By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – Two Catholic schools in the Diocese of Jackson have earned national recognition for their focus on science, technology, engineering and math education.
Annunciation School in Columbus and St. Anthony School in Madison recently received STEM certification through Cognia, a global nonprofit that accredits schools and educational institutions. The designation recognizes schools that integrate STEM across student learning and meet rigorous standards for innovation, critical thinking and problem solving.
Annunciation is the first school in the Golden Triangle area, and only the second in Mississippi, to earn the honor. St. Anthony became the first school in the state to achieve certification in 2017 and recently renewed its status.

At Annunciation, Principal Joni House said the recognition is a reflection of her teachers’ commitment to preparing students for the future.
“STEM education is imperative in today’s technology-driven world,” House said. “This Cognia certification confirms what we already know here at ACS: that our students leave here able to make an impact on whatever sector they choose to work in.”
The school broadens STEM into STREAM, adding religion and art. Teachers introduce STREAM as early as preschool through lessons that range from solar-powered car projects to science fairs and guest presentations from community members.
“The purpose of STREAM is to teach students how to approach problems using their original ideas,” said Nichole Cancellare, Annunciation’s STREAM coordinator. “While the focus is on STREAM subjects, it can encompass any subject. … Our community is involved in a lot of our activities, including STREAM Days and STREAM Career Expos. We rely heavily on our community partners, such as NASA, Mississippi State University and MSMS, to branch out our STREAM learning and for teacher professional development.”
At St. Anthony, Principal Anne Cowger said the re-certification highlights the school’s commitment to 21st-century learning.
“It affirms to parents, students and stakeholders that we are committed to fostering student engagement, critical thinking, collaboration and strong academic performance,” Cowger said.
Stephanie Brown, dean of academics and STEM certification review coordinator, said St. Anthony weaves its Catholic identity and the arts into STEM to form STREAM.
“When our Catholic identity and commitment to the arts are intertwined with STEM programming, we help students become well-rounded disciples of Christ who have the tools and skills they need to be change makers,” Brown said.
One example was a PreK lesson on “The Three Little Pigs.” After hearing the story, students built houses of straw, sticks and bricks, then designed their own stronger structures. The activity used the engineering design process while also teaching teamwork and respect for one another as children of God.
Cognia’s STEM certification process is based on performance standards that emphasize creating a STEM community, building a learning culture, and providing authentic experiences and outcomes. More than 400 schools worldwide have achieved the recognition.
“High-quality learning can transform lives, communities and the world,” Cognia notes in its standards.
With Annunciation and St. Anthony earning the distinction, Catholic schools in the diocese continue to show that students can be prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world while remaining grounded in faith.