District updates board on SAM Labs elementary STEM rollout and new Studio 204 innovation center

Indian Prairie School District 204 staff updated the board on the district’s multi-year rollout of SAM Labs elementary STEM programming and introduced Studio 204, a district innovation center intended to support teacher development and student-centered STEM learning.

Laura Nyland, a district instructional leader, said the district is in year three of a planned five-year implementation that aims to bring SAM Labs instruction to all elementary schools in cohorts. Nyland summarized district-level metrics for the 16 schools in cohorts 1 and 2: about 94% of teachers in those schools are “engaged” with SAM Labs (familiar or aware), roughly 68% are actively participating in instructional coaching, and approximately 38% are working independently to implement lessons.

White Eagle Elementary Principal Tara Fowler and teacher Taylor Kettelar described how localized instructional leadership supported implementation at their school. Fowler said the school used an “I do / we do / you do” coaching model: district coaches and building instructional leaders model lessons, co-teach with teachers, and then support teachers to teach independently. Fowler reported the building met its goal that every classroom complete four SAM Labs starter lessons and at least one science-aligned content lesson; those starter lessons were completed before winter break.

Taylor Kettelar, a classroom teacher, described student outcomes she has observed: “Students have told us that what they love most is the hands on learning and exploration. ... They are actively problem solving with Blocky, testing ideas, as they're building their systems.” Kettelar said the program’s visual, kinesthetic activities gave students tangible ways to explore science concepts, and she described notable growth and student independence among second graders who have used SAM Labs since kindergarten.

District staff described Studio 204 as a central hub for innovation, currently staged at the Perkett Center with flexible furniture and equipment provided in partnership with SAM Labs. The space will host teacher learning, curriculum development, student incubators and community partnerships; district staff are developing branding, scheduling, and a set of spring and summer pilot offerings. Nyland said the district has organized a “STEM squad” of teacher leaders (one per grade level plus library/media specialists) to serve as grade-level liaisons and to support replication across schools.

Implementation details and clarifications offered in the presentation: - The SAM Labs plan was rolled out in cohorts of about seven schools per year; cohort 1 began in 2022 and cohort 2 in 2023. The district expects to add cohort 3 next year. - District targets for full implementation include at least three SAM Labs science lessons per classroom once a building reaches sustained implementation, with additional lessons common where teachers choose to expand instruction. - Studio 204 is currently in progress (room outfitted; branding and programming under development); SAM Labs has provided equipment and partner support.

Board members praised the initiative and asked for intentional, sustainable rollout plans so momentum in early adopters can be replicated across the district.

No formal action was taken at this presentation; board members requested continued updates and suggested linking Studio 204 programming with curriculum and the district strategic plan.