Colorado Elementary Schools Open New STEM Centers

Swanson and Thompson Elementary schools in Arvada, CO, opened two new STEM Centers with great excitement this month.

The SmartLab HQs will provide students with the opportunity to learn the essential skills they will need to succeed in the future workforce.

Shannon Feely, Digital Teacher Librarian, told the students in the grand opening ceremony that their STEM skills could lead to a cure for cancer, an end to cyber bullying, and a new way to protect oceans from pollution, thus empowering them to do great things. Teachers are already seeing big benefits, their students are becoming risk-takers and collaborators.

Students at these Jefferson County School District are equally excited, with many students voicing feelings of freedom, self-expression, and exploration. Little do they know, but this program will become a pathway for them to attain the skills necessary for an unknown future economy.

JeffCo Public Schools is comprised of 155 schools and plans on opening more STEM Centers; they currently have plans to open two more elementary schools, one middle and one high school. The current plan is to build K–12 STEM pathways.

Implementing these STEM Centers is the beginning of a vision where students have STEM incorporated throughout their education so when they graduate they will have what they need to solve the problems of the future.

The education investments were made possible by partnering with a few organizations, including the Gill Foundation, JeffCo Public Schools and the JeffCo School Foundation.