The Sandy Springs Education Force, a city-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting students and programming at public schools, hosted its 16th annual STEAM Showcase on March 17 at North Springs Charter High School.
Sandy Springs Council Member Andrew Chinsky said the city is really blessed to have 10 amazing public schools with teachers and administrators who work together for students.
“As a parent of a first grader … who’s already learning computer science and engineering, the importance of STEAM to the future and to our kids … you don’t have to convince me,” Chinsky said at the showcase’s reception.
Nonprofit backs STEAM programs
The Sandy Springs Education Force holds the annual showcase to promote curiosity and inspire innovations in STEAM, or science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
North Springs High Principal Scott Hanson gave a shout-out to Fulton School Board Members Katie Gregory and Michelle Morancie in the crowd and promoted the school’s work toward a state certification.
“North Springs has traditionally had a math, science, vision, and performing arts magnet that has supported all the work that goes behind STEAM,” Hanson said. “A year ago, we embarked on a journey to become a comprehensive STEAM high school certified by the state of Georgia.”
Hanson said the certification process encourages more collaboration between teachers of different programs, which benefits students during and after high school.
Fulton County Schools continues to construct the new North Springs High on its current campus. The school building is set to open before the 2027-28 school year. After the new $200 million building is complete, athletic fields, parking, and a new stadium will take about another year.
Hanson said it has been stressful, but he’s excited for students to be able to get in there.
Superintendent compliments Sandy Springs
Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney said community engagement inside of public schools directly correlates to their success.
“Thank you to the Sandy Springs Education Force for being here and continuing to support this transitioning, transforming vision of public education,” Looney said. “I loved what the new city councilman said about public education. It is literally the backbone of a community.”
During a reception before the two-hour showcase, the North Springs Advanced Orchestra played music. Also, two North Springs Theatre students, Maia Asman and Mason Smith, performed a scene from the school’s ongoing production of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical” performed a scene from the show and invited the crowd to attend weekend shows.
Irene Schweiger, executive director of the Sandy Springs Education Force, presented a special award to North Springs senior Kate Lott, who is attending the University of Chicago next fall, for helping set up the STEAM Showcase for the last five years.
“We really, really appreciate everything you have done for us,” Schweiger said. “It’s going to be a hard act to follow.”
Schweiger said community support is a main reason why Fulton County Schools named the Sandy Springs Education Force as its 2025 Legacy Partner of the Year.
“We are a very unique organization,” Schweiger said. “We all come together for a common agenda to help our kids succeed.”
Showcase highlights student exhibitions
Student exhibitions included the Lake Forest STEAM Club, the Sandy Springs Middle Cooking and eSports clubs, and engineering, architecture, and robotics from North Springs High School.
The Lake Forrest Steam Club, led by one of the school’s gifted teachers, Jill Fears, is open to third through fifth graders interested in hands-on activities and applying their coursework to the real world.
The Choate Foundation, Google Fiber, Mercedes-Benz USA, Sandy Springs Together, and Cox Enterprises are some of the nonprofit’s sponsors that support after-school STEAM clubs in all 10 public schools in Sandy Springs.
Activities in various clubs include: coding a Microbit chip, programming and flying drones, and cusing various robotics.
Sandy Springs Education Force Executive Director Irene Schweiger said the nonprofit can fund afterschool programs because of the funds supplied corporate sponsors and community donors.
“We can turn around and give it right back to the kids,” Schweiger said. “You can see the students so excited to be engaged in STEAM. We’re not just inspiring them, we’re really engaging them.”