Strides in S.T.E.M. Education Being Made in Area Schools
Since the beginning of the 2024/2025 school year, more than 600 Hardeman County fourth through eighth grade students have attended programming at the Hardeman County Schools S.T.E.M. Center in Bolivar. Although that number is impressive, what makes Deana Sain the proudest is being able to teach and inspire area students in S.T.E.M. education and careers they may never have considered.
“I’m excited to see continuous growth and expansion at the STEM Center,” Ms. Sain, who has been an educator for almost 30 years. “I’m incredibly pleased with how our county’s growth in S.T.E.M. has centered around what benefits students the most. Our efforts are rooted in improving their learning experiences. This is also the first year we have implemented a computer science curriculum into our middle and high schools through the KIRA platform.”
Ms. Sain noted the discussion of maker space and S.T.E.M. education become conversation in the school district in 2018, and as early as 2003 while she was a teacher at Bolivar Elementary School, which was the first NASA STEM School in the State of Tennessee. Since the opening of the S.T.E.M. Center, the Hardeman County Schools has been supportive of Ms. Sain’s effort to promote that area of study.
“In collaboration with Dr. Christy Smith [Director of Schools] this past summer, we analyzed the Tennessee TCAP Assessment Blueprints for math and science, identifying areas where students struggled the most. From that analysis, we developed 35 new project-based learning (PBL) activities for fourth through eighth grade,” said Ms. Sain. “These hands-on projects are designed to bring the standards to life, making abstract concepts more tangible and easier to understand. By engaging students in real-world problem-solving, we’re not only helping them grasp critical content but also fostering a deeper interest in STEM subjects. This targeted, interactive approach will empower our students and set them up for greater success!”
One of Ms. Sain’s key initiatives this school year is to introduce Literacy S.T.E.M. Bins to kindergarten through third grade students. She shared the bins will integrate literacy with S.T.E.M. concepts, providing younger students with hands-on materials that encourage exploration and critical thinking while reinforcing foundational reading skills.
“By incorporating literacy into S.T.E.M. activities at an early age, we’re helping students build a strong foundation that connects both areas, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and a love for learning across subjects,” said Ms. Sain.
She is diligent in exploring grant opportunities and has been successful in obtaining ones that have led to enhancements in the learning experiences students have when visiting the S.T.E.M. Center as well as on site instruction at some schools.
“Through a grant with Nutrien, I was able to secure a Seed Mobile Truck at Bolivar Elementary School for two days to teach third and fourth graders all about seed survival,” said Ms. Sain, who plans to get it for one week next year and incorporate all the elementary schools. “I have added a Drone Curriculum for sixth through eighth graders. When they complete the units, they will be able to obtain their FAA TRUST Drone recreational certification.”
Ms. Sain has also been able to add 12 Lobaki VR headsets at the STEM Center.
“Students will be able to experience virtual labs with cells, light, and the periodic table. There will also be an Anatomy Lab and Bridge Building,” said Ms. Sain, who has received volunteers from the community to participate in S.T.E.M. instruction. “We had Richard Clark, a civil engineer, come and help students with the pipeline project. Central High School band director William Griggs helped our eighth graders as they explored sound waves.”
Although Ms. Sain has a lot of upcoming projects planned, she does try to take the lead from students when considering activities to offer at the center.
“Students love hands-on activities! Sixth graders from each school are participating in the Marble Down S.T.E.M. Challenge where they design a marble maze that takes the marble as long as possible to travel from the top to the bottom of the maze without getting stuck or falling off the track. On Awards Day in May 2025, the group with the best time will receive STEM trophies. Eighth graders from each school are participating in the Apple Annihilator Project. This focuses on Newton’s Laws of Motion and the group with the highest score will be recognized on Awards Day. I haven’t chosen a seventh-grade project yet,” said Ms. Sain.
The strides in S.T.E.M. education Ms. Sain is making in Hardeman County are not going unnoticed. She recently learned the S.T.E.M. Center was selected to receive sponsorship from Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) for the F1 in Schools Program. A six-student team will design, manufacture, and race two cars.
“They will develop engineering portfolios and a Pit Display detailing their work. They will produce a verbal presentation on their team, its work, and undergo an Engineering Interview with industry-experienced engineers. This is open to any eighth-grade student in our school system,” said Ms. Sain, who encourages interested students to participate.
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