The Shaw STEAM Center at Katy ISD in Katy, TX, has become a beacon of learning and discovery for students of all ages, even during the summer months when school is out. Led by experienced educators Steve Adams and Liz Dethloff, the Center has garnered attention from school administrators nationwide for its unique STEAM space and the benefits it offers to students, families, and the community.
Adams and Dethloff are passionate about providing students with a hands-on, engaging learning experience. They believe that education should be exciting and that STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education is essential for preparing students for future careers. The Center hosts interactive summer camps, family science nights, teacher professional development sessions, and serves as the headquarters for the district’s high school robotics teams.
Starting next school year, every third-grade and seventh-grade student in Katy ISD will have the opportunity to visit the Shaw Center on a field trip. Dethloff collaborates with district leaders, teachers, and parent volunteers to plan curriculum-based activities that stimulate students‘ curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning. She envisions the Shaw Center becoming a tradition for families in the growing Katy community.
In addition to STEAM programming, the Shaw Center also hosts various student groups, including Girl Scouts, Destination Imagination teams, and GT activities. Cindee Devlin, a Business and Outreach Mentor for Tompkins High School’s robotics team, has witnessed firsthand how STEAM education positively impacts students by providing them with technical skills and life skills such as teamwork, time management, and leadership.
Mae Chen, a rising senior at Jordan High School and the Strategy Officer for the school’s robotics team, was introduced to robotics at a young age and quickly fell in love with the competitive environment. She now leads camps to involve younger students in robotics, providing them with valuable experience and exposure to STEAM fields.
The summer camps at the Shaw Center cover a range of topics, including robots and coding, animation, Legos, web development, and more. The Center also partners with Rice University’s Office of STEM Engagement to offer age-specific camps for elementary students to learn about electronics, physics, and engineering.
Adams emphasizes that while not every student will pursue a career in a STEAM field, every student deserves to know about the opportunities available and how engaging these fields can be. The goal of the Shaw Center is to provide students with exposure and a positive experience in STEAM education.
As Katy ISD prepares for the fall semester to begin, the Shaw STEAM Center continues to be a hub of innovation and learning for students in the community. With dedicated educators like Adams and Dethloff at the helm, the Center is poised to inspire the next generation of thinkers, creators, and innovators.