KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 23, 2024

A partnership with a school system in Georgia has provided a Kennesaw State University education program the opportunity to benefit from a grant to prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

As part of multi-year grants of up to $8.6 million from the Toyota USA Foundation to Fulton County Schools (FCS), the iTeach program in the Bagwell College of Education at Kennesaw State will provide enhanced professional development for teachers around STEM topics.

“This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen our partnership with educators in the community,” said Adrian Epps, dean of the Bagwell College of Education. “We are grateful to Fulton County Schools and the Toyota USA Foundation for their efforts to build the next generation of STEM teachers.”

The iTeach team has an existing partnership with Fulton County Schools, and when the Toyota USA Foundation chose Fulton County Schools as a one of their districts to support through their Driving Possibilities program, Kennesaw State was included as part of the multi-year grants.

The project is designed as a long-term relationship to increase scholastic achievement focused on  STEM, expose students to new ideas centered on STEM topics as they grow into a career path, and support vital instructional needs at a cluster of public schools that are historically underserved. The collaboration is part of Toyota’s Driving Possibilities initiative and is a five-year phased rollout of programming in select schools.

“The KSU iTeach team is enthusiastic about enhancing STEM education in collaboration with Fulton County Schools,” said Leigh Martin, iTeach project manager. “We are particularly excited to welcome Toyota into this partnership, which aims to create innovative opportunities for both students and teachers to engage with STEM subjects and explore related career paths.” 

In addition to conducting professional development for teachers, FCS and iTeach will also organize community events to increase STEM awareness and engagement.

A part of the initiative is to build the reach of the Fulton STEM Mobile Learning Experience in school-based events as well as Saturday community events. KSU iTeach has been instrumental in the design and implementation of the Mobile Learning Experience. The Toyota grant will also fund the development of curriculum and implementation of hands-on STEM experiences for students in two Fulton County middle schools in Zone 1 of the district. 

iTeach, a service unit of the School of Instructional Technology and Innovation in the Bagwell College, regularly partners with schools, districts, and states to innovate teaching and learning through future-ready experiences that are only possible at the intersection of teaching best practices and new and emerging instructional technologies.

The Toyota USA Foundation’s Driving Possibilities initiative focuses on PreK-12 education and builds on existing programs across the country. The long-term initiative’s aim is to close educational gaps for students through innovative, hands-on STEM programming while addressing the essential needs of students and families.

– Story by Scott Wiltsee

Photos by Judith Pishnery

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.