Floyd County takes STEM education on the road

The Floyd County Schools District unveiled its latest teaching tool Monday during the district's first professional development day of the 2019-2020 school year.

The STEM bus, a school bus that was renovated into a traveling interactive experience hub, will soon begin its trip across the county.

"There's not a school system around that can go out and buy $200,000 worth of equipment for every school. But we can put it on a bus and take it to every school," said Floyd County Schools Superintendent Danny Adkins.

The bus is equipped with technology to give students hands-on STEM experience in a unique way. Equipment that, Adkins said, was only made possible through funding secured by GEAR UP East Kentucky.

"What the STEM bus is going to hopefully do for Floyd County is engage students with all the different types of careers out there," said Zach Nicholas, college and career navigator for GEAR UP East Kentucky.

Nicholas, who is the project leader, said the bus will be a one-stop-shop for many different STEM careers, opening the minds of Floyd County's students.

Nicholas will drive the bus to the schools, working with STEM-minded educators to better prepare the students.

"So many students go to college, not ready for college. Not knowing what they want to do," Nicholas said. "This is an incredible opportunity for our students to experience and engage STEM and engineering in a new way."

The bus will have activities for students in grades K-12 and will travel back and forth to the schools in the county.