startup story:
• How we built Steel City Academy from the ground up 🏗️
• How we developed a clear and disciplined strategic plan 🧭
• How we designed data systems that actually drive instruction and decisions 📊
• How we created intentional talent pathways to build a high quality, values aligned team 👩🏽🏫👨🏾🏫
We will also share how we get results for kids through relentless consistency and a culture intentionally built on bringing JOY and PURPOSE to the work every single day. 💙✨ Most importantly, we are proud to showcase how that work shows up for our students. High quality learning experiences. A safe, joy community. Expanded access. 🌟
There is something powerful about inviting people into Gary not to fix it, but to learn from it, alongside it, and in partnership with the educators, families, and students doing extraordinary work every day. 🤝
We are grateful for the opportunity and excited for the dialogue, collaboration, and shared learning ahead. Gary & Steel City has a powerful story to tell, and our students are at the center of it. 🔥💫
Leaders from across the country will be coming to Gary to see our city, learn about the work taking place at Steel City and engage deeply with the work happening inside our classrooms every single day. 🌎🏫 That is something we do not take lightly.
We are excited to open our doors and share our single site, startup story:
• How we built Steel City Academy from the ground up 🏗️
• How we developed a clear and disciplined strategic plan 🧭
• How we designed data systems that actually drive instruction and decisions 📊
• How we created intentional talent pathways to build a high quality, values aligned team 👩🏽🏫👨🏾🏫
We will also share how we get results for kids through relentless consistency and a culture intentionally built on bringing JOY and PURPOSE to the work every single day. 💙✨ Most importantly, we are proud to showcase how that work shows up for our students. High quality learning experiences. A safe, joy community. Expanded access. 🌟
There is something powerful about inviting people into Gary not to fix it, but to learn from it, alongside it, and in partnership with the educators, families, and students doing extraordinary work every day. 🤝
We are grateful for the opportunity and excited for the dialogue, collaboration, and shared learning ahead. Gary & Steel City has a powerful story to tell, and our students are at the center of it. 🔥💫
At Steel City Academy, we believe deeply in celebrating what we value. 💙🔥 This week, we had the absolute joy of celebrating our K-12 Honor Roll students with a full catered breakfast in their honor!
Earning Honor Roll is no small feat. It represents consistency, discipline, and heart. It means showing up every single day ready to learn. It means staying engaged, completing your work, asking questions, and pushing yourself toward excellence even when it feels hard. 🔥
To every student, we celebrate you! We honor the effort behind the achievement. We hope you enjoyed every bite of breakfast and felt just how proud your school community is of you. 💫
Earning Honor Roll is no small feat. It represents consistency, discipline, and heart. It means showing up every single day ready to learn. It means staying engaged, completing your work, asking questions, and pushing yourself toward excellence even when it feels hard. 🔥
To every student, we celebrate you! We honor the effort behind the achievement. We hope you enjoyed every bite of breakfast and felt just how proud your school community is of you. 💫
This week marks the official kickoff of Black History Month Spirit Week at Steel City Academy, and we started STRONG with HBCU Day! 🔥
Our staff came ready to represent the pride, legacy, excellence, and culture of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. HBCUs have shaped generations of leaders, innovators, artists, educators, and some of our very own TEACHERS! We are proud to expose our students to that legacy of excellence. 💪🏾✨
Stay tuned for more Spirit Week highlights as we continue celebrating, learning, and honoring the stories that shape our community and our country. 🔥🎓💙
#BlackHistoryMonth #HBCUPride #SteelCityAcademy
Our staff came ready to represent the pride, legacy, excellence, and culture of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. HBCUs have shaped generations of leaders, innovators, artists, educators, and some of our very own TEACHERS! We are proud to expose our students to that legacy of excellence. 💪🏾✨
Stay tuned for more Spirit Week highlights as we continue celebrating, learning, and honoring the stories that shape our community and our country. 🔥🎓💙
#BlackHistoryMonth #HBCUPride #SteelCityAcademy
At Steel City Academy, we believe in showing up for our families in every way we can. 💙🔥
If your family or someone you know could benefit from additional support, please see the opportunity below hosted by Calumet Township:
🍎 Calumet Township Food Distribution Program
📅 Thursday, February 26th
🕗 Registration begins at 8:00 AM
📍 Calumet Township Multi Purpose Center
1900 W. 41st Ave, Gary, IN
This is a drive thru, pre packaged food distribution.
✔ One per household
✔ Open to residents of Gary and unincorporated Calumet Township
✔ ID is required
✔ Distribution begins immediately following registration while supplies last
For more information, families can call 219 880 4913.
