High-needs schools require support now more than ever.
A changing educational landscape means that teachers will have less access to funding they’ve relied on to access the school supplies their students need.
The PPG Foundation, the charitable arm of the leading paint and coatings manufacturer, has partnered with AdoptAClassroom.org since 2021 to provide STEM grants to 32 Title I schools so they can transform learning for their students. Their grants help schools build learning infrastructure that will last far beyond a single academic year while inspiring students to explore STEM careers.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we wanted to share a few stories of how the PPG Foundation’s support has invigorated learning at high-needs schools in their communities in Pittsburgh, PA; Cleveland, OH; Huntsville, AL; and Greensboro, NC.
Making Brighter Futures at Pittsburgh Arlington K-8 School, PA
As a company with a strong STEM workforce, the PPG Foundation partners with AdoptAClassroom.org to help students build the foundational skills they need to become the next generation of innovative professionals.
Crystal, the principal at Pittsburgh Arlington K-8, is seeing how their donation has helped her students find their passion for STEM in real time.
“Before receiving the grant, our STEM lessons were limited by the availability of resources,” Crystal shared. “The lessons often felt more like lectures than interactive learning, and I could sense that many students were disconnected from the material. With the new supplies we purchased with the grant, I saw students who were previously disengaged suddenly become excited and eager to participate. The hands-on nature of the new materials allowed them to apply concepts in real time, making the lessons feel more relevant and dynamic.”
Arlington K-8 used their donation to purchase LEGO® and robot kits so students at the school can practice programming on drones and other moving robotics. Crystal said, “The energy in the classroom was palpable” as students coded their own robots to perform basic tasks.
The PPG Foundation’s generous gift has taken STEM education at Arlington K-8 from static lectures to dynamic, hands-on learning using contemporary technology. The supplies purchased with this grant will engage students for years to come.
Building a STEM Lab at Albert Bushnell Hart School in Cleveland, OH
Before receiving their grant from the PPG Foundation, students at Albert Bushnell Hart School had to rely on old, outdated science equipment. They often had to share this equipment, making lessons take longer and limiting students’ ability to explore the material on a deeper level.
With their donation from the PPG Foundation, the school invested in their lab by purchasing microscopes, science activity kits, and advanced calculators.
Toiya, a teacher at Albert Bushnell Hart, remarked upon the transformation she’s seen in her students’ learning.
“With PPG’s support, we have been able to introduce advanced technology and hands-on learning tools that inspire curiosity and innovation. The students are more motivated and excited about their studies, and the positive impact on their engagement and enthusiasm is evident.”
A Hands-on Makerspace at Eastern Guilford High School in Greensboro, NC
Eastern Guilford High School used their grant from the PPG Foundation to create a makerspace that fosters creative problem solving and critical thinking. Several schools that received donations from the PPG Foundation in the past few years have created makerspaces, which are student-led spaces where kids engage in STEM exploration through a variety of activities.
“Before receiving the PPG Foundation grant, many of our students had never worked with industry-grade STEM tools, and their exposure to real-world applications was minimal,” Karen, the assistant principal of Eastern Guilford High School said. “However, with the grant, we were able to purchase high-quality lab equipment, robotics kits, and interactive learning materials that transformed our learning environment.”
Creating Real-World Learning Opportunities at the Academy for Science and Foreign Language in Huntsville, AL
The Academy for Science and Foreign Language invested their donation from the PPG Foundation in creating hands-on opportunities for their students to develop a deeper understanding of environmental sciences. By building wind turbines and solar panels, students applied their STEM learning to real-world examples based in sustainability and green power.
Sharenus, a teacher at the school, witnessed how these learning opportunities deepened her students’ understanding and built their confidence.
“After the grant, everything changed,” Sharenus said. “The ability to work with renewable energy kits, robotics, and forensic tools transformed the classroom into a dynamic, hands-on learning environment. One of the most memorable moments was when students built and tested their own wind turbines. The excitement in the room was palpable as they saw the turbines generate electricity for the first time. One student exclaimed, ‘I can’t believe we made this work! It’s like something out of a real science lab!’”
Thanks to the PPG Foundation’s investment in STEM education at their school, students have access to hands-on experiences that inspire them to get into real-life science labs someday.
Learn more about PPG’s global investment in STEM education.