Plains Elementary School is pleased to announce it has received a $1,000 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation (TAF). These funds will support the “Enlightening our Future” through the solar alternative energy project.
This project integrates collaboration with the local Virginia Master Naturalist Chapter, and experiential learning with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to engage students in an understanding of environmental impacts locally and globally of climate change and corresponding local and global mitigation and intervention strategies, specifically related to energy use and renewable sources of energy.
Plains elementary school is dedicated to providing innovative real-world experiences to students and recognition goes to Brian Lux, Challenge teacher for Plains Elementary, who secured this funding. Principal, Dr. Todd Johnson stated, “My working relationship with Brian Lux spans more than a decade at three different elementary schools in Rockingham County.
Regardless of the setting, Mr. Lux has a reputation for being a resourceful and innovative teacher. Brian is a dynamic educator and a natural problem solver. At times when financial constraints become an obstacle to authentic, project-based learning opportunities for students, Brian will put in the time and effort to secure grant funding as a solution. Time and again, Rockingham County students have been the beneficiaries of Brian’s natural ability to think outside the box.”
Toshiba America Foundation’s grants fund projects designed by individual classroom teachers. This “direct-to-teacher” approach brings immediate results. Teachers are able to change the way they teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects because the grant supports equipment for hands-on experiments and inquiry-based approaches to the curriculum. At TAF, we believe that STEM is a lot more fun than just reading a textbook. TAF grants provide teachers with the tools they need to be more effective educators. The grants make the classroom a more exciting place for both teachers and students.
