Creating, Designing, Dreaming: The Mason STEAM Story

In this episode of Love, Learn, Lead, Superintendent Jonathan Cooper sits down with Mason City Schools STEAM educators Sarah Flohr and Jen Mann, along with Dan Little, the district's Futures and Innovation Leader, to explore the evolution of Mason's STEAM program and the impact it is having on students across the district.From creativity and innovation to problem-solving and healthy risk-taking, the conversation highlights how STEAM experiences help students discover their interests, develop future-ready skills, and build confidence as learners. Sarah and Jen share what they have learned through their own journeys as educators, how student voice helps shape learning experiences, and why design thinking and the engineering process are valuable life skills for every child.Dan brings a districtwide and future-focused perspective to the conversation, helping connect the work happening in Mason's STEAM classrooms to larger trends in education, innovation, and the skills students will need to thrive in an ever-changing world.Together, they discuss how Mason's systematic approach to STEAM provides every student with opportunities to create, design, dream, and discover purpose while building a foundation for future pathways in innovation, technology, and beyond.