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Kisam Intermediate showcases STEAM academy and student robotics demo
Summary
Kisam (Kissam) Intermediate principal Bethany Primo presented the STEAM academy vision and student projects—students used Spike Prime and Ozobots and one student, Drake Krebs, demonstrated a programmed rover—administration said initial purchases were covered by set-aside funds and staff write grants for ongoing needs.
Principal Bethany Primo told the board the STEAM Academy is designed to "close opportunity gaps and give students access to future-ready learning," and she presented project examples from 4th–6th grade, including robotics, music-creation tools and 3D design work.
"Our STEAM academy supports the work of the strategic plan 3.0 innovative teaching and learning... Projects like this let students test ideas, collaborate, and apply math and science in real time," Primo said as she described coding lessons, Ozobots and a student-built rover.
A 6th grader, introduced by Primo as Drake Krebs, demonstrated a rover programmed with LEGO Spike Prime and described testing and obstacles he used to measure performance. Trustees asked about funding and whether purchases were grant-funded or from district set-asides; Primo said money had been allocated in the prior year and that a STEAM coordinator and teachers actively pursue grants for additional equipment and projects.
The presentation emphasized hands-on problem solving across grade levels and plans to expand the program into coding with Python in later grades.
