"To define a school makerspace by its purpose and simplest of terms, it is a place where young people have an opportunity to explore their own interests; learn to use tools and materials, both physical and virtual; and develop creative projects."
Laura Flemming, Worlds of Making
In January 2020 the Brookfield Local School District was proud to present a new and reimagined Room 408/408A/408B Maker Space that was funded through generous grants from:
The Arconic Foundation
General Electric
Innovative Workforce Incentive Program (IWIP)
The Strimbu Foundation
Mahoning County Educational Service Center
In less than three months and working in collaboration with Buckeye Educational Systems and Edutech (formerly known as the Madison Local Schools Technology Team), the Brookfield Local Schools Maker Space transformed from a dream to a reality and is fully operational and able to process files and produce items and projects of various types such as 3D Printing, CNC Milling (a.k.a. Carving), Laser Cutting and Engraving, Direct to Garment Printing, Vinyl Printing and so much more.
Since that time we have continued to expand and grow and in August of 2022 we moved to the Library Media Center, Rooms 238, 238A and 145. This now gives us a larger footprint to add equipment and services! The Brookfield Local Schools Maker Space showcases more than thirty (30) computers and twenty (20) machines (new technologies and some old school processes) to make for an incredible facility where students can pursue their dreams and teachers can create dynamic lessons and materials to support learning in ways never before imagined in a school environment.
Since our opening in January 2020, we have been featured in news reports, webinars, Professional Development presentations and podcasts including:
EdVision EdPlus LaunchPad 2023
News on the Green
PBS Television (webinar and podcast)
The Tribune Chronicle
WFMJ News
WKBN News
We have also been designated by Buckeye Educational Systems, Inc. as a Model School such that we offer tours and consultations to schools who are considering becoming part of the "Maker Movement" and looking to install a Maker Space in their facilities. We have hosted schools from Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Stark, Portage and Geauga Counties and held tours for several businesses and churches in the area.
We have welcomed teachers, and administrators from the following school districts to tour our facility as well as leaders of local businesses, churches, civic organization and government agencies including:
Austintown Fitch High School
Brookfield Optimist Club
Jon Husted, Lt. Governor of the State of Ohio
East Palestine Local Schools
Greenville High School
Marlington Local Schools
Ontario Local Schools
Ravenna Southeast Local Schools
River Gate High School
Springfield Local Schools
Struthers Local Schools
United Local Schools
West Branch Local Schools
West Geauga Local Schools
We have also been very fortunate to enjoy partnerships, support and material donations from:
Brookfield Community Members (Brookfield, OH)
Anonymous
Gary Yonchak
Brookfield Local Schools Staff (Brookfield, OH)
Buckeye Educational Systems, Inc. (Rossville, IN)
Calvert Lumber, Inc. (Sharon, PA)
Declan Construction, Inc. (Brookfield, OH)
Edutech (Madison, OH)
First Presbyterian Church (Sharon, PA)
Kirila Fire (Fowler, OH)
McDonald Steel (McDonald, OH)
Salem Mill and Cabinet (Salem, OH)
Sam Pitzulo Homes & Remodeling (Canfield, OH)
Sherwin Williams (Liberty, OH)
TaTa Steel (Warren, OH)
Tenaris (Brookfield, OH)
Warehouse Sales (Sharon, PA)
Wheatland Tube (Warren, OH)
Finally, you can see examples of our work in and around our school campus, football, baseball, softball and soccer fields as well as in the community and beyond at the following businesses, churches and other community events and organizations:
A+ Cupcakery (Niles, OH)
Belly Buster (Brookfield, OH)
Big Jake's Lawn Care, (Brookfield, OH)
Bipolar Racing (Ashtabula, OH)
Blue Collar Betty's (Masury, OH)
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 101 (Niles, OH)
Brookfield Fire Department (Brookfield, OH)
Brookfield Little Warriors (Brookfield, OH)
Brookfield Nutrition (Brookfield, OH)
Brookfield United Methodist Church (Brookfield, OH)
Coitsville Sattelite 4-H Club (Coitsville, OH)
CPR (Cell Phone Repair) (Boardman, OH)
Downbeat Musical Arts Center (Warren, OH)
First Presbyterian Church (Sharon, PA)
Giglio Excavation (Brookfield, OH)
Matthews Local Schools Cheerleaders (Vienna, OH)
Ramp Armor (Ashtabula, OH)
Red Leaf Lawn Care (Brookfield, OH)
Odorex Athletix (Ashtabula, OH)
Old 82 Brew (Brookfield, OH)
Trumbull County Adaptive Baseball League (Brookfield, OH)
Wal Mart (Liberty, OH)
White Rose Restaurant (Masury, OH)
Xavier University Anime Club (Cincinnati, OH)
We invite you to stop in and take a look around. Bring your creativity and energy as you will find there is always something new to create! We love to hear "I've been thinking" or "I have an idea" or "What if....?" That is what starts it all.
And when you are done we often hear "The Next Time..." That is the Maker Mentality!
EMAIL: george.lesnansky@brookfieldschools.us (Coordinator)
EMAIL: james.haywood@brookfieldschools.us
PHONE: 330.619.5992
Go to the Brookfield Local Schools
NOTES:
Please remember to “like” our Brookfield Local School District Facebook page, and visit us on our school website @ http://www.brookfield.k12.oh.us for all the latest news and schedules!
The works included in this site by George P. Lesnansky, Jr. are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Click here to go to Lesnansky's Control Center 3.0.