Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) awarded the Consortium $155,700 to support EmPOWERing STEM Educator Grants across 19 local education foundations. Each foundation received between $6,500 and $8,000 to implement high-impact, teacher-led professional development programs designed to elevate STEM instruction across the state.
The FPL EmPOWERing STEM Educators program increases teacher knowledge of effective, standards-aligned instructional strategies while encouraging the practical implementation of innovative approaches in the classroom. A defining element of the program is its emphasis on educator-led learning communities—providing space for teachers to collaborate, observe, and refine their practices to better engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math.
“For the last 100 years, FPL has been committed to powering strong communities. Our investment in STEM education is a way to spark innovation and opportunity for the next generation,” said Sarah Marmion, FPL senior manager of education outreach. “By supporting our teachers through these grants, we’re empowering them with the resources they need to inspire students and cultivate the problem-solvers and innovators of tomorrow.”
When teachers feel valued and are given meaningful opportunities to collaborate and innovate, it not only improves instruction—it helps us retain great teachers in our classrooms.
Since 2018, FPL has invested more than $600,000 through the Consortium to strengthen STEM education in Florida. This longstanding partnership ensures that best practices and successful models can be scaled and shared statewide, maximizing the impact of every dollar invested.
Examples of this year’s funded projects include:
- Baker County Education Foundation – Supporting “learning walks” at Baker County Middle School, where educators observe STEM lessons like STEM Day and Demo Day, followed by debrief sessions during PLC meetings to reflect on high-impact instructional strategies.
- Brevard Schools Foundation – Expanding a successful K–12 STEM collaboration model to include 12 more teachers and reach 2,000 additional students. The initiative features:
- Peer observations and structured debriefs
- Strengthened educator networks
- Continued refinement based on teacher feedback
- Champions For Learning (Collier County) – Partnering with Collier County Public Schools to host peer observation days, where new teachers learn from veteran educators—continuing a proven model supported by FPL since 2017.
“These local projects reflect the power of community collaboration to strengthen classrooms and student learning,” said Amity Schuyler, President and CEO of the Consortium. “We’re grateful to FPL for their enduring commitment to Florida’s educators and their belief in the transformational impact of STEM.”
Through strategic partnerships and shared leadership, the EmPOWERing STEM Educators program continues to fuel a statewide movement—one that values teacher growth, innovation, and student success.
