‏After Marjie Keeney retired from 25 years of teaching at Deer Valley Elementary, Hoover School Board members told her they would love to see her to do something else within the system. Her dream opportunity came about when Shades Mountain Elementary hired her as their STEAM teacher two days a week. “Because our school can’t fund a full-time STEAM teacher, my grant idea was to create a STEAM cart that other teachers can use on days when I’m not there,” she explains. “They can grab the cart and wheel it into their classrooms with a plethora of tools at their fingertips.”

‏STEAM on the Go contains a little bit of everything and highlights all STEAM facets—science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Marjie changes out cart materials seasonally, refurbishes it the necessary and swaps out consumables. “I’ve been in the classroom, so I understand what teachers need,” she says. “Kids can find something on the cart that caters to their interests or talents and run with it.” On rainy days, the cart can be used for an interactive recess. “It doesn’t get stagnant and I hope it makes it easier for teachers,” Marjie says. “It truly meets everyone’s needs.”

‏For classrooms whose students have mobility issues, the cart has given them the same access to materials as traditional students. “I didn’t even realize how great that would be,” Marjie says. “The cart sparks their desire to learn—the kids tell me what they want me to bring the next time I see them.”

‏Over the years, Marjie has received many Foundation grants. “I’ve seen the impact the Foundation has made on our students and support them in any way I can,” she says. “I’m on the GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science) committee and that program grows every year, thanks to support from the Foundation.”