Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 9

Donation of STEM Classrooms
Back when the Scamman Science
STEM education.
Seriously, though, when I heard about
Building was still new, in the 1960s,
this idea, it brought tears to my eyes.”
Thornton Academy math teacher
Thornton Academy alumni, staff, and
Dominic DiBiase introduced
friends honored these three former
Dominic DiBiase’s widow, Anna, said,
computers into the curriculum for
teachers by naming a new classroom
“I gladly accept the honor on Dom’s
the first time. Students accessed a
after them—the Philip Curtis, Dominic behalf and I’m excited about the
mainframe computer through a phone DiBiase, and Richard Parker Classroom dedication.” Retired teacher Margo
line that connected them to South
— in the $2 million STEM Center
Audiffed added, “Honoring Dom in
Portland, and in turn, to Dartmouth
facility that was opened officially in
this way is a wonderful testament
College’s computer science center,
September. This STEM Center provides to the man who was a legend at
the birthplace of “Basic” computer
state-of-the-art laboratory classrooms
Thornton. I learned how to be a caring
language. Mr. DiBiase structured his
that facilitate inquiry-based learning
and effective teacher from his example.
computer classes so that students
Dom was a thoughtful and
Seven classrooms in the new STEM Center
signed up for a time slot to use
brilliant man whose love for his
were gifts by members of the Thornton
the computer as only one student
subject was evident.”
Academy
community.
could use the computer at a
time. In those days, Mr. DiBiase
The project to fund the Philip
probably could not have imagined
and close collaboration among the
Curtis, Dominic DiBiase, and Richard
Thornton Academy classrooms as they faculty teaching STEM courses.
Parker Classroom successfully raised
are now where each student holds a
over $50,000. When the family
small computerized device – iPad – in Mr. Curtis, who taught several levels
of Dominic DiBiase heard about
their hands all day, every day. Although of mostly college course mathematics
Thornton Academy’s plans, they
Mr. DiBiase passed away in 2002,
classes during his 32-year career, said,
asked to match all donations made by
his early contributions to Science“I am deeply honored to have my name June 30, 2015 to the classroom, up to
Technology-Engineering-Mathematics on this classroom and I hope that its
$10,000. The response from alumni
(or STEM) education have not been
dedication brings people together to
was enthusiastic.
forgotten and neither have those of
support the education of students, both
retired colleagues—former math
today and in the future.” Mr. Curtis’
Unlike surrounding public
teacher Philip Curtis and former
immediate years after retirement were
schools that are able to build
chemistry teacher Richard Par