It’s always fun to be able to surprise teachers with additional funding to make their innovative classroom ideas come to life. Just last week, district representatives entered the classrooms of Eden Park Elementary’s Ysela Quintana and Lake Trafford Elementary’s Debora Mosby to surprise each of them with a STEAM Innovative Teaching Award. The award, made possible by the Sapakie Family Foundation, provided $2,000 to each teacher to support a project involving Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM).

“We were having lunch when they surprised us with balloons and a larger-than-life check!” shared Quintana excitedly. Quintana is teaming up with fellow colleague and Eden Park art teacher Paige Nelson to purchase a 3D printer and a new Cricut Maker.

This collaborative project between art and technology will allow students to ‘print’ their designs. “We wanted to allow the kids to bring their creations to life,” adds Quintana. And with her work with the Bobcat Business leaders, the Cricut Maker will have an additional use—expanding the business of the Bobcat Boutique!

Lake Trafford’s Debora Mosby plans to use her grant to purchase Root robots. “I really wanted something that integrated my STEAM lessons and could be used by ALL my students.” Mosby teaches an inclusive class with varying academic levels and ranges. Root can be used by students as young as four years old and ranges up to a college level in difficulty. “Root really meets the needs of ALL my learners so that ALL of them can be successful with learning to code,” adds Mosby. Receiving the award was a huge honor according to Mosby, and one that filled a huge gap for her students. “For someone from the community to recognize the needs of our students and step in to support us in such a generous way is so very important to me and, most importantly, to my students. Thank you does not express how truly appreciative we feel. We are eternally grateful.”