We are grateful for community partners who continue to support the well being of Gary families. Please share with anyone who could benefit from it 💛
If your family or someone you know could benefit from additional support, please see the opportunity below hosted by Calumet Township:
🍎 Calumet Township Food Distribution Program
📅 Thursday, February 26th
🕗 Registration begins at 8:00 AM
📍 Calumet Township Multi Purpose Center
1900 W. 41st Ave, Gary, IN
This is a drive thru, pre packaged food distribution.
✔ One per household
✔ Open to residents of Gary and unincorporated Calumet Township
✔ ID is required
✔ Distribution begins immediately following registration while supplies last
For more information, families can call 219 880 4913.
We are grateful for community partners who continue to support the well being of Gary families. Please share with anyone who could benefit from it 💛
At Steel City Academy, our number one instructional priority this year is clear: increasing math proficiency across our K–12 campus. 📊🔥 We know this work must begin by increasing adult conceptual understanding, skill and mathematical acumen!
Led by our Math Instructional Leadership Team, our grade level Math PLCs spent Semester 1 doing deep, intentional work.
Together, we:
🧠 Examined and reflected on our own math identities
💪 Strengthened math confidence across grade bands
📘 Studied the conceptual shifts within the new Indiana standards
🔍 Unpacked the rigor and coherence behind what we teach
After analyzing Middle of Year data, we made a strategic decision rooted in Accountability: differentiate adult learning just as thoughtfully as we differentiate for our students. ❤️🔥
Our staff is now working in three differentiated PLC groups, each aligned to a specific lever for increasing math achievement:
✨ High Quality Lesson Plan Internalization
✨ Building Deep Math Conceptual Understanding
✨ Leading Effective Mathematical Language Routines
And this work has led to the launch of the Steel City Math Institute: From Counting to Calculus.
Thirteen math lead teachers, tutors, paraprofessionals, and future math teachers are beginning at the very foundation, counting and cardinality, to build conceptual understanding from the ground up. 🔢 The Steel City Math Institute exists to strengthen our internal capacity so we can intervene with precision, build fluency on top of meaning, and create true K–12 alignment from counting to calculus. 📈
If we want different results, we invest differently. Proud of this team. Proud of this leadership. And we are just getting started. 🔥
#InstructionalLeadership #MathEducation #ProfessionalLearning
Led by our Math Instructional Leadership Team, our grade level Math PLCs spent Semester 1 doing deep, intentional work.
Together, we:
🧠 Examined and reflected on our own math identities
💪 Strengthened math confidence across grade bands
📘 Studied the conceptual shifts within the new Indiana standards
🔍 Unpacked the rigor and coherence behind what we teach
After analyzing Middle of Year data, we made a strategic decision rooted in Accountability: differentiate adult learning just as thoughtfully as we differentiate for our students. ❤️🔥
Our staff is now working in three differentiated PLC groups, each aligned to a specific lever for increasing math achievement:
✨ High Quality Lesson Plan Internalization
✨ Building Deep Math Conceptual Understanding
✨ Leading Effective Mathematical Language Routines
And this work has led to the launch of the Steel City Math Institute: From Counting to Calculus.
Thirteen math lead teachers, tutors, paraprofessionals, and future math teachers are beginning at the very foundation, counting and cardinality, to build conceptual understanding from the ground up. 🔢 The Steel City Math Institute exists to strengthen our internal capacity so we can intervene with precision, build fluency on top of meaning, and create true K–12 alignment from counting to calculus. 📈
If we want different results, we invest differently. Proud of this team. Proud of this leadership. And we are just getting started. 🔥
#InstructionalLeadership #MathEducation #ProfessionalLearning
💖💃🏽🕺🏾 LOVE, joy, and community were absolutely in the air at our Young Hearts Run Free Dance Party! 🕺🏾💃🏽💖
Our cafeteria transformed into the ultimate Valentine’s celebration space - beautifully decorated, full of joy, and bursting with energy! ✨ The outfits? 🔥 The dance moves? 💥 Stellar. The vibes? 💕 Unmatched.
From the first song to the last, our middle schoolers showed up dressed to impress and ready to RUN FREE — celebrating friendship, fun, and the pure joy of being together. These are the kinds of core memories that last long after the music fades. 💞🎶
A HUGE shout out to Ms. Peterson, Ms. G, and Coach Kelly for their incredible planning and flawless execution. This night was truly special because of your vision and heart! 👏🏽✨
And thank you to Ms. Hunter, Mrs. Gonzalez, Ms. Renee, Ms. B. Ringo, Ms. Kirley, and Ms. Speight for supporting in the planning and chaperoning — it takes a team to create magic like this! 💙🔥 📸 Photo credit to the incredibly talented Ms. Peterson — check out these amazing moments she captured!
