Two Florence School District One elementary schools will benefit from a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation that will reinforce the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Education Driven (STEAMED) initiative at the elementary school level. STEAMED is a pilot program in Florence One designed to ensure all students are career or college ready.
Mindy Taylor, District Manager Government & Community Relations with Duke Energy, presented the $15,000 grant on Tuesday to Principal Tara Newton of Briggs Elementary and Principal Chris Rogers at Carver Elementary. The principals, along with some of their students, accepted the funds at Sneed Middle School, where many of these students will advance after elementary school.
Last year, Florence One implemented Project Lead the Way — a catalyst for STEAMED education at the middle school level. The Project Lead the Way model allows students to use touch technology, robotics and everyday materials to explore topics such as energy, light and sound, motion and stability, and gravity.
“We at Briggs Elementary are grateful to Duke Energy for their commitment to education in our school,” Newton said. “With the funds from this grant, we will implement the Project Lead the Way launch at Briggs. Our science teachers will receive valuable professional development in order to provide science content for all of our students through problem-based learning and technology. “
“This is a very exciting time for Carver Elementary because this grant will bring real world, hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to our classrooms,” Rogers said. “This grant will give our teachers the training and materials needed to show our students in kindergarten through fourth grade how to solve real-world problems in a fun and learning classroom environment. Our entire staff cannot wait to get started with this innovative learning opportunity.”
”The Duke Energy grant for Briggs and Carver is designed for students to develop a passion for and confidence in STEAMED skills and subjects at the elementary level,” said Neal Vincent, Florence One Director of Secondary Education. “More importantly, it gets students ready to continue their learning in middle school, high school and beyond.” Last year, Vincent and Florence One Science Coordinator Susan Rhodes authored STEAMED grants which are now benefitting all three middle and high schools in Florence One.
As a result of last year’s successful implementation of Project Lead the Way, which is a catalyst for the STEAMED Initiative in Florence One middle schools, these funds will create a STEAMED pipeline for students at the elementary level. STEAMED is designed to encourage students to enroll in the specific courses and provides learning outcomes for future career opportunities.
