By AMBER PATINO
Kate M. Smith Elementary School (KMS) celebrated the reveal of its newly transformed STEM classroom on Wednesday, September 2, made possible through a $50,000 grant from the NextEra Energy Foundation, the corporate foundation of NextEra Energy, Inc. and Florida Power & Light (FPL). The grant was awarded to the Washington County Educational Foundation, Inc. to support the STEM Classroom Makeover initiative.
The event began with a meet‑and‑greet in the school library before guests toured the new STEM lab, where officials shared remarks and celebrated the partnership. Principal Chris Tyre and Superintendent Thomas Register expressed gratitude to FPL and the NextEra Energy Foundation, noting that the new lab will serve students for years to come.
Chipley Mayor and FPL External Affairs Initiatives Director Tracy Andrews commended the school’s commitment to hands‑on learning.
“This marks the dedication and the commitment of this entire campus to help make this an exceptional learning environment for all of our students,” Andrews said.
J.T. Young, Vice President and General Manager of FPL’s Northwest Region, also spoke, highlighting his family roots in Chipley and FPL’s broader mission.
“We believe at FPL that it is really so important not just to deliver reliable energy… but also to make sure that we are making investments to improve and strengthen the communities that we serve,” Young said.
Young presented a plaque to fourth‑grade teacher Ashlyn Smith, who applied for the grant last November. Smith shared how her vision for the lab was shaped by her experience teaching students with diverse learning needs while completing her master’s degree in exceptional student education.
“I wanted to create a STEM lab for students in third through fifth grade that was accessible to every student, regardless of their ability or disability,” Smith said.
The lab features adaptive equipment such as LED‑screen microscopes, sensory bins, weighted lap pads, and noise‑canceling headphones, alongside traditional STEM tools like hydroponic systems, egg incubators, LEGO kits, circuit sets, coding equipment, and 3D printers. Smith said the goal was to remove barriers and make science hands‑on for all learners.
“Students aren’t just reading about STEM concepts anymore, they’re building, testing, coding, growing, observing, problem‑solving, and discovering things for themselves,” she said.
Smith credited Principal Tyre for forwarding the grant opportunity and Tammy King for helping bring her vision to life.
“What started with one forwarded email, that I almost ignored, has turned into something that will impact hundreds of students at Kate M. Smith Elementary,” Smith said. “Sometimes all it takes is being willing to say ‘Why not try?’, and I am so glad that I did.”
Following the library introductions, a ribbon‑cutting ceremony was held in the newly unveiled STEM classroom, where KMS students demonstrated how to use the new equipment.
