Hertzberg’s Heroes: Vol. I, Issue IV
Luther Burbank Middle School’s STEM Lab
Welcome to Hertzberg’s Heroes! Every month, Team Hertzberg will highlight an organization or individual who exemplifies heroism through their dedication to making life better for the San Fernando Valley. Have a Hero to suggest? Submit your idea to Senator.Hertzberg@senate.ca.gov!
In an office plastered in University of Southern California’s “Fight On!” slogan and caricatures of a bright yellow and green school mascot (a yellow jacket), you will find Dr. Oscar Macias, principal of Luther Burbank Middle School in Burbank, California. Acknowledging his football adornments, Dr. Macias often proudly announces his affiliation as a USC alumnus. But the real treat for Dr. Macias is welcoming visitors to the STEM lab.
Senator Hertzberg recently awarded Luther Burbank Middle School with a letter and certificate, congratulating them for receiving a Young Sheldon STEM initiative grant — a selective grant for middle and high schools in California and Texas for STEM programs. The grant is awarded by the creator and producers of the television show Young Sheldon, a spinoff of the Big Bang Theory that stars a young boy who is gifted in math and science.
The STEM lab classroom is packed with enthusiastic students working on electrical engineering projects, building robots, and combining technology with art and design — projects that students will proudly describe to visitors. As the bell rings for recess, Jessica Schackne, The STEM program teacher, can show you around the Z-space computer lab. The lab is equipped with special interactive computers that allow students to build and design digital 3-D models.
“We want to highlight success, not just ideas,” Dr. Macias said about the STEM program. Luther Burbank Middle School plans to use the Young Sheldon grant money to continue to fund the STEM class for its students. Students will have opportunities to build robots, rocket models, machines, and work on computer programming. The grant money will also provide the school with funding to send students on a field trip to NASA’s JPL in La Cañada Flintridge. Dr. Macias said that one of his goals as principal of Luther Burbank has been to rally a sense of school pride. When asked if it was working, he said, “I’m happy to be here every day.”
You can learn more about Luther Burbank Middle School at https://www.burbankusd.org/LBMS/
