The Nancy Lay STEM Laboratory is dedicated at Elk Valley Elementary School

Elk Valley Elementary School Principal Nancy Lay (black sweater) was honored on Friday with the dedication of the new STEM Laboratory in her name. Lay is pictured here with her family.

PIONEER, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- Elk Valley School celebrated the opening and dedication of the Nancy Lay STEM Laboratory on Friday.  Students, parents, school board members, and administrators joined in the event with smiles and excitement.  The laboratory is designed and equipped with materials to enhance the skills of inquiry, critical thinking, and collaboration to provide hands-on experiences in digital technology, robotics and computer science.  

Here is a related story from 2019 when Elk Valley Elementary School was named a STEM School.

An Elk Valley STEM School student enjoys the new lab.

“Elk Valley School is Campbell County’s only STEM school, and it is because of the dedication and commitment of Principal Nancy Lay and the teachers and staff of this school,” commented Jennifer Fields, Director of Campbell County Schools.  “This is not about me, but about all of these students and providing them the tools for better learning and inquiry,” responded Principal Lay.  She told the audience about how their first STEM Laboratory opened on a Thursday two years prior, only to be destroyed by a fire the following weekend.  “Our students only had the facility for a day, but that loss became a blessing because our new laboratory is bigger, better and the result of amazing support from the school system and this community.”

Elk Valley School is the smallest STEM School in Tennessee.

The STEM School designation is awarded by the State of Tennessee to schools that design and implement a focused curriculum that challenges students and provides them resources and support in incorporating STEM skills and processes.  Principal Lay and her staff developed the application and documentation for review by the State, which is based on stringent criteria and requirements. Some of the requirements include observations of classroom instruction by STEM evaluators, and further review of the application by a STEM panel.   Elk Valley School is the smallest STEM School in Tennessee.

Left to right are Bethany Hendrickson, Mary Beth Seiber, Elk Ambassador Kylie Chadwell.

A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.

For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini at ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-03/10/2025-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S JOSH PARKER)

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