The Windsor Central School District is working to give their students a jumpstart on learning STEM.

The Broome County district is one of the few in the state to offer classes in coding and engineering to kids from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. 

“To have them problem solve in teams and really think through problems deeply in a very concrete way where they’re hands-on working on solutions is going to get them ready for situations in their careers and future professions and passions," said Eileen Mulcahy-Lachance, an elementary engineering teacher in the Windsor Central School District.

For the second year in a row, the district is being recognized at the national level for its work in STEM. Windsor is one of six nationwide districts with under 5,000 students to win the School Board Association’s Magna Prize.

"It really meant a validation of what we're doing here in Windsor with our students and getting them ready for careers in STEM and empowering them with transferable skills," Mulcahy-Lachance said.

Students, who participate in the program as part of their weekly curriculum, learn everything from Vex robots to coding websites, plus everything in between. Students said their favorite part about being able to participate in STEM programs offered by the school is that it lets them be creative.

“I think I like just about everything. You get to experience creativity,” said William Volkert, a fifth-grade student.

“Building cool things and doing it with your friends and stuff,” said fourth-grade student Troy Pratt.

"I think just like building the tools and seeing like how this stuff works is cool," said fourth grader Carter Lynch.

These classes come at a time when STEM careers are growing quickly. For teachers in the district, it’s yet another way to prepare the next generation.

"These kids are starting off with not only knowledge but skills in the necessary problem. Solving fields and creative thinking fields is going to get us in a better place in the future," said Mulcahy-Lachance.