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The Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation (RCSEF) is excited to continue its support for Project STEAM, which enhances learning opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) for students across Rutherford County Schools (RCS). This year, RCSEF has purchased new robotics kits to launch the Carolina Isobots Robotics Program, with Meta serving as the lead sponsor once again. Meta's continued partnership strengthens our efforts to provide cutting-edge, handson learning experiences in robotics and other STEAM fields.
"The Carolina Isobots Robotics Program gives students the opportunity to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that will serve them in future careers," said Kim Carpenter, Chief Technology Officer. "Our robotics program is designed to inspire creativity and innovation, encouraging students to engage in STEAM disciplines in a fun and meaningful way."
Meta has been a significant donor to Project STEAM over the past four years, providing the funding necessary to outfit state-of-the-art STEAM labs in all of our schools. This year, their sponsorship of the Carolina Isobots Robotics Program will further expand opportunities for students to explore technology and engineering in real-world applications.
In addition to the robotics program, the RCSEF sponsored a professional learning community (PLC) session for elementary STEAM lab teachers on Monday, October 20. Ten elementary school STEAM lab teachers met with Karen Glover, a veteran RCS teacher, and Tara Mauney, RCS Instructional Technology Facilitator, to share resources, lesson planning ideas, and best practices for creating STEAM opportunities for students. This collaboration is key to maintaining the high quality of STEAM education in our district.
As part of its continued support, RCSEF also presented each elementary school with a grant to purchase supplies for their STEAM labs, ensuring every student has access to enriching STEAM activities. These contributions are designed to enhance learning and foster student engagement in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
"STEAM education is vital in preparing our students for the future workforce, giving them the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven world," said Ritchie Garland, Executive Director of the RCSEF. "We are grateful to Meta for their continued support and to our dedicated teachers and elementary school principals for their creativity, hard work, and commitment to maintaining these programs as essential extracurricular classes for students.
They are helping ignite curiosity and a love of learning in our students."
The RCSEF extends a heartfelt thank you to the teachers involved in Project STEAM for their innovative ideas and dedication, as well as to the elementary school principals for recognizing the importance of these programs. Together, they are ensuring that every student has access to high-quality STEAM education.
For more information about Project STEAM and the Carolina Isobots Robotics Program, please contact the Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation.
