Goldsby Secures TVA STEM Grant

By Ron Barry
Managing Editor

Miranda Goldsby of Crockett County Middle School is among the select teachers to receive a STEM Classroom Grant as the Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Inc., a TVA retiree organization, awards $1 million in grants to educators in public schools to develop science, technology, engineering, and math education projects across the Tennessee Valley.
Goldsby told Crockett administrators that she plans to purchase a classroom set of Sphero BOLT bots with the grant money. BOLT is Sphero’s most advanced coding robotic ball to date, providing ways to express inventive ideas and experience the power of programming. The BOLT is ideal for educators to use with students, as STEM learning can be easily facilitated at home and guided by parents.
The BOLT is packed with programmable robotic sensors, custom graphics and real-time data with a programmable LED matrix, and educational games which can be customized through hands-on play.
Goldsby’s award is from a competitive grant program through the cooperation of TVA and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN).
“TVA is focused on supporting clean-energy technologies and STEM education that helps today’s students develop the skills needed to work in these careers,” said Jeannette Mills, TVA executive vice president and chief external relations officer. “Innovation is the key to success, and it’s inspiring to contribute to the next generation’s visionaries.”
The competitive STEM classroom grant program is operated in partnership with TSIN, managed by the Battelle organization. The program received 458 grant applications this year, and 238 were selected for funding. This year, the program will support about 136,000 students across seven states with hands-on STEM activities.  
“TSIN is honored to partner with TVA in this exciting grant program to further STEM education endeavors across the state,” said Gretchen Brown, operations director. “This opportunity can make a difference for educators and students as they incorporate 21st-century skills and real-world problem-solving. It is a privilege to work with this partnership year after year and continue to serve the incredible educators of the Tennessee Valley.”
Grants are awarded in urban and rural areas to meet the diverse needs of local communities.
Grants up to $5,000 were awarded in a competitive process, and preference was given to grant applications that explored TVA’s primary areas of focus: environment, energy, economic development, and community problem-solving. Any school that receives its power from a local power company served by TVA was eligible to apply.
Since 2018, TVA/BVI has provided nearly $5 million in STEM grants supporting nearly 600,000 students.
“Supporting education and ensuring students have a solid STEM background is critical to our children’s future no matter what career path they take,” said TVA Public and Community Engagement Program Manager Trina Gallman. “I am proud of the partnerships we have built to help these educators inspire their students through the STEM activities this program will provide.”
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power companies, serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity.
In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system. It also assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.
This article is supplemented by news reports from TVA and the TSIN.