Grant helps Plain Dealing teacher upgrade 3D printer

Sara Brakeville, a STEM teacher at Plain Dealing High School, got a big surprise and big check earlier this month from CenturyLink.

She was awarded $3,650 for a project titled: “Project 3D — Digitally Design and Develop.”

The prize winnings will buy a new 3D printer and materials for her Auto CAD (Computer Assisted Design) class, better enabling students to incorporate science, technology, engineering and math into their hands-on curriculum.

This is the second year running a Plain Dealing High School teacher has won the CenturyLink grant, and Brakeville is one of only two educators in the state to receive it. Across the nation, more than 1,000 grant applications were received.

“We were excited to see the innovation and creativity in this year’s grant applications,” said Karen Crabtree, CenturyLink Operations Vice President. “It’s encouraging to see teachers’ enthusiasm for bringing new learning tools and techniques into their classrooms, and we are pleased to be able to help expose students to more educational technology in their daily school lives.”

Brakeville is more than eager to replace the older model 3D printer currently used in her classroom. The supplies cost $700 for the one she uses now and produce an inferior product. The new printer uses plastic that costs $19 per spool.

“It’s very outdated, so we’re catching up with modern day technology,” Brakeville said. “You can’t make robotic parts with this machine, but with the new one, we can make our own robotic parts.”

The CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation’s Teachers and Technology grant program awards grants to schools in CenturyLink’s local service areas on behalf of teachers that have developed specific plans to innovatively implement technology in their classrooms.