This past August I was sitting at a table after a pretty intensive PD at STEAM Academy, and a thought was stirring somewhere under the surface. Jordan Manley, our P.E. and Health teacher, sat down next to me and asked what was on my mind. Jordan and I have collaborated in the educational design space for years, so it doesn’t take much at all to move our conversation into iterations of units, PBLs, or even one-off classroom experiences that have the potential for huge returns. I know exactly what I can get from these conversations. I usually throw out an outlandish idea, and Jordan tempers it slightly with a slightly more level-headed, framework approach that might reach the realm of possible.
“I wonder if we could pull off a community-focused event,” I said, “where students could interact and dialogue with those in real positions of power in Lexington.”
Jordan acknowledged with a nod. I could tell he understood what I meant. More often than not, it feels like community members come in as judges for a project or a presentation, but was there a real, back and forth dialogue? Did student voices elevate to the point that community members heard – I mean really heard them? With the upcoming 250th anniversary of our city, my thought was that if those who shape business and policy would actually come to the table with our students, something of substance might happen.
“Any of our kids will tell ya,” I continued, “that adults don’t much listen to them.”
At this moment 250LEX at STEAM was born. A PBL designed to do just that. We would ask the students: If you had the chance to change your community, what would you do? If you had a chance to speak your truth to those that create laws and policies – what would you say?
Shortly after that conversation I was at my laptop. This is what I wrote:
This cross-curricular Project-Based Learning (PBL) experience invites students to step into the role of researchers, storytellers, and visionaries as they explore the past, present, and future of Lexington, Kentucky. Known as the Horse Capital of the World, Lexington holds a unique blend of history, culture, and innovation. Students will dive deep into the city’s economy, social landscape, and historical milestones, while also envisioning what Lexington might become in the decades ahead. Through partnerships with the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor’s Office, students will gain authentic insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping their community. Their work will culminate in a public gallery showcase that brings together students, parents, community stakeholders, and local businesses. This event—told entirely from a teenager’s perspective—will offer a vibrant and thought-provoking portrait of life in Lexington today. Serving as the final celebration in Lexington’s 250-year anniversary, known as 250LEX, this showcase will not only honor the city’s rich heritage but also spotlight the voices of its next generation. By blending academic inquiry with creative expression, students will help shape the narrative of a city they call home—the past, the present, and the yet to come.
Article at STEAM Academy News (Gavin Houston)
For the event to have the intended impact, it was necessary to bring civic and business leaders to the table. STEAM Academy staff realized the importance of this component, and made countless calls and emails to local leaders to ensure their attendance. Among many notable guests that evening, Robbie Fletcher, Kentucky Commissioner of Education commented, “This event is a great example of the Commonwealth’s three pillars of quality education: vibrant learning, innovation, and collaboration.” The new Dean of the College of Education at the University of Kentucky, Nick Pace, further remarked in the town hall: “As I went around and visited exhibits tonight, the word that stood out for me was ‘Passion’. These projects came from a place of passion, and I don’t think you can fake that.”
December 9th, marked a significant moment in STEAM Academy’s journey. As part of Lexington’s 250th anniversary, STEAM Academy partnered with the 250LEX Commission to host a finale at the school. The events tagline read, “A Conversation with Tomorrow’s Leaders.” The evening was supported and promoted by Lexington’s City Council, the Mayor’s Office, Publix, and Chick Fil A. The evening contained ten exhibits that were created by students in every major content area at STEAM, including many electives. Students stepped into the role of researchers, storytellers, and visionaries as they explored the past, present, and future of Lexington. This became an opportunity for teens who are not traditionally in places to make decisions or share ideas with the city’s government. It allowed them to take center stage and be heard by those is positions of influence and leadership. Co-chair of the 250 Commission, Dr. Eunice Beatty noted, “This [event represents] tomorrow’s leaders, today.” Tammy Lane of FCPS shared in an article with the district, noting, “Their cross-curricular, project-based learning prototypes and proposals spanned social health, environmental stewardship, arts, education, engineering, infrastructure, and more.”
Dr Lu Young was also on hand to encourage students and praise their hard work. She said in a closing speech, “The four promises of Fayette County’s Portrait of a Graduate are on display tonight. Well done STEAM.” Dr. Justin Bathon, part of the founding leadership of STEAM was seen engaging with students at several exhibits. He mentioned that STEAM had worked for years in creative and innovative spaces to refine exhibitions of learning that worked for students and staff, fostering authentic conversations around research, growth, and the STEAM habits.
STEAM’s Principal Dr. Flores addressed the crowd during the town hall portion of the evening, saying, “I am so excited, and so proud of our students and staff for what I am seeing tonight. I challenged our staff to dive even deeper into PBL this Fall and what you’re seeing is a great example of how we do school”.
The legacy of our next 250 years begins with you, and I’m confident we’re in excellent hands. – Mayor Linda Gorton
With a packed building and palpable energy throughout the hallways, it felt as though the evening was a tipping point for STEAM. The event marked the 10th large-scale, cross curricular project at STEAM, spanning the 13 years since the school’s launch from her humble beginnings on 6th Street in Lexington.
Freshman David Campbell had several interactions with VIP guests as he shared his English 1 project, which explored leadership lessons found in ancient Greek literature. “What I learned during the event is that leadership comes in multiple different ways, there are different ways to show leadership, and that anyone can find leadership inside themselves,” Campbell said following the event.
A sophomore named Jack Friedman also presented at the 250Lex event. He explored the legacy of the Clay family in Lexington, mentioning their impact on politics. Jack played in the band and seemed to enjoy working with others during the entire experience. “Normally, I’m not much one for collaboration, but I enjoyed being able to see others’ projects and being able to see what the students can do when they put their minds to it,” he said.
This level of interconnected study and research proves to bolster not only meaning and context to the classroom, it expands the civic and community responsibility that students feel about their learning journey. STEAM Academy currently hosts annual exhibitions of learning that center around science and physics, led by the science department, along with a Defense of Learning that is partitioned by grade level where students defend their understanding and growth of the STEAM Habits. While in-school defenses typically see an influx of outside visitors, the scale at which the 250LEX event brought in discipline-specific experts to witness student work was unprecedented. There are whispers of an event that might re-visit and measure the progress of a healthy city in 2027, though this has not yet been confirmed.
