When the rookie J.C. Booth “Tsunami Warrior” team became the state champions in the first Lego League Robotics Challenge, they created a big problem for STEM education in Fayette County. Their success has created such demand for this exciting STEM learning program that more than 80 eager students signed up to fill the 20 planned slots.
The problem was that there was no school budget for the additional Lego robotics equipment required to field this many teams. Booth science teacher, and Robotics Head Coach, David Carnow had a tough choice to make.
The easy option would be to turn away, and deny the learning and experience, for 60 students. He took the more difficult option and courageously embraced the uncertainty of expanding the program four times the planned size. This option would require raising more than $1,500 per team from the community to cover the costs and asking for volunteer parent support to assist with coaching.
Mr. Carnow’s vision is this initiative will gain momentum and that it will spill over to all the other schools in the county through the outreach program that he has planned.
The teacher and parent volunteers that stepped forward to support Mr. Carnow’s vision has been nothing short of amazing. Now, as the community, we need to support the courageous decision by Booth Middle School and help raise the money to give these eager and committed students the opportunity participate.
Please email carnow.david@mail.fcboe.org if you feel that you would like to support this great initiative to promote STEM opportunities in our school system. Any donation would be welcome.
This surely proves that there is a large unmet demand for STEM learning opportunities from the students. Let’s not let this opportunity to inspire our children slip by.
Gerrie van Zyl
Peachtree City, Ga.