Steel City doesn’t just host events… we create experiences filled with joy, belonging, and community. 💖🔥
Our cafeteria transformed into the ultimate Valentine’s celebration space - beautifully decorated, full of joy, and bursting with energy! ✨ The outfits? 🔥 The dance moves? 💥 Stellar. The vibes? 💕 Unmatched.
From the first song to the last, our middle schoolers showed up dressed to impress and ready to RUN FREE — celebrating friendship, fun, and the pure joy of being together. These are the kinds of core memories that last long after the music fades. 💞🎶
A HUGE shout out to Ms. Peterson, Ms. G, and Coach Kelly for their incredible planning and flawless execution. This night was truly special because of your vision and heart! 👏🏽✨
And thank you to Ms. Hunter, Mrs. Gonzalez, Ms. Renee, Ms. B. Ringo, Ms. Kirley, and Ms. Speight for supporting in the planning and chaperoning — it takes a team to create magic like this! 💙🔥 📸 Photo credit to the incredibly talented Ms. Peterson — check out these amazing moments she captured!
Steel City doesn’t just host events… we create experiences filled with joy, belonging, and community. 💖🔥
At Steel City, we believe deeply in the power of after school clubs - the kind that create belonging, spark excitement to come to school, and bring IMMENSE joy to our students. And when you can layer in additional learning? That’s a win, win, win. 🔥📚
This year, our incredible 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Osborne, launched Readers to Leaders — an after-school club designed to get students fired up about reading together. From diving into the magic of new stories, to imagining characters and adventures, to building confidence as readers alongside their elementary friends — this space is full of joy, laughter, and growth.
There is something so powerful about watching kids choose reading because it feels fun. Because it feels safe. Because it feels like community.
Ms. Osborne, thank you for creating a space where literacy and joy collide. Our Readers to Leaders are growing not just as readers, but as leaders. 💙🔥
#SteelCityStories #ReadersToLeaders #JoyAndPurpose
This year, our incredible 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Osborne, launched Readers to Leaders — an after-school club designed to get students fired up about reading together. From diving into the magic of new stories, to imagining characters and adventures, to building confidence as readers alongside their elementary friends — this space is full of joy, laughter, and growth.
There is something so powerful about watching kids choose reading because it feels fun. Because it feels safe. Because it feels like community.
Ms. Osborne, thank you for creating a space where literacy and joy collide. Our Readers to Leaders are growing not just as readers, but as leaders. 💙🔥
#SteelCityStories #ReadersToLeaders #JoyAndPurpose
🔥👟✨ The countdown is ON, Steel City! ✨👟🔥
We are just 9 days away from launching our second season of both Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole for our 3rd–8th grade girls and we could not be more excited! 💙🔥 Girls on the Run Indiana Crossroads
This season feels even more special because we are expanding the impact across our K-12 campus. For the first time, we are adding some of our incredible high school girls as Junior Coaches! 👏🏽✨
Junior Coaches receive mentorship and support to grow their own leadership skills and confidence while serving as role models for our younger girls — offering guidance, modeling activities, and simply showing up with their presence and encouragement. It’s sisterhood across grade levels.
Today, four of our high school girls spent three hours at
Highland High School participating in training to prepare to be their very best for our younger students. We are so proud of them for stepping up to lead. 💪🏽💗
What a beautiful example of what makes Steel City special — a K-12, single-site campus where our girls can see who they are becoming because they’re walking beside those who are already on the path. Season 2, here we come. 🏃🏽♀️💖🔥
Girls and parents- stay tuned for the start of season letter coming out early this week!
#SteelCityGirls #GirlsOnTheRun #HeartAndSolente
🖤🔥 February hits different at Steel City Academy. While Black history is woven into our classrooms all year long, this month we intentionally spotlight the movements, organizations, and leaders who shaped our nation and our students and staff rose to the moment.
As part of our Black History Month Door Decorating Contest, our high school students turned their doors into powerful tributes to the organizations that organized, mobilized, educated, and led.
Here’s who they honored:
🎓 9th Grade: Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
🎓 10th Grade: Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) + Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
🎓 11th Grade: NAACP + National Urban League
🎓 12th Grade: Black Panther Party
And our teams brought their own lens to the movement:
✨ Senior Leaders: Civil Rights Leaders
✨ FOC: Female Leaders in the Movement
✨ CCR: Educators & Lead Thinkers
✨ Instructional Team: Mathematicians
✨ Diverse Learners: Politicians
✨ Culture Team: Musicians & Artists
From grassroots organizing to policy change, from classrooms to concert stages, our doors reflect strategy, sacrifice, brilliance, and bold leadership.
