LEXINGTON, Ky. — Ashley Wilkirson, an elementary school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teacher, said it has been surreal seeing her students react to her designs for STEM-themed furniture come to life.
Students in the Northern Elementary School teacher's STEM classes have asked her for weeks about this day. Now, the kindergarten through fifth-graders' answers have been met with a brand new customized STEM furniture set worth up to $40,000.
This comes after winning a national contest with furniture manufacturer KI for a giveaway in February. Wilkirson is one of several teachers who entered with a plan and were recognized for their impactful and innovative work.
She designed a floor plan with details of her classroom space and said the new tables and high-rise seats create more opportunities to work as problem-solvers collectively and in an environment where students are each hands on.
Another specific design request included rocking chairs.
“If they need to, they can stand back here, and it's not going to block anyone's view," she said. "The chairs have them able to be at a lower level, and they can rock.”
Wilkirson and students said they're hopeful it will improve the way they learn.
“This is reflective of rooms that I might even see at the college level," she said. "This is showing them how many doors can open and that everything we use here is going to be applicable in the real world. They have skills they're developing here. Those skills that I learned from designing the room, those are skills that I teach them.”