The idea for the STEAM Engine began a few years ago when Faith Plunkett, DCS Elementary Instructional Technology, brought the concept to the Decatur City Schools Foundation. Her vision was to create a mobile learning experience that could take innovative STEAM education directly to students, expanding access to hands on opportunities throughout the district and community. With the support of Decatur City Schools, the Foundation and community partners, that idea was brought to life and continues to grow and evolve each year.
Last school year alone, the STEAM Engine visited 12 of the district’s 13 elementary schools, reaching approximately 4,000 students. This year, the experience is getting another exciting update. Students will work together to complete five STEAM challenges to “break out” of the bus and return to Earth, while fourth and fifth grade students will also be introduced to a new drone component. Through activities involving computer science, coding, 3D printing, engineering and technology, students are encouraged to experiment, problem solve and think creatively. Each experience is designed to make learning memorable while developing critical thinking, collaboration and technical skills that will help prepare students for college, careers and an ever-changing workforce.
And the STEAM Engine’s impact does not stop when the school year ends. This summer, the program launched Launch into Literacy, taking the STEAM Engine into the community for five book events. Approximately 1,500 books were distributed, and 27 families signed up for library cards. Through partnerships with Decatur Morgan Hospital and Decatur Public Library, the initiative reinforced the importance of literacy by reaching families in multiple places throughout the community. The collaboration reflects a simple but powerful idea: our schools and community organizations often serve the same children and families, and we are better together. By combining resources, expertise and relationships, these partnerships allow us to reach students in new and meaningful ways. The STEAM Engine is also a reflection of something much bigger: Decatur City Schools’ commitment to the success of every student and the Decatur City Schools Foundation’s belief that every student should have access to opportunities that enrich and enhance their education.
For the Foundation, supporting programs like the STEAM Engine is at the heart of our mission to promote and enhance educational excellence for all students in Decatur City Schools. We believe some of the most meaningful investments we can make are those that give students opportunities to explore, discover new interests and see possibilities for their futures.
Shelby Sasser, Executive Director of the Decatur City Schools Foundation, sees the STEAM Engine as a powerful example of what donor support can make possible.
“The STEAM Engine is one of the projects we are most proud to have made possible because we have seen firsthand the excitement, confidence, and curiosity it sparks in our students. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, more than 4,000 elementary students each year have access to engaging, hands-on STEAM experiences, and under the exceptional leadership of Faith Plunkett, the STEAM Engine has become so much more than a mobile classroom. It has become a catalyst for creativity, exploration, and a lifelong love of learning.”
That shared commitment means going beyond traditional instruction to find innovative ways to engage students, remove barriers and bring opportunities directly to them. Whether it is introducing a student to coding for the first time, challenging them to engineer a solution, putting a new book in their hands or sparking curiosity about a career they had never considered, every experience has the potential to open a door.
Whether students are coding, flying drones, solving challenges or discovering a new book, the STEAM Engine demonstrates what is possible when our schools, the Foundation, our donors and our community work together with students at the center.
Help Create More Opportunities for DCS Students Programs like the STEAM Engine are made possible through the generosity of donors and community partners who believe in investing in the future of Decatur’s students. By supporting the Decatur City Schools Foundation, you help provide innovative programs, resources and experiences that go beyond what traditional funding can provide and create opportunities for students across our district. Your support helps turn great ideas into meaningful opportunities for students. Learn more about the Foundation, support the STEAM Engine and help make programs like this possible here.
