Education for the future: Jefferson Elementary students setting the stage for STEM

Posted by Boderra Joe | Dec 14, 2023 | Education |

GALLUP – On Nov. 9, students at Jefferson Elementary School in Gallup, New Mexico, were introduced to creative and fun problem-solving activities made possible by a donation from the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

Navajo Times | Boderra Joe
Fourth-grader Diego Sanchez and fifth-grader Drae Blanco at Jefferson Elementary School engaged in one of many STEM activities during the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation ribbon cutting on Nov. 9 at Jefferson Elementary School in Gallup.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs were introduced to Jefferson students so they can build their knowledge of coding, circuitry, engineering, and more, going beyond school subjects to solve problems.

The hands-on STEM education engages and teaches students to think critically, creatively, and independently and cultivate their skills to problem solve and understand complex ideas.

The foundation representatives and school staff unsealed Jefferson’s new STEM center, which includes a generous $32,500 worth of donated learning materials and makes it part of the 401 STEM centers that exist nationwide.

STEM for ‘rural’ areas

New Mexico alone has 67 STEM centers. Shannon Johnson, the foundation’s vice president of partnerships, said the goal is to bring STEM programs to “rural” areas and innovate ideas for students by applying them to their future careers.

Johnson said the foundation’s mission is to have access to innovative learning tools to help students see the world more extensively by using their creativity, leadership skills, and collaboration, all of which are essential goals going into the workforce.

Johnson said Gallup was one of the foundation’s first steps in bringing a STEM center into the area, and she hopes to get a STEM center to one or multiple schools in the Navajo Nation.

“Our goal here (Gallup) is to start here as a pilot program so people can understand what it (program) is,” said Johnson, as the foundation is working with various funders to bring additional STEM centers to other parts of the state.

Building confidence

Initially, the foundation representatives brought teachers in for a four-hour training by walking them through the program to build their confidence.

“They (students) can see how an electrician would work because the design on each of the snap circuits shows them what’s on a diagram that an electrician would be reading,” Johnson said.

Additionally, the foundation donated a 3D printer, on which students can print and replace materials in the learning tool kits, which allows students to code what to print.
“Their imagination is the only thing that will stop them in this space,” Johnson said.

Lindsey Buffalohead, a 4th-grade teacher at Jefferson, said she has been teaching for eight years. She was excited to engage with the STEM program and looks forward to implementing it in the students’ lives.
“I definitely see it (program) will motivate students with their math, including technology,” Buffalohead said.

“I hope it (program) reaches out to the border schools on the reservation because (being) Navajo as myself, I see these students that don’t have these resources available to them, even the teachers because they probably don’t have funding for it,” Buffalohead said.

Buffalohead said the program will enable students to consider their career pathways.

Gallup Mayor Louis Bonaguidi said having the STEM center in Gallup allows students to understand how technology functions as it is here to stay and will help them with education.

“They can set their goals early on in life,” Bonaguidi said. “This is really great,” he shared about the program being based in Gallup and shared that one of his grandkids is going to school for engineering.