In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, PPG and the PPG Foundation are taking stock of the many ways teachers play a role in sparking an early interest in exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) studies and continuing their investment in spurring learning opportunities.

“Investing in classrooms and STEM education includes empowering teachers to build confidence and inspire the next generation of innovators,” said Malesia Dunn, PPG Foundation and corporate global social responsibility executive director, in a statement on PPG’s website. “Often, this means ensuring teachers have access to in-classroom resources and ongoing training.”

“During Teacher Appreciation Week and year-round, we celebrate the incredible role educators play in turning possibility into passion by partnering with organizations that support teachers’ STEM lessons and provide learning tools.”

In recent years, nonprofits, businesses, schools, and others have begun showcasing STEM/STEAM and skilled trades education opportunities to younger students in elementary and middle schools, rather than waiting until high school, in hopes of improving the future pipeline of tradespeople to fill a dwindling space as more and more workers retire.

Over the past four years, the PPG Foundation says it has teamed up with AdoptaClassroom.org to do just that.

This year, PPG grants were received in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Cleveland, Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; and Greensboro, North Carolina.

Crystal Caldwell, principal at Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8, told PPG the grant her school received has helped students find their passion for STEM in real time.

“Before receiving the grant, our STEM lessons were limited by the availability of resources,” she told PPG. “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.”

The school used its donation on Lego and robot kits for students to practice programming on drones and other moving robotics.

Caldwell added that “the energy in the classroom was palpable,” as students coded their robots to perform basic tasks.

More stories from classrooms that received PPG donations are available to read here.

Specific to automotive refinish skilled training programs, PPG Foundation partners with I-CAR and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to support classes at 16 business development centers across North America.

PPG also offers “Innovative Classroom Grants” of up to $1,000 each to support STEM projects at U.S. public schools.

Also in recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week, Cox Enterprises has partnered with education nonprofit DonorsChoose to offer up to $100,000 in matching donations for engineering and technology STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education.

Following a successful match campaign last year, Cox says it will provide a two-times match on donations to eligible classroom projects and experiences at public schools nationwide for teachers who haven’t previously received DonorsChoose project funding.

“Investing in education is one of the most powerful ways we can shape a better future,” said Jennifer Bronner, Cox Enterprises’ director of community impact, in a press release. “Our continued partnership with DonorsChoose helps provide teachers in under-resourced schools with tools and experiences that spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence in the classroom.”

Such schools include those where most students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Cox Enterprises owns Cox Automotive, an automotive services and technology provider that houses Autotrader, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital, and vAuto.

According to the release, the dollar-for-dollar match furthers Cox’s “34 by 34” social impact goal to empower 34 million people to live more prosperous lives by 2034.

Since its 2020 launch, Cox reports the initiative has positively impacted more than 11.6 million people, from providing access to technology to offering employment skills and access to lifelong education, environmental sustainability, and more. Out of that were nearly 3 million new individuals last year, including 6,200 students through 500 classroom projects funded by the 2024 DonorsChoose match campaign.

“Cox’s generosity allows us to reach even more teachers doing incredible work with limited resources,” said Adam Disler, DonorsChoose senior vice president of partnerships, in the release. “This matching campaign ensures that more students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning and build critical skills for the future.”

To find and support a classroom in your community, visit donorschoose.org and look for engineering and technology STEAM classroom projects currently eligible for Cox’s matching donation.

Images

Featured image provided by Cox Enterprises