We’ll continue sharing highlights throughout the month — because these stories deserve to be seen, studied, and celebrated. 🔥🖤
As part of our Black History Month Door Decorating Contest, our high school students turned their doors into powerful tributes to the organizations that organized, mobilized, educated, and led.
Here’s who they honored:
🎓 9th Grade: Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
🎓 10th Grade: Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) + Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
🎓 11th Grade: NAACP + National Urban League
🎓 12th Grade: Black Panther Party
And our teams brought their own lens to the movement:
✨ Senior Leaders: Civil Rights Leaders
✨ FOC: Female Leaders in the Movement
✨ CCR: Educators & Lead Thinkers
✨ Instructional Team: Mathematicians
✨ Diverse Learners: Politicians
✨ Culture Team: Musicians & Artists
From grassroots organizing to policy change, from classrooms to concert stages, our doors reflect strategy, sacrifice, brilliance, and bold leadership.
We’ll continue sharing highlights throughout the month — because these stories deserve to be seen, studied, and celebrated. 🔥🖤
✊🏾🖤❤️ At Steel City Academy, we celebrate Black history every single month, we just go a little harder in February. 🔥
This year, our Black History Month Door Decorating Contest has transformed our entire building into a living, breathing Black History Museum and it is powerful.
Each grade level was assigned a decade and challenged to design a door that reflects the depth of their learning, the strength of their research, and the creativity of our students. Students and teachers worked side-by-side to bring history to life in bold, beautiful ways.
Here’s the journey through the decades:
✨ Kindergarten: 1950s
✨ First Grade: 1960s
✨ Second Grade: 1970s
✨ Third Grade: 1980s
✨ Fourth Grade: 1990s
✨ Fifth Grade: 2000–2010
✨ Sixth Grade: 1940s
✨ Seventh Grade: 1930s
✨ Eighth Grade: 1920s
From the Harlem Renaissance to the Civil Rights Movement… from Motown to modern-day trailblazers, our doors tell stories of resilience, brilliance, culture, innovation, and leadership. Our judges evaluated the doors yesterday (we do not make this easy!), and we cannot wait to announce the winners soon! 🏆
And we’re not done yet — stay tuned for additional doors honoring Black historical organizations and figures across our building. Drop your comments below 👇🏾 Which Black History decade door is your favorite?
At Steel City, we don’t just teach history - we honor it, we learn from it, and we carry it forward. 🔥🖤
This year, our Black History Month Door Decorating Contest has transformed our entire building into a living, breathing Black History Museum and it is powerful.
Each grade level was assigned a decade and challenged to design a door that reflects the depth of their learning, the strength of their research, and the creativity of our students. Students and teachers worked side-by-side to bring history to life in bold, beautiful ways.
Here’s the journey through the decades:
✨ Kindergarten: 1950s
✨ First Grade: 1960s
✨ Second Grade: 1970s
✨ Third Grade: 1980s
✨ Fourth Grade: 1990s
✨ Fifth Grade: 2000–2010
✨ Sixth Grade: 1940s
✨ Seventh Grade: 1930s
✨ Eighth Grade: 1920s
From the Harlem Renaissance to the Civil Rights Movement… from Motown to modern-day trailblazers, our doors tell stories of resilience, brilliance, culture, innovation, and leadership. Our judges evaluated the doors yesterday (we do not make this easy!), and we cannot wait to announce the winners soon! 🏆
And we’re not done yet — stay tuned for additional doors honoring Black historical organizations and figures across our building. Drop your comments below 👇🏾 Which Black History decade door is your favorite?
At Steel City, we don’t just teach history - we honor it, we learn from it, and we carry it forward. 🔥🖤
💗🔥 At Steel City, we don’t just teach academics, we create experiences to help build and shape identity 🔥💗 Last week in Squad, our middle school students participated in a powerful self-love activity that reminded them exactly who they are. 💙
Each student:
💗 Chose and colored a heart that reflected them
✨ Selected four positive adjectives that best describe who they are
✍🏽 Wrote a LOVE letter to themselves
Their letters included:
• At least two of their chosen adjectives
• Words of encouragement for hard days
• One future goal they’re working toward
• And were signed beautifully… “Love, Me.”
