“A dream come true;” Lexington STEM teacher celebrates classroom makeover

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — “It was absolutely surreal,” said Ashley Wilkirson, a STEM educator at Northern Elementary.

Back in January,  Ashley Wilkirson a teacher at Northern Elementary became a finalist along with two other teachers from Texas, to win a classroom makeover, from KI.

Fast forward to Tuesday, and Wilkirson showed her STEM students the classroom makeover.

The contest awarding  her $40,000, to get new furniture for the classroom.

“I was like, oh my gosh, it looks just like the picture,” says Priya Glass, one of Wilkirson’s students.

The contest was put together by KI, a company that manufactures innovative furniture.

Wilkirson became the only finalist to represent the Bluegrass, an honor she values a lot.

“It’s a step forward, this could be an opportunity that maybe inspires other Kentucky teachers that we can have this kind of classroom setup, and have these opportunities for our students, Kentucky I’ve always felt like it’s a big family I was born and raised here. So the fact that we could have this and all of our schools, all of our kids could have this level of learning happening here, having a space that reflects that is amazing,” added Wilkirson.

Wilkirson was able to design her entire classroom online, from there, the public would vote for their favorite design or designs.

“Being able to just rock a little bit in their chairs has made a world of difference for them to be able to have or to be able to explore different parts of the room and just how it fits, the organization is it’s going to make transitions, so smooth, so quick. So that way we can expand on every minute that we have in here to get that high level learning we love and seek,” he added.

“I like how there’s like new like soft chairs, rocking chairs, high chairs, like stools over there,” also said Glass.

Ashley says she was thrilled when she was able to see her vision come to fruition, but the best part, “I was very excited, very happy, just practically glowing, walking on cloud nine, just enjoying every moment that I had and knowing that this is going to be for them. Knowing that this is going to be an opportunity they get to have that we can continue for years to come that just makes me so grateful,” said Wilkirson.

The giveaway is open to teachers k-12th grade.