On Thursday, November 19, 2020, the Denver Public Schools School Board unanimously voted to approve the shared campus location of the Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy with Montbello Career and Technical High School. This placement brings the idea for our school closer to reality.

The Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy is a new high school in DPS located in the Far Northeast. Modeled after the principles of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the school honors students’ history, individuality, cultural experiences, and future potential while providing a rigorous and high-quality academic experience. Below you will find more in-depth information about our school model and what we believe.

What We Believe

At the Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy, every decision we make is centered around:

• Blackness— an understanding of and pride in one’s self, history of Black people and culture in the world.

• Inclusion— normalizing difference and creating the space for creative collaboration in the classroom and community.

• An Interdisciplinary Focus— the ability to see connections between different subject areas and solutions that require more than one approach to create lasting change.

These components are grounded in authenticity, relationships and community– qualities that make a world of difference in the classroom and in a person’s life. 

Our Vision: 
The vision of Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy is to create a community of excellence where students are equipped to shape their futures as transformative change agents, innovators, and thought leaders.

Our Mission: 
Grounded in the tenets of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the mission of Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy is to elevate excellence and cultural connectedness that will empower students to build the critical and creative thinking necessary to navigate globally competitive career and life pathways.

Our School Culture:
We are deeply invested in developing and maintaining authentic relationships. We have a clear framework of expectations that are grounded in the principles of Restorative Practices and Liberatory Design. We are committed to being a safe space, a place co-created with students, staff and community members. 

Our Core Values

• Perform like a Leader: I model integrity and fairness at all times. I do not accept mediocrity for myself or my peers.  I believe in and support my team, whether in the classroom or on the field, and aspire to achieve greatness. I model academic and social excellence in my school, my community and our global society. 
• Act like a Global Citizen: I embrace life outside my personal space and am open to differences in culture, perspective, and beliefs. No matter how foreign the concept or daunting the challenge I face in learning and performing, I take action with a global mindset and share my passion. 
• Create like a Visionary: I am a change agent who understands risks and failures are necessary steps towards one day becoming successful. I do what is necessary to create a path towards my goal and be courageous enough to walk the path and obtain my goal.
• Think like a CEO: I own my brand of learning and performance. I cultivate my talents and strengths into unique assets that empower me to achieve whatever I aspire to do. I relentlessly strive to be better, do better and will never rest in temporary successes.

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