The Villa Rica cluster of schools gathered with parents, community partners and key stakeholders for a Community CONNECTion event on October 26 at Bay Springs Middle School, cutting the ribbon on a new STEM Innovation Lab that introduces career pathways with hands-on experiences earlier than ever before.
After informal networking time, Superintendent Dr. Jessica Ainsworth welcomed guests and showed off the Carroll County School System's freshly minted 2026 Annual Report. The report which highlights student and employee achievements from last school year was formally introduced at last month's board meeting.
Villa Rica High School Principal Rob Alford shared some specific achievements connection points for the Villa Rica cluster before dividing the audience into six groups for a feedback activity. Administrators led participants to share both areas where Villa Rica schools are thriving and areas where they would like to see enhancements, improvements and further investment.
Finally, STEM Teacher Jada Ross and student leaders joined school and district leaders, school board members Kerry Miller and Dr. Bernice Brooks, and city and county elected officials to cut the ribbon and officially open Bay Spring Middle's new STEM Innovation Lab. The STEM lab, one of four opening this school year in phase one of a county-wide rollout, introduces middle school students to career pathways they will encounter in high school with direct, hands-on experience.
The STEM Innovation Lab concept is built on a project-based, inquiry-driven philosophy with dynamic, flexible spaces designed to foster collaboration and high-level problem solving through a three-pillar approach: investigate, design, and innovate.
Each cluster of schools in Carroll County has hosted a community connection this fall as the school district implements its 2026-27 theme: CONNECT.
