The Future of STEM Just Pulled Into the Parking Lot
We are excited to introduce the newest member of the team, Jamie Hansen, our STEM Program Coordinator, who is officially taking the wheel of the SAISD Foundation’s two traveling STEM Buses: Voyager and Pathfinder. Hired in February, Jamie is already taking flight through our STEM education programs.
With 18 years of experience and a passion for “messy” discovery, Jamie is transforming STEM education in San Antonio through our STEM buses, turning them into mobile laboratories where zip codes don’t define access to technology. From flight simulators that teach physics to 3D printers that turn ideas into physical objects, Jamie’s mission is to create that “dinner table moment”—where students go home so excited about what they built, they can’t stop talking about it.
Want to know what it’s like to “bank the wings” of a flight simulator or watch a 3D-printed gear you designed come to life? Read our interview with Jamie to see how we’re bringing the future directly to our students’ doorsteps.
For many students, “science” is something found in a heavy textbook or a lecture hall. But for Jamie, science should be tactile, high-tech, and—most importantly—mobile.
A veteran educator since 2006 with a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, Jamie isn’t just bringing gadgets to schools; he’s bringing a “traveling innovation hub” designed to bridge the gap between imagination and reality.
We sat down with Jamie to discuss his vision for the program and why he believes the best learning often happens when things get a little “messy.”
A Career Rooted in Classroom Success
Jamie’s journey in STEM education in San Antonio started in 2006 as a 5th and 8th-grade math and science teacher. Over the years, he transitioned into roles as a Science Instructional Coach and Ed Tech Specialist, but his core mission remained the same: empowering teachers to feel successful.
“I’ve discovered that my true passion lies in helping fellow teachers,” Jamie says. “By providing hands-on experiences with 3D printing, robotics, and VR headsets, I aim to support student creativity while helping them step into future STEM careers.”
Bringing the Laboratory to the Parking Lot
The Voyager and Pathfinder buses aren’t just vehicles; they are a statement that zip code should never determine a child’s access to the future. We are broadening early career exposure through our STEM buses, empowering middle school and high school students to see themselves as the scientists and engineers of tomorrow.
“We aren’t waiting for kids to find STEM; we are bringing the laboratory to them,” Jamie explains. “I want to transform these vehicles into innovation hubs that move away from textbooks and toward exciting discovery. I want every student to walk off that bus seeing themselves as a scientist.”
The “Dinner Table” Moment
The goal of the STEM mobile learning labs is to create an experience so impactful that it becomes the first thing a student tells their parents about when they get home. Jamie calls this the “dinner table moment.”
Whether it’s a quiet student suddenly taking command of a cockpit in a flight simulator or a child holding a physical object they designed and 3D-printed themselves, these moments shift a student’s perspective from being a consumer of technology to a creator of it.
- “You’ll hear a student shout, ‘I’m actually banking the wings!’ They go from thinking flying is a video game to realizing, ‘I am calculating altitude and physics.'”
- “A student will hold a gear they designed and say, ‘I can’t believe I just made a physical object out of an idea.’ They realize they don’t have to buy the things they need—they can manufacture them.”
A Force Multiplier for Teachers
Beyond the students, Jamie sees the buses as a vital resource for SAISD educators. By providing access to professional-grade tools like drones and simulators that might not fit into a standard classroom budget, the mobile labs validate classroom lessons with real-world applications.
“The bus is a way to re-engage students who might struggle with traditional lecture-style learning but thrive in hands-on environments,” Jamie says.
Invest in the Future of Our Classrooms
Launched with $300,000 in philanthropic community support, our STEM buses are more than just vehicles; they deliver the early-career exposure kids need to see themselves in the future workforce. We invite you to help us fuel this journey and keep the momentum moving for the next generation of innovators. By supporting the SAISD Foundation, you help provide the “messy,” exciting materials—from 3D printing filament to drone maintenance—that make these “dinner table moments” possible for every student.
Click here to help fuel the STEM Bus program. Your gift brings high-tech innovation directly to San Antonio students.