Ms. Cavanaugh will be laminating each letter so students can place it somewhere they’ll see every day — a daily reminder of their strength, brilliance, and becoming. 💫
We believe this work is critical for all students — and especially for our middle schoolers, who are actively shaping their confidence and proud identities. Experiences like this build the foundation for resilience, purpose, and joy. 💙🔥
Huge shout out to Ms. Cavanaugh for creating space for reflection, affirmation, and self-belief! 💗🔥
#SteelCityStories #PurposeJoyGrit #BabyFlames
Each student:
💗 Chose and colored a heart that reflected them
✨ Selected four positive adjectives that best describe who they are
✍🏽 Wrote a LOVE letter to themselves
Their letters included:
• At least two of their chosen adjectives
• Words of encouragement for hard days
• One future goal they’re working toward
• And were signed beautifully… “Love, Me.”
Ms. Cavanaugh will be laminating each letter so students can place it somewhere they’ll see every day — a daily reminder of their strength, brilliance, and becoming. 💫
We believe this work is critical for all students — and especially for our middle schoolers, who are actively shaping their confidence and proud identities. Experiences like this build the foundation for resilience, purpose, and joy. 💙🔥
Huge shout out to Ms. Cavanaugh for creating space for reflection, affirmation, and self-belief! 💗🔥
#SteelCityStories #PurposeJoyGrit #BabyFlames
🎉✨ At Steel City, we celebrate what we value and today we’re celebrating our people! 💙🔥
Our January Teacher & Staff Members of the Month exemplify purpose, excellence, and heart in action. They show up every single day for our students and for one another — strengthening our instruction, our culture, and our operations in powerful ways. 💪🏽🔥
Please help us celebrate them by showing some love in the comments and giving them their flowers in person! 🌸💐
🌟 Teacher of the Month: Ms. Larkins (1st Grade Educator & 3rd Grade Math)
🌟 Instruction, CCR & Culture Staff Member of the Month: Ms. Riddle (Counselor)
🌟 Leader, Finance & Operations Staff Member of the Month: Mama Moore (Front Office Assistant)
Thank you for embodying the grit, joy, accountability, and gratitude that define Steel City. We are so proud to have you on this team. 💙🔥
#SteelCityAcademy #TeamSteelCity #SteelCityStrong #StaffOfTheMonth #TeacherOfTheMonth
Our January Teacher & Staff Members of the Month exemplify purpose, excellence, and heart in action. They show up every single day for our students and for one another — strengthening our instruction, our culture, and our operations in powerful ways. 💪🏽🔥
Please help us celebrate them by showing some love in the comments and giving them their flowers in person! 🌸💐
🌟 Teacher of the Month: Ms. Larkins (1st Grade Educator & 3rd Grade Math)
🌟 Instruction, CCR & Culture Staff Member of the Month: Ms. Riddle (Counselor)
🌟 Leader, Finance & Operations Staff Member of the Month: Mama Moore (Front Office Assistant)
Thank you for embodying the grit, joy, accountability, and gratitude that define Steel City. We are so proud to have you on this team. 💙🔥
#SteelCityAcademy #TeamSteelCity #SteelCityStrong #StaffOfTheMonth #TeacherOfTheMonth
🚓💙 Today marks School Resource Officer Appreciation Day! 💙🚓
A HUGE shout out to Officer McClain — a remarkably reliable, consistent, and kind presence in our building each and every day. 🔥
You can find Officer McClain greeting every person who comes through our doors, dropping off little surprise gifts for team members, bringing laughs to every space he's in, and most importantly, ensuring that every single member of our school community feels safe and cared for. His steady presence brings both security and joy — and that combination is something special. Officer McClain, thank you for the heart you bring to Steel City Academy. We are better because of you. 💙
Take a moment today to give him some love and his well-deserved flowers! 🌟👏🏾 #SteelCityStories
A HUGE shout out to Officer McClain — a remarkably reliable, consistent, and kind presence in our building each and every day. 🔥
You can find Officer McClain greeting every person who comes through our doors, dropping off little surprise gifts for team members, bringing laughs to every space he's in, and most importantly, ensuring that every single member of our school community feels safe and cared for. His steady presence brings both security and joy — and that combination is something special. Officer McClain, thank you for the heart you bring to Steel City Academy. We are better because of you. 💙
Take a moment today to give him some love and his well-deserved flowers! 🌟👏🏾 #SteelCityStories
💙🔥 JANUARY CORE VALUE AWARD WINNERS! 🔥💙
At Steel City Academy, our Core Values are not posters on a wall — they are promises in action. And this January, our team showed up in powerful, purpose-driven ways for our students and school community. 🌟
Help us celebrate these remarkable leaders who embody what it means to live with Purpose, Team, and Grit every single day. Drop them some love below! 💙🔥
💛 PURPOSE — Mama Moore & Auntie Billie
When the bitter cold hit Gary, they didn’t wait to be asked. As true mamas and aunties of our building, they took initiative to lead our coat and boot drive - making sure our students were warm, cared for, and protected during the coldest days. That is purpose in action. 💙🔥
💙 TEAM — Coach Moore
Coach Moore is the definition of leaning in. Whether he’s driving the mini bus, covering lunch duty, leading squad, or mentoring our young people, he shows up for the team every single time. Just unwavering commitment to our school community. 💙🔥
💙 PURPOSE — Mr. Reynolds
From the smallest details to the biggest moments, everything Mr. Reynolds does is done with intention. From creating a welcoming classroom environment complete with a hot cocoa bar to leading our wildly successful Dungeons & Dragons club, to teaching history and government during such a critical time in our nation — he brings depth, care, and purpose to it all. 💙🔥
❤️ GRIT — Mrs. Combs
Mrs. Combs has shown relentless pursuit in leading Steel City toward STEM certification. She has mobilized a team, engaged our community, participated in deep professional development, and worked tirelessly to expand access to meaningful STEM experiences for our students and staff. This is grit. This is leadership. 💙🔥
We are so grateful for each of you. Thank you for living our mission and modeling what it means to move with purpose, lean into team, and pursue excellence with grit.
