Santa Fe Standard

Twenty SFPS schools recently took part in the district's Innovation Expo at Milagro Middle School, leaving attendees impressed with the students' technological prowess. Gary Lewis, SFPS director of digital learning, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "What an incredibly exciting event this was! I am always impressed when our students showcase their use of technology. It is an inspiration for all educators to see what can be accomplished using our available resources. Kudos to all SFPS students and staff for sharing with our community."

The Expo, themed "Empowering Learners. Embracing Innovation," featured a diverse range of projects highlighting the students' skills. From coding and using dash robots to programming ozobots to navigate maps of New Mexico, the showcase was a testament to the students' creativity and technical abilities.

First-grade students from Salazar Elementary utilized Book Creator to craft original stories, while Mandela International Magnet School students delved into design processes and computing by creating games in Scratch, a versatile programming platform. Milagro Middle School students demonstrated a laser cutter, Atalaya Elementary students designed a Makey Makey guitar programmed to play custom tunes, and Capital High School and Santa Fe High School students showcased apps developed for the Congressional App Challenge.

The event drew a total of 216 students, 76 staff members, 78 parents, and even two grandparents, underscoring the broad community support for the innovative projects on display. The Expo truly embodied the spirit of innovation and collaboration, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended.