Dear Editor,Â
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) has maintained its standards for demonstrated excellence, particularly in STEM disciplines, in great part from its steadfast support of the Fairfax County Business Community and individuals who champion academic ability. Forward thinkers knew that Virginiaâs ability to attract companies to build the economy in science and technology was dependent on a stellar educational system.
As President of the Center Excellence in Education, based in McLean, Virginia, I participated in hours of discussion about the rigorous liberal arts curricula proposed for TJ. Clearly the school was not proposed to be available for all students, but rather for a select few historically labeled as âgifted for mastery of math and scienceâ. Julian Stanley, Founder of the Center of Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins, characterized this cohort of students as: one in 10,000 students able to master 1½ years of math in three weeks. Norm Augustine characterized these prodigies as performers who could complete the work of four employees.