TEMPLE, Texas — Temple Independent School District’s Kennedy-Powell Elementary School had an opportunity to highlight one of its signature educational programs to other school district from around Central Texas during a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Showcase on Tuesday (September 23).
Kennedy-Powell Elementary was selected by PLTW representatives to demonstrate how the campus uses the PLTW curriculum to enhance the educational opportunities and promote the district’s STEM learning initiatives to other school districts interested in implementing the program on their own campuses. Kennedy-Powell Elementary has been using the PLTW curriculum for 13 years now and has been recognized as a PLTW Distinguished Lauch Campus for eight consecutive years.
“In July, Project Lead The Way contacted Kennedy-Powell Elementary seeking permission to host a PLTW showcase at KP due to their success and ability to earn the title of PLTW Distinguished Campus for the last eight years,” said Dr. Lisa Adams, Deputy Superintendent of Academics and School Leadership for Temple ISD. “The showcase will host districts from across the state who are interested in learning more about PLTW and the district partnerships that make STEM programming possible. We are very proud of the accomplishments of our Kennedy-Powell Stars and are excited to serve as a site for others to see this exemplary program in action.”
Kennedy-Powell administrators opened the event by highlighting the campuses PLTW distinctions, integrated master schedule, and alignment with district-wide STEM initiatives. They were also able to recognize the community partnerships that have helped the program continue to grow and thrive over the past 13 years. PLTW representatives then shared program highlights and the national impact of PLTW in schools to educators in attendance from Belton ISD, Gatesville ISD, and Taylor ISD.
Attendees then broke into smaller groups and visited a first-grade classroom, a third-grade classroom and Kennedy-Powell’s STEM lab to see PLTW learning experiences in action. Modules focusing on force, compound machines, and climate and weather, were showcased for the visiting educators. The group then attended a panel discussion with Kennedy-Powell teachers and students to discuss the program’s impact on STEM-related learning, their favorite PLTW modules, and future goals in STEM-related fields.
“I’m really interested in computers and how they can help solve human problems,” Kennedy-Powell fifth-grader Amran Alemayehu said. “I just love how they operate, and I am interested in a career in computer science. I was even able to code a game that I could share with kindergartners so they could play it.”
“PLTW empowers our students to think critically, solve real-world problems, and see themselves as future innovators,” Kennedy-Powell assistant principal and former PLTW lead launch teacher Lucille Castleberry said about the impact of PLTW on the campus learning earlier this year. “Through hands-on, engaging learning experiences, they’re not just learning science and engineering – they’re building the confidence and skills to lead in any field they choose because they are learning how to communicate effectively and solve problems in a constructive way.”
The students and teachers also highlighted how the curriculum has taught them the importance of teamwork and collaboration in their work. Every classroom at Kennedy-Powell participates in at least one PLTW module per semester per grade level. The session closed with an opportunity for visitors to ask any additional questions of the Kennedy-Powell staff and PLTW representatives in attendance.