Two Miami-Dade County public schools are among the recipients of Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL) prestigious STEM Classroom Makeover Grants, each securing $50,000 to transform their classrooms into innovative, tech-forward learning environments.
Hialeah Gardens Senior High School and Miami Norland Senior High School were selected as winners of the expanded initiative, which this year quadrupled in size in celebration of FPL’s centennial. The company is investing $1 million to fund 20 STEM classroom makeovers across Florida, up from just five in previous years.
The grants, funded through FPL’s charitable arm, the NextEra Energy Foundation, aim to spark student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math by redesigning learning spaces with state-of-the-art tools. Classrooms will be outfitted with resources such as virtual reality equipment, 3D printers, robotics kits, and interactive displays to encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and hands-on learning.
“We are incredibly grateful to Florida Power & Light for their generous support of our STEAM lab,” said Cristian Carranza, M-DCPS Administrative Director, Division of Academics – STEAM. “This donation empowers our students to explore science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics in innovative ways, sparking curiosity and preparing them for the future. FPL’s commitment to education is truly lighting the way for the next generation of thinkers and leaders.”
Each school will have one year to complete its classroom transformation.
“At FPL, we believe in the power of education and the endless possibilities that STEM learning can unlock for students,” said Pam Rauch, FPL Vice President of External Affairs and Economic Development. “We strongly believe that STEM education is the cornerstone of a prosperous future, and these grants will serve as a catalyst for fostering innovation, curiosity and lifelong learning in our communities.”
Now in its fourth year, the FPL STEM Classroom Makeover Grant program targets Florida K-12 public, private, or charter schools with at least 40 percent economically disadvantaged students. The initiative supports efforts to improve STEM curricula, access, and career exposure for students who might otherwise lack such opportunities.
Previous Miami-Dade County grant recipients include Coconut Palm K-8 Academy in Homestead and County Club Middle School in Hialeah.
