Gulf Shores Middle School teacher Kristin Weaver attended We Build It Better STEAM curriculum training along with 35 other middle school teachers from along the Gulf Coast.

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MOBILE, Ala. — Gulf Shores Middle School teacher Kristin Weaver joined 35 other middle school teachers from along the Gulf Coast for professional development training for We Build It Better STEAM curriculum. The program was designed to enhance participants' proficiency in We Built It Better's STEAM learning system.

The training took place at Flight Works Alabama from July 18 – 22. Thirty-six middle school teachers from Alabama, California, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi and Wisconsin attended the week-long program.

"This program teaches teamwork and hands-on, real-world skills that kids can take out of the classroom and apply directly to the workplace," Weaver said.

The program gives teachers the skills to transform their classrooms into Centers of Invention and Innovation, exercise product development by using industry-grade tools and equipment, become fluent in manufacturing and industry terminology and to begin or continue their journey to become subject matter experts in real-world business and manufacturing concepts and practices.

Throughout the week, teachers built a model Airbus A320 aircraft, designed and constructed an electric vehicle and 3D printed their first invention.

Approximately one-fourth of participants are conducting refresher training, while the rest are new to the We Build It Better program.

For the 2021-22 school year, 81 schools in five states taught the We Build It Better program. The 2022-23 school year will see another 27 schools in six states adopting the program, for a total of 108 schools in eight states. Eighteen schools in Mobile and Baldwin Counties participate in the We Build It Better program.

To learn more about We Build It Better, visit www.webuilditbetter.org or its Facebook page.

To learn more about Flight Works Alabama, visit FlightWorksAlabama.com or their Facebook page.