ODOT STEM program equips Oklahoma teachers with free classroom resources Dates announced for 2026-2027 teacher workshops

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release #26-032

ODOT STEM program equips Oklahoma teachers with free classroom resources 
Dates announced for 2026-2027 teacher workshops 

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is helping teachers bring transportation-focused science, technology, engineering and math concepts into Oklahoma classrooms through free professional workshops and engaging hands-on activities, with dates now available for the 2026-27 school year.

Launched in August 2024, ODOT’s STEM Outreach Program provides Oklahoma K-12 teachers with training, resources and hands-on activities designed for use in the classroom. During the workshops, teachers complete the STEM activities from a student’s perspective, giving them firsthand experience with each lesson and helping them confidently incorporate transportation-focused STEM concepts into their classrooms. 

Following the training, each participant is eligible to select a STEM kit to keep and use at their school. ODOT purchases the kits and ships them directly to participating schools.

“Introducing students to STEM concepts early gives them an opportunity to connect what they learn in the classroom with the world around them,” said Kala Fowler, STEM outreach program manager. “By giving teachers hands-on resources and training, we can help students explore transportation and engineering in a way that is engaging, practical and relevant while also showing them career possibilities they may not have considered before.”

The kits are designed to turn STEM concepts into hands-on learning experiences, demonstrating how they are applied to transportation challenges. Kit options include:

• Bridge design
• Construction and design
• Environmental engineering
• Highway safety
• Magnetic levitation
• Motion
• Traffic technology
• STEM elementary development

In addition to teacher workshops and classroom kits, ODOT’s STEM Outreach Program offers field trip opportunities to ODOT’s Sign Shop and Materials Laboratory. Schools also may request ODOT engineers to participate in classroom lessons or speak with students about engineering, transportation and STEM careers.

Each workshop is hosted by ODOT in partnership with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials at locations across Oklahoma and provided at no cost to teachers or their schools.

Oklahoma teachers interested in participating can register for available workshops through the ODOT Teacher Workshops registration page.

More information about classroom resources, field trips, speakers and ODOT’s STEM outreach efforts is available on the ODOT STEM Outreach Program website.

(Editors and News Directors: For questions, please call Oklahoma Department of Transportation Communications at 405-521-6000.)

Please click everyone's seat belt each and every time you drive. Check www.oktraffic.org for real-time traffic information or download the Drive Oklahoma app.