Cherokee County Teacher Awarded STEM Grant

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy teacher Rebekah Holt, who leads the school’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) Lab classes, earned the $3,000 Georgia Educational Technology Consortium Innovation Grant for her Mindful Designs project. The grants are awarded to the State’s most innovative educational technology projects to improve teaching and learning.

Through the Mindful Designs project, Hasty students will create 3D computer-designed signs for a Social and Emotional Learning Pathway at the school. The project will allow students to use and expand upon their STEM, art, PE and Social and Emotional Learning skills and to collaborate with Cherokee High School students.

“Throughout this project, students will apply 21st Century skills as they complete the engineering design process,” Holt said. “They will use math skills to measure the path, use scale to create their model, and calculate volume of required plastic for the 3D printer. Students will also have lessons with a counselor to learn about healthy strategies to deal with negative feelings. They will apply these strategies during the project as they meet challenges.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said he’s impressed by the plans and the focus on both STEM and SEL.

“Congratulations to Ms. Holt on winning this sought-after grant, as I know it took significant creativity and dedication to plan the project,” he said. “STEM and SEL are important initiatives for our school district, as we care deeply about our students emotional well-being and their preparation for future success. I look forward to seeing the finished pathway!”