TEMPLE, Texas — Temple Independent School District students will have access to a new Mobile Discovery STEM Lab thanks in large part to a $300,000 grant from Meta. The grant-funded project will impact students and staff across the district, along with business and community partners in Central Texas.
The $300,000 grant will allow the district to purchase and outfit a Mobile Discovery STEM Lab to serve Temple ISD students, staff, and families in grades pre-K through 12. The Mobile STEM lab will be a specially equipped van or trailer capable of bringing STEM resources directly to campuses across the district. The mobile lab is designed to ensure equitable access to STEM resources and activities for all students, even if they are not currently enrolled in a specialized STEM course or attending one of TISD’s STEM campuses. Workstations within the lab will provide an opportunity for both teachers and students to engage in short learning sessions that allow them to earn micro-credentials in the areas of STEM literacy and applications.
“This Mobile Discovery STEM Lab allows us to bring STEM learning opportunities directly to students across the district – from our youngest learners to our high school students who are preparing to enter the workforce,” said Dr. Renota Rogers, Chief Academic Officer for Temple ISD. “It is also a great opportunity to engage our community. We are grateful for our partnership with Meta. It allows us to dream big and then make it a reality for our students.”
The Mobile STEM Lab will also allow Temple ISD to support workforce development through learning experiences involving industry-related resources for CTE students, promote learning for teachers and students through the micro-credentialing opportunities, and provide access to STEM resources to all students regardless of campus or course schedule by bringing the resources directly to the students. Another objective of the mobile lab is to help equip teachers by providing professional development and training to staff, enabling them to design learning experiences around STEM and learning resources and enhance community connections by increasing parent and community engagement and education opportunities at campus and community events showcasing Temple ISD’s STEM programming and resources.
“Providing equitable learning opportunities for students, staff, and families across the entire school district is at the pinnacle of this partnership,” added Dr. Bobby Ott, Superintendent of Schools for Temple ISD. “We are truly grateful for Meta’s investment.”
The Meta grant to fund the project is just the latest project involved in the company’s partnership with Temple ISD that dates back to the initial announcement of plans for Meta to open its Temple location. Meta grants have helped the district fund numerous STEM related initiatives ranging from district-wide STEM-related community and campus events, to the purchase of STEM related equipment, to the addition of resources supporting the needs of students receiving special education services. Other donations from Meta have helped TISD reengineer its STEM programs across the district to provide opportunities to students on every grade-level and impact the community through career readiness and summer enrichment programs for learners of all ages.
“We started working with Temple ISD before we broke ground, and every year the district comes back with a bigger idea than the last one,” said David Williams, Community Engagement Manager at Meta. “A student doesn’t have to be enrolled in the right course or attend the right campus – the lab pulls up and meets students where they’re at. Temple ISD figured out how to reach every kid in the district. We’re glad to help make it real.”
Temple ISD administrators and staff are currently meeting with vendors and soliciting quotes for the build out of the Mobile STEM Lab. The timeline for the project to be completed and ready to begin visiting district campuses is 3-6 months.