Frequently Asked Questions About Sunshine STEM Academy and Instructors
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What innovative teaching methods has Sunshine STEM Academy Micro School implemented?
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What are some examples of our interdisciplinary projects?
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What design thinking methodology does Sunshine STEM Academy use?
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What are the benefits of this design thinking approach for young learners?
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How is Math instruction of Sunshine STEM Academy designed?
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Who is the Lead Instructor Sema Duzyol?
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What are Sema Duzyol’s achievements with the MathCounts team?
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What are Tahir Duzyol’s specific leadership contributions at in his previous role at Fulton Sunshine Academy?
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How does Tahir Duzyol foster student interest in STEM careers?
What innovative teaching methods has Sunshine STEM Academy Micro School implemented?
Sunshine STEM Academy Micro School employs a student-centered “organic education” model that emphasizes hands-on, competency-based learning. Our innovative teaching methods include:
- Individually-Paced Personalized Learning: Instruction starts from each student’s current skill level, using formative assessments to create targeted learning tasks that address individual needs and interests.
- Competency-Based Advancement: Students progress based on demonstrating mastery of core competencies and key learning milestones rather than traditional seat-time requirements.
- Interdisciplinary Inquiry-Based Curriculum: The school blends scientific reasoning with non-science curricula, utilizing multi-sensory approaches and project-based instruction to teach higher-order thinking.
- Integrated Design Thinking: Students practice design thinking methodology to solve real-life problems, specifically within programs like game design and robotics.
- “Anywhere, Anytime” Learning: Leveraging technology for self-directed learning, students can access online resources and complete tasks beyond traditional school hours and environments.
- Small-Group Talent Development: The school uses a micro-school model with small class sizes (often limited to 6 students) to provide intensive academic coaching and specialized programs like the Talent Identification and Development Program.
- Parent-Teacher Partnership Home Visits: A unique program where teachers visit students’ homes to strengthen relationships, build trust, and gain deeper insight into each child’s individual learning context.
What are some examples of our interdisciplinary projects?
Sunshine STEM Academy Micro School implements interdisciplinary projects that blend science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) with real-world problem-solving. These projects are typically delivered through their summer camps and the specialized Talent Identification and Development Program.Examples of their interdisciplinary projects include:
- FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge: This is a primary interdisciplinary project where students design, build, and program autonomous robots while simultaneously researching a real-world scientific problem (the “Project” component) and presenting innovative solutions.
- Raspberry Pi Hardware & Sound Editing: Students combine hardware engineering with software programming and digital arts to create sound editing projects using Raspberry Pi computers.
- Game Design with Design Thinking: Using the SCRATCH platform, students learn to code while applying design thinking methodology to understand and solve real-life problems through digital game creation.
- Digital Arts & 3D Engineering: In this integrated project, students use Tinkercad for 3D design and printing, combining engineering concepts with digital photography and video production (using PowerDirector) to document and showcase their work.
- Robotics Strategy & Finance: Beyond technical building, robotics teams engage in interdisciplinary business tasks, including creating a team identity, fundraising, and managing a competition budget.
- Design-Based Inquiry: Projects often integrate scientific reasoning with non-science curricula, such as using language-based approaches to document technical experiments.
While the school applies these principles broadly across its STEM programs, the methodology is structured around several core pillars:
1. Problem Identification and Analysis
Students are taught to understand real-life problems by breaking down complex issues into smaller, manageable parts. This stage aligns with the Empathize and Define modes of traditional design thinking, where students must observe the world around them and clearly define a user’s needs.
2. Solution Generation (Ideation)
The curriculum encourages “thinking outside the box” to generate new and original ideas. Students explore various potential solutions and assess the pros and cons of different options before proceeding.
3. Iterative Experimentation (Prototyping & Testing)
Reflecting an Engineering Design Process (EDP), students engage in hands-on experimentation. This involves:
- Prototyping: Creating physical or digital representations of their ideas, such as a custom robot or a game coded in SCRATCH.
- Testing and Adapting: Trying different approaches and adapting to changes based on feedback or performance results.
4. Integration with Specialized Concepts
In specific programs, the design thinking methodology is blended with technical frameworks:
- Game Design: Students incorporate design thinking to ensure their games solve specific “real-life problems” or convey specific knowledge they have learned.
- Robotics: The process is integrated with the Systems Development Life-Cycle (SDLC), where students design, build, test, and program robots to meet competition challenges.
What are the benefits of this design thinking approach for young learners?
The design thinking approach at Sunshine STEM Academy Micro School offers several key benefits for young learners, focusing on developing “21st-century skills” through an organic, student-centered model.