#CoreValuesInAction #SteelCityStrong #PurposeJoyGritTeam 🔥💙
💡🔬 Learning and growing together. 💙🔥
At Steel City, we are deeply committed to providing powerful, high-quality external professional development aligned to our organizational vision and instructional priorities.
Today and tomorrow, our Director of Instruction Mrs. Combs and our High School Science Teacher Mrs. Ward are representing Steel City at the Foundations of NGSS Workshop at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry diving deep into what high-quality, student-centered science instruction truly looks like.
Over this two-day experience, they are:
✨ Strengthening their ability to integrate Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) across grade levels
✨ Building a deep understanding of three-dimensional, phenomenon-driven instruction rooted in A Framework for K–12 Science Education
✨ Experiencing and reflecting on learning that centers sense-making through science and engineering practices
✨ Analyzing curriculum coherence to ensure grade-level appropriate, NGSS-aligned instruction
✨ Growing confidence alongside a powerful community of science educators
This is what investing in our people looks like—because when our educators grow, our students thrive. 💙🔥 So proud of this work and the commitment to excellence it represents!
At Steel City, we are deeply committed to providing powerful, high-quality external professional development aligned to our organizational vision and instructional priorities.
Today and tomorrow, our Director of Instruction Mrs. Combs and our High School Science Teacher Mrs. Ward are representing Steel City at the Foundations of NGSS Workshop at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry diving deep into what high-quality, student-centered science instruction truly looks like.
Over this two-day experience, they are:
✨ Strengthening their ability to integrate Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) across grade levels
✨ Building a deep understanding of three-dimensional, phenomenon-driven instruction rooted in A Framework for K–12 Science Education
✨ Experiencing and reflecting on learning that centers sense-making through science and engineering practices
✨ Analyzing curriculum coherence to ensure grade-level appropriate, NGSS-aligned instruction
✨ Growing confidence alongside a powerful community of science educators
This is what investing in our people looks like—because when our educators grow, our students thrive. 💙🔥 So proud of this work and the commitment to excellence it represents!
💖💃🏽🕺🏾 February is the season of LOVE at Steel City Academy — and Thursday, February 12th is PACKED with joy! 💃🏽🕺🏾💖
From kindness and connection during the school day to dancing the night away, here’s everything happening as we celebrate Valentine’s Day together:
💗 Valentine’s Spirit Day (K–12): Wear pink, red, or hearts to spread love, kindness, and friendship across our entire school community! 💞✨
💌 Valentine’s Telegrams (K–12): Want to make someone’s day extra sweet? Send a Valentine’s Telegram to a friend, teacher, or staff member! 🥰
💲 $2 | Includes a Valentine card & sucker
🛒 Purchase during lunch: Mon., Feb. 9 – Wed., Feb. 11
📬 Delivered to classrooms Thursday, Feb. 12
💖💃🏽🕺🏾 Young Hearts Run Free Dance Party (6th–8th Grade)
Our middle schoolers are invited to dress to impress and hit the dance floor from 5:00–7:30 PM for a night full of music, movement, and memories! ✨
🎶 Live DJ | 📸 Photobooth | 🍪 Refreshments
🎟️ $10 per student
👉 Register & pay via RevTrak: https://steelcityacademy.revtrak.net/MS/
...
Spots are limited — don’t wait!
