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Happy Thanksgiving!
Wow! All I can say is that it has sure been a busy year! We are so grateful to be able to provide these amazing spaces to such deserving organizations.
The year is almost done and we are wrapping up our 2025 giving. Our eight spaces this year included:
- UPMC Western Behavioral - Quantum Building
- Sto Rox - Stem Coding Lab
- Wilson Elementary- Albert Gallatin SD
- Turner and Kelley - Wilkinsburg SD
- Washington City Mission
- Beth Center
- JFK Elementary - Washington
Look for news about our planned spaces for 2026! We have some exciting partnerships to share in 2026. Mahjong is in our future with Mini Mahjer! And some exciting news about our partnerships with Lego and CMU!
We have been getting some great press. Read the latest!
I am so thankful for all of the teachers, therapists and administrators who are working to change how students are learning. We are honored to support you!
Thanks for joining us here!
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Bethlehem-Center School District
The Bethlehem-Center School District is a public district in Washington County, Pennsylvania. As a small, rural district, there’s often a tight-knit community feel there.
The district’s leadership has shown willingness to invest in academics, especially with the new curriculum.
They are also exploring ways to use saved funds (from potential building consolidation) to boost technology and programming.
The Matt's Maker Space is located in the Beth-Center Elementary School, a K-6 building located on the main campus of the community.
A huge shout out to the champions of this space, Principal Lindsay Moore and STEAM Champion Sherrie Rodriguez whose enthusiasm is contagious! We just know that the space is going to be so well loved in this school. And we are grateful for another amazing design by our partner at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Anne Fullenkamp.
This is one of four spaces that have been funded by the EQT Foundation. They help communities prosper through focused giving. Their Education & Workforce
area promotes proficiency in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) topics for youth, as well as training programs to create a future skilled workforce.
We were thrilled to work with Ellen Rossi, President, EQT Foundation on this project and so grateful for her support.
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One of our newest spaces is in the JFK Catholic School in Washington, Pa. This space opens in December. The school has a committed STEAM teacher who will teach all their classes in this space. Photos will come in our next newsletter.
At John F. Kennedy Catholic School, STEAM integrates the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math into their students' education. Using STEAM strategies will give the students the opportunity to inquire, investigate, innovate and collaborate, and will better prepare them for the 21st Century workforce. The newly created Matt's Maker Space STEAM Room includes a 3-D printer, lab equipment, chrome books, robotics, Think Space, Lego Education WeDo, and much more!
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EQT and Matt's Maker Space
The EQT Foundation is in the process of creating a video focusing on our wonderful partnership at 5 organizations. The video team recently traveled to Point Park University School of Education to view the two Matt's Maker Spaces that we have provided to help them train pre-service teachers in maker space methods. Their students take 4 courses in the two maker spaces, providing them with training that surpasses all other education majors. This gives the students an advantage when applying for jobs that have STEAM requirements.
Matt's Maker Space Board members, Dr. Ginny Chambers and Dr. Kamryn York were interviewed about their involvement with Matt's Maker Space and maker education. The video should be available in early 2026. We are so grateful to EQT Foundation and Ellen Rossi for making it happen.
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In the News
Matt's Maker Space is making news!
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Matt's Maker Space
Professional Development Outreach Program
Our Professional Development Outreach Program has been so busy this year. Funded by a grant from Grable, this division, headed by Emily Sanders, Asst. Superintendent of the Hempfield School District, provides FREE professional development to all of Matt's Maker Space educators and others who are interested in STEAM, design thinking and maker learning. The goal is to help establish foundational skills to new makers as well as offering refresh training opportunities to all adults who utilize maker spaces. We have committed trainers who have vast knowledge in all things maker learning.
Emily and her team of educators provided training this summer at The Education Partnership, Beaver Area High School and at TransformED in the AIU#3. These classes were received very well and provided educators with hands-on training and continuing education credit too!
This year we plan to host various virtual Lunch & Learns to explore digital making tools as well as host both in person and virtual informational session about Play Included’s The Brick-by- Brick lego program and how to get started by partnering with Matt’s Maker Space and CMU’s Center for Transformational Play. Every Matt's Maker Space is provided free Brick Club facilitator training for 2 teachers to get started with your brick clubs.
For more information please contact our PD Director Ms. Emily Sanders at emilycaryn@gmail.com.
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Mahjong update
Matt's Maker Space is currently considering bringing training to teachers in our spaces using a program called Mini Mahjer. MMS Board member, Bridget Belardi, is trained to teach this exciting game to fellow teachers.
If you are interested in learning more about bringing Mahjong to your students, email Noelle at noelleconover@gmail.com. We will put you on our list to contact when training is ready.
Congratulations to our friend, Marion Pearson, creator of Mini Mahjer, for being selected as one of Oprah's favorite things for the holiday season! Such an honor!
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What is Six Bricks?
In early November, Matt's Maker Space was invited to a training class held at MuseumLab by Brett Hutcheson, the inventor of LEGO DUPLO Six Bricks.
This training is aimed to extend Brick-Based activities for Brick Club Facilitators into more content STEAM related realms. This includes things like non-screen coding using 6 Bricks, etc.
We are very excited at the prospect of working with CMU Baseplate to bring Six Bricks training to our maker spaces. Stay tuned for more information in 2026 about this exciting program!
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Brick Club Update
An update from Mellon Middle School, in the Mt. Lebanon School District, one of the first Brick Clubs in a Matt's Maker Space.
Mellon Brick Buds has been thriving, with nearly 40 enthusiastic students signed up and showing up ready to build each week. After 11 weeks, the momentum hasn’t slowed—kids are still excited, creative, and fully engaged in every challenge. It’s been an awesome space for teamwork, imagination, and pure joy in building.
If you are in a Matt's Maker Space and have not signed up for the FREE Brick Club training, please contact Emily Sanders ASAP! We have two FREE spots for each Matt's Maker Sapce to attend the Level 1 facilitator training. This self-paced online course prepares you to lead your own Brick Club! Do not hesitate! This is an amazing opportunity provided by Matt's Maker Space through a generous grant from the Grable Foundation!
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2026
We have been very busy planning our Matt's Maker Spaces for next year! While theses are not set in stone at this point, we have visited each location and they are in the "running" for next year's spaces. Here is our list. Stay tuned for lots to come!
- Hempfield School District
- Urban Impact
- Rowan University
- PPU #3
- Clairton City Schools
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Meet our new Treasurer and Financial Officer
Amanda Bierman
Amanda is a Pittsburgh-based real estate and financial professional who brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented, and people-focused approach to her work. She currently serves as Real Estate & Corporate Account Manager at Fox’s Pizza Den and is also a License Real Estate Agent with Realty ONE Group. With a strong foundation in property management, accounting, and organizational operations, Amanda enjoys using her skills to help teams run smoothly and make a positive impact. She holds an MBA in General Management and a Bachelor of Science in Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management from Point Park University. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys life with her husband and their two rescue dogs, who keep their home full of energy and love.
Amanda is also the niece of Noelle and David Conover. We are so excited to welcome her to the Board of Directors.
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Thank you, Nancy!
We are sad to see Nancy Dapper, our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, roll of our board. When I asked her to join almost 10 years ago, Nancy said she could only give us a 5 year commitment! Well, that turned into much longer and I am so grateful! Nancy has been so helpful, churning out financial reports when we need them, managing our cash flow and generally keeping Noelle in financial line!
Best of luck to you, Nancy! Please keep in touch!
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Legos!
We recently received a donation of a storage rack and drawers of recycled Legos. Does anyone need some Lego's for their classrooms or free builds? Let Noelle know at noelleconover@gmail.com.
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