Key Developmental Benefits
- Resilience and “Failing Forward”: Students learn that failure is an essential part of the learning process. By iteratively testing and refining prototypes—such as in robotics or game design—they build the grit and adaptability needed to improve their ideas based on feedback.
- Enhanced Creative Self-Efficacy: Research and program outcomes show that design thinking improves students’ confidence in their own creative abilities. This “creative confidence” empowers them to tackle complex, real-world problems that do not have immediate “textbook” answers.
- Empathy and Human-Centered Problem Solving: Unlike traditional STEM tasks that focus solely on technical facts, this approach begins with empathy. Young learners practice understanding the needs and perspectives of others, which enhances their emotional intelligence and ensures their scientific solutions are socially relevant.
- Interdependence and Collaboration: The methodology shifts the focus from individual competition to collaborative teamwork. Students work in small groups (often capped at 6-7 members) to navigate team dynamics and communicate complex ideas effectively .
Academic and Practical Outcomes
- Higher-Order Thinking Skills: The process forces students to move beyond rote memorization into analysis, synthesis, and critical thinking. They must define clear problem statements from ambiguous data and create original solutions.
- Ownership of Learning: Because students are the ones asking the questions and designing the final products, they exert greater agency and motivation over their own educational path.
- Engagement and Motivation: Design thinking makes education more “palpable” and exciting. By connecting academic subjects like math and science to practical projects (e.g., 3D printing a prosthetic hand), students are more likely to see the value in what they are learning.
- Future Readiness: This approach prepares students for an ever-changing world and job market where creative problem-solving and technological literacy are increasingly essential.
Math instruction at Sunshine STEM Academy is characterized by an acceleration model that focuses on numerical fluency, logical reasoning, and real-world application. As of 2026, the program is led by expert educators like Sema Duzyol, a two-time recipient of the Edyth May Sliffe National Education Award, who specializes in making complex topics approachable.
Key Components of Math Instruction
- Personalized Learning Plans: Instruction is individually paced, starting from a student’s current skill level rather than a fixed grade-level standard.
- Competency-Based Advancement: Students progress by demonstrating mastery of key milestones through performance-based assessments.
- Inquiry and Problem-Based Curriculum: The school integrates its core curriculum with project-based learning to teach higher-order thinking.
- Small Group and Individual Coaching: Classes are typically kept very small (often 6 students or fewer) to allow for intensive academic coaching and individual support.
- Real-World Connections: Instructors bridge theoretical concepts with everyday scenarios to show the practical relevance of mathematics.
Specialized Math Programs
- Competitive Math (Math Team): Students in grades 4-8 are prepared for high-level competitions, including MOEMS, Math Kangaroo, MATHCOUNTS, and AMC 8.
- Advanced Coursework: The academy offers specific high-school level tracks such as Accelerated Geometry B / Algebra II, AP Calculus, and AP Statistics, Georgia Tech Math for middle and high school students.
- SAT/Test Prep: Intensive bootcamps focus on the algebra, geometry, and pre-algebra concepts essential for success on standardized tests like the SAT.
- Talent Identification: A dedicated program includes monthly math camps and continuous progress monitoring for students showing high potential in technology and engineering.
Sema Duzyol is an award-winning mathematics educator and department chair at Fulton Science Academy Private School (FSA) and a lead instructor for Sunshine STEM Academy. As of 2026, she is recognized as one of the top math coaches in Georgia, leading teams to consistent state and national success.
Professional Roles & Impact
- Mathematics Department Chair: She leads the math department at FSA in Alpharetta, GA, where she specializes in advanced subjects including AP Calculus AB/BC, Multi-variable Calculus, and Linear Algebra.
- Math Olympiad & MATHCOUNTS Head Coach: Under her leadership, the FSA MathCounts team won its 11th consecutive Georgia State Championship in March 2025.
- SAT Preparation: She conducts intensive SAT Math Bootcamps at Sunshine STEM Academy, helping students achieve significant score increases through individualized coaching.
Major Awards and Recognition
- University of Chicago Outstanding Educator Award: Received in 2020 after being nominated by former students for her impactful instruction.
- Edyth May Sliffe National Education Award: A two-time recipient (2018 and 2019) of this prestigious national award for her dedication to math competitions.
- Star Teacher Award: Honored by the Midtown Atlanta Rotary Club for four consecutive years, including 2022.
- GCTM Award: Recognized by the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics for exceptional contributions to the field.
Educational Background
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master of Science in Mathematics, with additional certifications in Gifted Education and STEM.