📌 Important Reminder:
🚫 No school Friday, February 13th or Monday, February 16th
📚 Classes resume Tuesday, February 17th
February reminds us that love, joy, and connection are at the heart of who we are at Steel City. 💕 Drop some ❤️ below, send a sweet note, wear the love on Thursday — and let those young hearts run free! 💖🔥
From kindness and connection during the school day to dancing the night away, here’s everything happening as we celebrate Valentine’s Day together:
💗 Valentine’s Spirit Day (K–12): Wear pink, red, or hearts to spread love, kindness, and friendship across our entire school community! 💞✨
💌 Valentine’s Telegrams (K–12): Want to make someone’s day extra sweet? Send a Valentine’s Telegram to a friend, teacher, or staff member! 🥰
💲 $2 | Includes a Valentine card & sucker
🛒 Purchase during lunch: Mon., Feb. 9 – Wed., Feb. 11
📬 Delivered to classrooms Thursday, Feb. 12
💖💃🏽🕺🏾 Young Hearts Run Free Dance Party (6th–8th Grade)
Our middle schoolers are invited to dress to impress and hit the dance floor from 5:00–7:30 PM for a night full of music, movement, and memories! ✨
🎶 Live DJ | 📸 Photobooth | 🍪 Refreshments
🎟️ $10 per student
👉 Register & pay via RevTrak: https://steelcityacademy.revtrak.net/MS/
...
Spots are limited — don’t wait!
📌 Important Reminder:
🚫 No school Friday, February 13th or Monday, February 16th
📚 Classes resume Tuesday, February 17th
February reminds us that love, joy, and connection are at the heart of who we are at Steel City. 💕 Drop some ❤️ below, send a sweet note, wear the love on Thursday — and let those young hearts run free! 💖🔥
🎨🔥 STEEL CITY CREATIVITY ON FULL DISPLAY! 🔥🎨
Huge shoutout to our Paintbrush Playground artists for showcasing their incredible work at the remarkable Colors of Culture event! Their pieces beautifully illustrated the creativity, talent, and deep pride and knowledge of Black History and yes, our students even sold a few of their pieces! 👏🏾✨
We are so grateful to the event organizers for curating such a powerful and joyful celebration of Gary’s young talent — from youth-created documentaries and drum lines to majorette dancing and stunning visual art. It was truly a night that reminded us what’s possible when young people are given space to shine.
A huge thank you to Mr. Gill, our incredible K–12 Art Teacher and Paintbrush Playground sponsor, for his vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to elevating student voice and creativity. We’re so proud of you and our artists! ❤️
🖼️ The show is open through March 13th — be sure to check it out at the and support these phenomenal young creators!
#SteelCityStories #PaintbrushPlayground #ColorsOfCulture #BlackHistoryMonth #GaryPride #ArtsEducation 🎨🔥
Huge shoutout to our Paintbrush Playground artists for showcasing their incredible work at the remarkable Colors of Culture event! Their pieces beautifully illustrated the creativity, talent, and deep pride and knowledge of Black History and yes, our students even sold a few of their pieces! 👏🏾✨
We are so grateful to the event organizers for curating such a powerful and joyful celebration of Gary’s young talent — from youth-created documentaries and drum lines to majorette dancing and stunning visual art. It was truly a night that reminded us what’s possible when young people are given space to shine.
A huge thank you to Mr. Gill, our incredible K–12 Art Teacher and Paintbrush Playground sponsor, for his vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to elevating student voice and creativity. We’re so proud of you and our artists! ❤️
🖼️ The show is open through March 13th — be sure to check it out at the and support these phenomenal young creators!
#SteelCityStories #PaintbrushPlayground #ColorsOfCulture #BlackHistoryMonth #GaryPride #ArtsEducation 🎨🔥
At Steel City, we believe in educating the whole child 💙—supporting not only academic growth, but the physical, mental, and social-emotional wellness of our students, too.
Doing this well requires strong community partnerships, and we are so grateful for ours. 🙌 Through our collaboration with the Gary Health Department, our students received vision and hearing screenings, and most recently, we were thrilled to welcome Dr. Boone for on-site dental exams for our kids 🦷✨
These moments are powerful reminders that it truly takes a village—and that when schools and community partners come together, incredible things are possible for our students 🔥
A huge THANK YOU to Mrs. Williams, our remarkable Operations & Medical Assistant, for her tireless work planning these visits, coordinating partnerships, and ensuring our students are cared for every step of the way. We are so grateful for you! 💐
This is what partnership, collaboration, and love for kids looks like. 💙
🖤✨ Steel City Academy is THRILLED to celebrate Black History Month! ✨🖤
While Black history is something we honor, celebrate, and learn all year long, February is a time when we go a little harder, dig a little deeper, and shine even brighter. 🌟
This month is an opportunity not only to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of Black leaders and figures, but to learn the untold stories, uplift organizations that have shaped history, and recognize the people and movements that deserve to be elevated.
