Education
Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) and TVA work together to support community-wide learning about energy efficiency, meet STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) objectives and provide opportunities to develop skills that can prepare students for careers in technical fields.
Teachers in public schools that receive power from a TVA distributor can win STEM grants up to $5,000. In 2022 alone, TVA distributed $1 million, in partnership with TVA retiree organization Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network. TVA gives preference to applications covering its primary areas of focus–environment, energy, economic development and community problem solving.
Ted Austin, VP of customer service and community relations at JEA says, “A few of us from JEA visited Jackson Christian School and were amazed to see their forensics lab and what the kids were able to do as a result of the $5,000 in TVA STEM grant money they received in 2022 and 2021.”
Molly Plyler, K-12 director of STREAM, says in combination with a Battelle Education TSIN STEM classroom grant, they had enough funding “to purchase molecular biology equipment and a goggle sanitizing cabinet for the high school Life Science Lab. With healthcare being a top employer in West Tennessee, we are excited that this equipment will further provide Jackson Christian students with the foundational skills needed if they choose to pursue postsecondary opportunities in medicine or biotechnology.”
Sacred Heart of Jesus High School also won a TVA STEM grant in 2022, and the monies were used to purchase drones for their Aviation program, which is governed by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the US Air Force. The drones are being used to help students learn how to monitor crops and livestock at local farms.
TVA STEM grants were also awarded to Augustine School and Trinity Christian Academy in 2022 and 2021, and North Parkway School in 2021.
Schools enrolled in TVA EnergyRight’s School Uplift program receive behavior-based strategic energy management (SEM) training that helps them integrate energy efficiency practices into their daily operations to save energy and money. Schools compete to win grants for infrastructure upgrades to reduce energy costs and improve the quality of the learning environment.
TVA EnergyRight Educational Workshops
Eye Spy Energy Kids’ Workshop
TVA EnergyRight and JEA partner to bring Spark, Bolt, Zap and their other EnergyRight Monster friends to elementary schools across the community, teaching students where energy comes from, how we use it and ways to save at home. Students can continue the energy-saving fun with their families using Eye Spy Energy Kits.
Energy Evolution High School Workshop
TVA EnergyRight and JEA are working together to offer engaging, interactive workshops that empower high school students to reduce their environmental impact and lead the next wave of our planet’s energy evolution.