2025 State Championship and Historic Streak
In March 2025, Duzyol led the FSA MathCounts team to its 11th consecutive Georgia State Championship. The team’s dominant performance at the state level was highlighted by:
- Top Placements: Three of the four students representing Georgia at the 2025 National Competition were from Duzyol’s FSA team: Aiden Zhao, Prayag Kalaria, and Aiden Wei.
- Individual Honors: Aiden Zhao took 2nd place individual, while Alex Wang won the high-pressure Countdown Round.
- Depth of Talent: Twelve FSA students qualified for the state level in 2025, demonstrating the program’s broad strength.
Coaching Style and Philosophy
Duzyol’s coaching is known for its intensity and commitment to a “limitless” mindset.
- Intensive Workshops: She organizes collaborative workshops that run every day, including Saturdays, Sundays, and during school breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks).
- “The Limit Does Not Exist”: She frequently uses this mathematical joke to describe her team’s potential, emphasizing that their growth is continuous.
- Peer Mentorship: She fosters an environment where veteran “mathletes” encourage newer members, maintaining team consistency even as older students graduate.
National Impact
Duzyol has frequently served as the Head Coach for Team Georgia at the National MathCounts Competition.
- National Rankings: Under her guidance, Team Georgia achieved its highest-ever ranking in state history, placing 4th in the Nation (achieved in both 2017 and 2023).
- Most Improved Team: Georgia won the “Most Improved Team” award nationally for two consecutive years (2016 and 2017) under her leadership.
Recognition
Her work with the MathCounts team contributed to her receiving the Edyth May Sliffe National Education Award twice (2018, 2019), which specifically recognizes teachers who successfully spark student interest in math competitions.
Administrative Roles:
- Assistant Principal: Duzyol served as an Assistant Principal at Fulton Sunshine Academy, overseeing day-to-day administrative operations and supporting the faculty and student body.
- School Administrator: He functioned as a key member of the administrative team, where he was responsible for forward institutional progression and enhancing support for parents and students.
STEM and Technical Leadership:
- Robotics State Championships: Under his direct leadership as a robotics instructional team leader, Fulton Sunshine Academy Elementary achieved significant competitive milestones, including winning two state championships in the First Lego League (FLL).
- Data Analysis and Technology: He acted as a school’s data analyst and software developer, utilizing his technical expertise to improve educational outcomes through data-driven insights. Utilizing technology made Fulton Sunshine Academy highest performing Charter school 3 years in a row (2013, 2014, and 2015 years) in the state of Georgia based on College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) score.
- Instructional Technology Leader: He managed the school’s instructional technology, ensuring that software and digital tools were effectively integrated into the elementary curriculum.
Tahir Duzyol fosters student interest in STEM careers through a combination of competitive “mastery experiences,” early-stage talent identification, and high-tech skill development. His approach emphasizes that learning happens “anywhere, anytime,” extending beyond the traditional classroom to build real-world career readiness.
1. Competitive Mastery and Recognition
Duzyol utilizes high-stakes competitions to build student confidence and a sense of professional identity.
- Robotics Pipeline: By leading elementary teams to First Lego League (FLL) championships and high school teams to the World Robotics Competition, he provides students with a global stage to see themselves as future engineers.
- Professional Standards: He integrates the Systems Development Life-Cycle (SDLC) and Engineering Design Process into school activities, teaching students to solve complex, authentic problems that mimic professional workplace challenges.
2. Talent Identification and Early Coaching
At Sunshine STEM Academy, he implements a formal Talent Identification and Development Program to nurture specialized skills early in a child’s education.
- College and Career Mentorship: He provides college application coaching starting as early as elementary and middle school to inspire students to intentionally choose their future career paths.
- Individualized Progress: Using his background as a data analyst, he employs formative assessments to help students understand their own strengths and strategically direct their learning toward college-ready standards.
3. Exposure to Industry-Standard Technology
Duzyol encourages students to move from being consumers of technology to creators by mastering professional-grade tools.
- Advanced Programming: Students are introduced to multiple coding languages—including Python, JavaScript, and RobotC—and hardware engineering using Raspberry Pi.
- Digital Engineering: Programs include 3D design and printing (using Tinkercad) and professional video editing, allowing students to apply engineering principles to creative media.
4. Holistic “Organic Education”
He advocates for an “organic” learning model where STEM interest is cultivated through diverse experiences:
- Integrated Design Thinking: Students use design thinking to solve “real-life problems,” ensuring they understand the social impact and human-centered purpose behind STEM careers.
- Extracurricular Immersion: Through year-round workshops, weekend camps, and specialized summer programs, he ensures students remain continuously engaged with STEM concepts outside of regular school hours.