At Sara B. McAndrew Elementary School in San Antonio, the STEM classroom hums with curiosity. Solar bugs stir to life in the sunlight. Young gardeners rush to check on seedlings growing both in the campus garden and indoors under hydroponic lights. A proud group of “Chicken Tenders” tends to the hens in the school coop, gathering eggs and learning firsthand about nutrition, life cycles, and food systems.
At the center of this joyful, hands-on learning is Stancey Hubbard-Winer—McAndrew Elementary’s first and only K–5 STEM teacher. And thanks to the generosity of donors to the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF), her students are exploring engineering and renewable energy in ways they never imagined.
Rooted in Her Community, Growing the Next Generation
Stancey grew up in San Antonio and attended the same Northside ISD schools where she now teaches. With eighteen years of experience in elementary education, she has taught thousands of students—some now thriving in robotics programs, college STEM pathways, and even physical therapy school at UTSA.
She beams when she talks about former students who still send updates. “I’ve taught pre-K3 students who are now juniors in college,” she said. “Some of my kids email me from middle school robotics clubs. Watching them grow is incredible.”
Hands-On Learning Returns—and Thrives
In recent years, Northside ISD has invested in robotics and STEM magnet programs, expanding them from high schools to middle schools and now elementary campuses. For Stancey, this shift has been transformational.
“Hands-on learning boosts creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration,” she said. “For a long time, play was taken out of the classroom. Now it’s back—and it’s magic.”
Her STEM room is organized into stations where students choose how to explore real-world problems. They might code tiny Ozobot robots, build with Legos and kid-friendly tools, or test solutions to environmental challenges. They also compare growing methods in the outdoor garden and in their hydroponics station—an inquiry sparked after hungry wildlife kept eating student-grown vegetables.
“We talk about how farmers solve problems without pesticides,” she said. “Kids see how engineering and environmental science matter in everyday life.”
A Grant That Sparked Discovery
When Stancey received a Classroom Assistance Grant from TRTF, she knew exactly how to use it: Solar Bug Kits from Brown Dog Gadgets.
These small, engaging kits introduce elementary students to electrical engineering and renewable energy. Through assembling a solar powered “bug,” students learn how conductors, insulators, and solar panels work. They follow step-by-step instructions, test their bugs outside, troubleshoot when things don’t work, and—best of all—they get to take their creation home.
“Grants like this let students explore, create, and fail safely,” she said. “In my classroom, failure is part of learning. I tell them, ‘You will fail—and that’s okay.’ The best moments are when they suddenly shout, ‘I figured it out!’ That joy is everything.”
Stancey also extended the project to her older students, who built solar houses with conductive maker tape and solar panels. “When the fans turned and the lights came on, they understood the power—and limits—of solar energy.”
Preparing Students for a Future in Space…Literally
Stancey’s passion for engineering goes far beyond the classroom walls. Her students participate in a national space-colony design competition that requires them to imagine life on the moon or Mars. They must design solutions for energy, food, water, gravity, construction materials, and even mental health.
She teaches 3D design and CAD because, as she puts it, “NASA is going to take 3D printers to the moon. These are the skills of the future.”
Her enthusiasm for aerospace engineering has even taken her to NASA headquarters in Houston—an experience she brings back to her students with infectious excitement.
“Don’t Give Up. They Need Us.”
When asked what she would say to fellow educators working through today’s challenges, Stancey didn’t hesitate.
“Don’t give up! They need us,” she said. “The workload is outrageous, but our students—and our new teachers—need experienced people to guide them.”
A Message of Gratitude to TRTF Donors
Stancey has secured more than $15,000 in grants over the years, from chickens to garden supplies to technology tools. But support from retired educators holds special meaning. “I was thrilled when I got the TRTF grant,” she said. “Every opportunity I can bring to my students matters. Many materials are consumable, so support like this keeps learning going.”
On behalf of her students—and the many more who will follow—Stancey shares heartfelt appreciation. “Thank you for believing in our kids,” she said. “Your generosity brings real science, real engineering, and real joy into their lives.”
