Southeast Polk Schools Get Meta STEM Grants

Four Southeast Polk Community School District staff members received 2026 Meta Data Center Community Action Grants to fund technology and science education initiatives.

Jim Pifer, K-12 Science Coordinator, secured funding to support student participation in the Iowa State Science + Technology Fair for grades six through 12. Students will use the grant to conduct research and develop projects for the statewide competition.

Four Mile Elementary Principal Tami Steenhoek, third grade teacher Tiffany Filloon, and K-12 Instructional Technology Coordinator Kendra Carlson received a grant to purchase VR headsets. Mitchellville Elementary Principal Blake Kielman and Instructional Coach Steve Overbergen secured a grant to add a laser cutter and VR headsets to their school's STEM resources.

Southeast Polk High School Industrial Tech Teacher Steve McCoy obtained funding to replace outdated computers in Project Lead The Way engineering classes.

Meta has provided funding to nonprofits and schools in East Polk County since 2015.