A new school year means more students are learning science, technology, engineering and math concepts through STEMOVATE led by teachers and Tennessee 4-H agents.

STEMOVATE: Powering Tennessee’s Future Innovators expanded from 22 to 56 Tennessee counties for the 2026-27 school year. In August, the program hosted a five-day, five-city training tour to prepare the instructors from the new 34 counties. STEMOVATE is a partnership between the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute, the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, UT-Battelle and Tennessee 4-H. 

STEMOVATE is targeted toward sixth graders. These free STEM lessons align with Tennessee’s academic standards. The program was launched during the 2025-26 school year in 22 counties, reaching approximately 6,000 sixth graders.

Participating counties for the 2026-27 school year are: Anderson, Bedford, Bradley, Cannon, Carroll, Chester, Claiborne, Cocke, Coffee, Crockett, Cumberland, DeKalb, Decatur, Dyer, Fentress, Franklin, Gibson, Grainger, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardeman, Hawkins, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Loudon, Madison, Marion, Maury, McNairy, Meigs, Montgomery, Morgan, Obion, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Putnam, Rhea, Scott, Sevier, Shelby, Smith, Tipton, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, White and Wilson.

Additional STEMOVATE training sessions are planned for November for Tennessee educators and 4-H agents interested in bringing the program to their counties. Those interested in participating or learning more can contact Bridget Waller at bwaller5@tennessee.edu or visit utorii.com/STEMOVATE