🎉 Black History Month Spirit Week | February 23–27
Get ready to show your pride and participate all week long:
Monday – HBCU Day 🎓 Rep your favorite HBCU!
Tuesday – Pan-African Pride Day 🌍 Wear red, green, and black.
Wednesday – Social Justice + Activism Day ✊🏽 Wear a shirt with a social justice slogan.
Thursday – Social Justice + Activism Day 📣 Highlight a cause or issue you support.
Friday – Black Excellence Day 👑 Wear all black, feature an influential figure, or rep an African-American organization.
🎨 Black History Month Door Decorating Contest: Each grade level and department has been assigned a decade or organization to research and bring to life. Our halls will transform into a living museum honoring Black excellence, resilience, progress, and power.
We are so excited to immerse our students and staff in this powerful month of learning, reflection, celebration, and pride. Let’s honor the past, uplift the present, and inspire the future—together. 🖤🔥
While Black history is something we honor, celebrate, and learn all year long, February is a time when we go a little harder, dig a little deeper, and shine even brighter. 🌟
This month is an opportunity not only to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of Black leaders and figures, but to learn the untold stories, uplift organizations that have shaped history, and recognize the people and movements that deserve to be elevated.
🎉 Black History Month Spirit Week | February 23–27
Get ready to show your pride and participate all week long:
Monday – HBCU Day 🎓 Rep your favorite HBCU!
Tuesday – Pan-African Pride Day 🌍 Wear red, green, and black.
Wednesday – Social Justice + Activism Day ✊🏽 Wear a shirt with a social justice slogan.
Thursday – Social Justice + Activism Day 📣 Highlight a cause or issue you support.
Friday – Black Excellence Day 👑 Wear all black, feature an influential figure, or rep an African-American organization.
🎨 Black History Month Door Decorating Contest: Each grade level and department has been assigned a decade or organization to research and bring to life. Our halls will transform into a living museum honoring Black excellence, resilience, progress, and power.
We are so excited to immerse our students and staff in this powerful month of learning, reflection, celebration, and pride. Let’s honor the past, uplift the present, and inspire the future—together. 🖤🔥
🎨🔥 REMINDER: SHOW UP FOR OUR YOUNG ARTISTS, GARY! 🔥🎨
This is your sign to come out, show up, and support the brilliance of our young creators — from Steel City Academy and across our city. 💙
Our Paintbrush Playground artists have been pouring their hearts, talent and lived experiences into powerful, one-of-a-kind pieces that deserve to be seen, celebrated, and uplifted. ✨🖤
Colors of Culture: A Celebration of Black Creativity shines a light on emerging youth artists (ages 13–21) who are exploring identity, legacy, community, resilience, and joy through painting, photography, design, film, and more. This is what it looks like when a city shows up for its young people. 🔥🎭🎶
📅 Opening Night: Friday, February 6th | 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Marshall J. Gardner Art Center
🗓️ Exhibit runs February 6 – March 13, 2026
Bring your people. Bring your love. Bring your pride.
Let’s fill the room and remind our young artists that Gary sees them. Gary supports them. Gary believes in them. 💙🔥
#SteelCityProud #ColorsOfCulture #PaintbrushPlayground #SupportYoungArtists #BlackHistoryMonth #GaryIndiana #YouthVoices #ArtWithPurpose
This is your sign to come out, show up, and support the brilliance of our young creators — from Steel City Academy and across our city. 💙
Our Paintbrush Playground artists have been pouring their hearts, talent and lived experiences into powerful, one-of-a-kind pieces that deserve to be seen, celebrated, and uplifted. ✨🖤
Colors of Culture: A Celebration of Black Creativity shines a light on emerging youth artists (ages 13–21) who are exploring identity, legacy, community, resilience, and joy through painting, photography, design, film, and more. This is what it looks like when a city shows up for its young people. 🔥🎭🎶
📅 Opening Night: Friday, February 6th | 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Marshall J. Gardner Art Center
🗓️ Exhibit runs February 6 – March 13, 2026
Bring your people. Bring your love. Bring your pride.
Let’s fill the room and remind our young artists that Gary sees them. Gary supports them. Gary believes in them. 💙🔥
#SteelCityProud #ColorsOfCulture #PaintbrushPlayground #SupportYoungArtists #BlackHistoryMonth #GaryIndiana #YouthVoices #ArtWithPurpose
