Marion County Public Schools (MCPS), a small, rural district in South Carolina, is making big strides in STEM education thanks to a partnership with JASON Learning, sponsored by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA) and the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA).
Last summer, MCPS was introduced to JASON Learning (JASON) at the 2024 SCASA Superintendent’s Symposium, where JASON presented its STEM programs and offerings. SCASA and ReMA were offering to sponsor access to JASON Learning for 12 districts across South Carolina, providing an opportunity to expand STEM education at no cost to identified member districts. MCPS was the first district to seize this opportunity, recognizing the value JASON could bring to its students.
Superintendent Dr. Kandance Bethea was determined to ensure MCPS was included in the program. MCPS was in the early stages of implementing STEM Labs, and JASON provided ready-to-use, real-world STEM resources to enhance those efforts.
One of SCASA’s priorities for supporting STEM education in South Carolina is addressing the drop-off in STEM opportunities beyond elementary school. JASON has helped MCPS introduce more hands-on, engaging STEM experiences for middle and high school students, filling a critical gap in their curriculum.
Supporting Teachers, Not Overwhelming Them
MCPS took a thoughtful approach to integrating JASON, ensuring that teachers had the support and flexibility they needed to make the most of the resources. Rather than mandating its use, the district focused on gradual integration, giving educators the opportunity to explore JASON at their own pace.
To support this, MCPS used one of its established monthly professional development (PD) days to supply a JASON session for 30 teachers. This provided educators with dedicated time to familiarize themselves with the platform and discover how it could complement their instruction. By allowing teachers to determine how best to incorporate JASON into their lesson plans, the district ensured that it was seen as a helpful resource rather than an additional requirement.
MCPS teachers are using JASON as a supplemental tool, aligning it with their existing curriculum instead of replacing what they already have in place. This approach has made it easier for educators to integrate JASON in a way that feels natural and beneficial to their students.
Excitement and Engagement in the Classroom
Teachers from MCPS have shared that they love how JASON’s activities are both accessible and affordable, making it easier to bring hands-on STEM experiences into their classrooms. The materials needed for experiments and projects are inexpensive and easy to source, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to implementation.
“JASON Learning offers teachers in all disciplines support by integrating STEM with literacy, social studies, and the arts. It connects real-world problems, which encourages students to collaborate with one another, make decisions, think critically, and problem-solve. JASON Learning is preparing our students for the future with fun and engaging real-world experiences.”
—Kim Stone, STEAM Facilitator, MCPS
Science educators have found particular value in JASON’s “Infinite Potential” curriculum collection, which explores energy types, transfers, and the electric grid. Fourth and sixth graders have also been actively engaged with “Coaster Creator,” an interactive game within Infinite Potential that helps students understand physics concepts through designing and testing virtual roller coasters. Beyond core science concepts, “Career Highways” has been an important resource for MCPS’s CTE programs, particularly in automotive technology, allowing students to explore careers in trucking and logistics.
The impact of these resources has been clear in student engagement. One memorable moment involved Coaster Creator, where the students became so immersed in the challenge that their excitement spilled out into the hallways. Teachers from neighboring classrooms even came over to check on the commotion—only to find students cheering, problem-solving, and celebrating their successes.
“Coaster Creator was so much fun. When we were trying to build the roller coaster, ours kept crashing and finally, we figured it out. We needed a hill that was not too big to slow it down before the ending to keep it from crashing. When were successful, we started hollering because we were so excited. Other teachers came in the room from across the hall because they thought something was wrong. They could not believe it was because we designed a roller coaster that did not crash. It was a fun and exciting day in STEM Class.”
—Riley Phillips, 4th grade, MCPS
Plans for Expansion
Looking ahead, MCPS plans to expand its use of JASON Learning in several ways:
- Teacher-led training: MCPS plans to tap into the expertise of teachers already using JASON to lead training sessions within the district. These sessions will allow educators to share best practices and discover new strategies for integrating JASON into their classrooms.
- Student Participation in the 2025 South Carolina Recycling Contest: Students will engage in hands-on STEM learning through the upcoming South Carolina-specific Recycling contest (modeled after the national ReMA/JASON Youth Recycling Contest).
- Real-world Career Connections: The district plans to further emphasize career pathways by connecting JASON’s resources to local STEM-related industries.
Through SCASA’s sponsorship, JASON has helped Marion County Public Schools expand STEM opportunities at all grade levels. By providing hands-on, engaging resources and supporting teachers with flexible professional development, the district is creating a sustainable model for STEM integration in rural schools.
This partnership not only equips Marion County’s students with valuable STEM skills, but it also sets the stage for future learning opportunities and career paths. We’re excited to see how the students of MCPS continue to grow and thrive in STEM, and we look forward to seeing more districts follow their lead.
