Deana Sain Chosen as PCS Edventures Featured S.T.E.M. Educator {video}
It is a brand-new school year, and Hardeman County K-8 S.T.E.M. Coordinator Deana Sain continues to make headlines in S.T.E.M. education as she was a PCS Edventures Featured Educator in July 2025. Ms. Sain has been using the Edventures curriculum at the Learning Center to continue her work in promoting STEM education in Hardeman County.
Edventures programs are designed for out-of-school (i.e. YMCAs), summer camps, classrooms, clubs and home school co-op. In addition to the curriculum, it includes tons of materials for up to 30 students. Launched in early 2025, the Educator Spotlight program is a newer initiative by PCS Edventures. An invitation is open to all PCS Edventures customers to share their experiences using their curriculum.
“The purpose of our Educator Spotlight series is to tell the authentic stories of real educators using our programs. It is designed to celebrate passionate teachers and build a community where they feel seen and connected. These stories capture the magic of ‘learning by doing’ and show that delivering a high-impact S.T.E.M. experience isn’t intimidating, empowering educators to confidently spark curiosity and a love for learning in every student,” said Cynthia Hernandez, PCS Edventures Marketing Director. “We aim to move beyond product descriptions to showcase the tangible impact of hands-on learning on student engagement, confidence, and skill development. By seeing how a peer has successfully implemented a project, other educators can gain the confidence and the specific strategies needed to bring similar hands-on, engaging experiences to their own students. We hope these stories serve as a source of inspiration and practical ideas.
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Ms. Sain is one of several product users who has selected to be featured since the program first launched. She finds the Edventure curriculum to be flexible, engaging, and designed to be approachable for all students, no matter their background or prior experience.
“Being selected as a PCS Featured Educator is both humbling and exciting. It’s an honor to represent not only my S.T.E.M .classes but also Hardeman County Schools and the incredible students I get to teach every day. To me, it means that innovative teaching and the hard work of rural educators are being recognized on a larger stage. It also motivates me to continue creating opportunities that spark curiosity and show students that S.T.E.M. is for everyone,” said Ms. Sain.
Ms. Sain is a driving force in providing S.T.E.M. education to students in Hardeman County. She has been successful in acquiring grants to add curriculum and additional resources making them available to her students. Hands-on activities are not only fun for her students to do but also provide a lot of learning opportunities. Finding the right curriculum and choosing the right activities are what she hopes encourages learning and inspires her students to pursue S.T.E.M. careers. Ms Sain noted in Hardeman County, many of the students do not always see themselves represented in S.T.E.M. fields. Activities like the ones her student do break down barriers by making science and math fun, collaborative, and achievable. She believes it gives students confidence and helps them realize that S.T.E.M. is not just for “someone else”—it is for them, right now!
PCS Edventures offers educators more than 60+ STEM Education curriculum and materials packages. Featured educators are able to choose any one of those to use in their spotlight feature to showcase the creative ways they adapt or extend the turn-key curriculum to meet the unique needs of their learners.
“I chose ‘Race Against the Clock with S.T.E.M .Challenges’ because it fit perfectly with my teaching style and the students’ energy. I wanted something fast-paced, hands-on, and accessible that would encourage teamwork while also reinforcing real math concepts. The idea of timed challenges excited me—I knew it would push students to think quickly, collaborate, and problem-solve creatively, all while having fun. The group that did this challenge with me in May 2025 was Hornsby’s seventh graders with teacher, Heather Williams,” said Ms. Sain. “One of my favorite moments was watching students cheer each other on during the balloon-powered energy challenge. At first, some teams were frustrated when their designs didn’t work. But instead of giving up, they adjusted, tested again, and celebrated even the smallest successes. That persistence—and the joy on their faces when something finally worked—was a powerful reminder of why hands-on STEM learning matters.”
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