McKinney, Texas — McKinney ISD's STEAM Ambassadors got an inside look at Encore Wire on Wednesday, September 17, as they toured the longtime business that spans 460 acres and 3.5 million square feet of facility space in east McKinney. It was a daylong dynamic learning experience for the school district's innovative STEAM Ambassador program.
That program launched last year with the goal of equipping MISD students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) fields and to build awareness of future career opportunities. Toward that end, each MISD campus selected a dedicated representative to serve as a STEAM Ambassador.
"These ambassadors will undergo specialized training to learn about STEAM-fluency skills, hands-on learning experiences, and career pathways," said Dr. Kendra Henke, MISD Coordinator of Secondary Science. "Their mission is to bring this knowledge back to their respective schools, ensuring that all students benefit from early exposure to career exploration and crucial skills sought by colleges and industries."
After a brief introduction and history of Encore Wire, the ambassadors were ushered to a waiting caravan of golf carts and set out on a cross-campus tour.
Along the way, they witnessed the process of solid copper being melted (at 1,984 degrees Fahrenheit) and then extruded into wires that will be used in residential and commercial structures worldwide. They learned about the various departments at Encore Wire, including research and development, health and wellness, manufacturing, and automation.
The day of learning also highlighted the strong connection between the STEAM Ambassador program and MISD’s existing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. CTE Senior Director, Jae Gaskill emphasized the importance of early awareness and exploration of these pathways to help students thrive.
Connections were made between current classroom curriculum and instructional practices that can be leveraged to engage students in hands-on STEAM experiences, fostering skills and career curiosity.
By investing in its educators through the STEAM Ambassador program, McKinney ISD continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing students with unparalleled educational opportunities that bridge classroom learning with real-world applications.