San Francisco 49ers to Work with National Soccer Hall of Fame to Introduce STEAM Education Programming
Franchise’s education consulting venture – EDU Academy – to develop and implement learning experience at new museum for students of Frisco, TX and beyond
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers education consulting venture, EDU Academy, today announced a partnership with the National Soccer Hall of Fame (NSHOF) to introduce a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) education program to Texas youth. The program will be housed in the NSHOF at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas and leverage soccer as a common interest point for engaging students in STEAM subjects.
The NSHOF student field trip experience will include on-site learning time, tours of Toyota Stadium, and a physical activity component. All visits will be standards-aligned with a specific pedagogical focus on project-based learning and 21st Century learning skills.
“We are eager to bring unique STEAM education programming to Texas youth with the help of EDU Academy,” said Djorn Buchholz, executive director of NSHOF. “EDU Academy’s proven platform will complement our upcoming efforts that will ultimately yield countless conversations with students around the synergies of soccer and STEAM.”
Modeled after 49ers EDU’s successful STEAM education platform, which has engaged more than 210,000 K-8 Bay Area participants in STEAM learning through football over four years, the NSHOF will work alongside EDU Academy to develop the program’s STEAM curriculum. The program to be developed at the NSHOF will use soccer as a common denominator and intrigue-point to engage learners. The program will be aligned to standards, infuse project-based learning and reinforce key life skills for students. The student experience will include at-museum learning time, tours of the NSHOF/Toyota Stadium, and a physical activity component.
“The 49ers and EDU Academy are proud to support the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s commitment to positively impact the lives of educators and children in the Dallas area through the power of sport,” said Jesse Lovejoy, director of 49ers EDU and managing partner of EDU Academy. “We’re thrilled to call them a partner and look forward to working together to get kids excited about STEAM education concepts through the lens of soccer.”
Teachers will apply for the program and schools will be selected based on specific criteria set for participation. The program will focus on providing access to underserved communities alongside the broader student population in Frisco and the surrounding area. More details on the application process, service range and logistical elements will be released in the Fall.
Slated to open in October 2018, the NSHOF – located in Toyota Stadium’s south end – is the first major league sports hall of fame to be built within a stadium. NSHOF’s education program will launch in Spring 2019.
About EDU Academy
As experts in working with sports organizations, architects, communities, and stakeholders in bringing STEAM-based education programs to market, EDU Academy – the San Francisco 49ers education consulting venture – specializes in helping partners understand the power of STEAM education and how to make it a reality for learners. Launched in 2017, current EDU Academy clients include Chelsea F.C., National Soccer Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, International Women’s Baseball Center and more. For more information on EDU Academy, please visit www.eduacademyconsult.com.
About 49ers EDU
The San Francisco 49ers and the 49ers Foundation leads professional sports in the support of STEM learning concepts for youth through 49ers EDU. 49ers EDU began its field trip program in 2014, in conjunction with the opening of Levi’s Stadium, to provide learning platforms for K-8 students through content-rich lessons using the STEAM principles of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. To date, the program has reached more than 210,000 Bay Area students and educators – 60,000 annually – with 50% of students coming from Title I Designated schools. The 49ers Foundation has also invested in the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute’s Chevron STEMZONE at Cabrillo Middle School in Santa Clara, Calif., where a six-year curriculum that begins in seventh grade and continues through high school works to prepare students with high academic potential for careers in STEM. The STEM Leadership Institute, launched in 2014 in partnership between the 49ers Foundation, Chevron, ALearn Silicon Valley Education Foundation, and the Santa Clara Unified School District, currently hosts four cohorts of scholars totaling 240 students enrolled in the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grade program, which expanded to Santa Clara High School in fall 2016.