Multiple districts — Michigan teachers became the students at the 2026 spring Kent ISD STEAM Network Connect event hosted at Amway’s main campus.
STEAM K-12 teachers from Kent ISD, Grand Rapids Christian Schools, Bloomfield Hills, Kenowa Hills, Kentwood, Rockford, Kent City, and Northview public schools immersed themselves in the world of manufacturing and workshops on modern processes and career opportunities.
“This day was a great opportunity to see what manufacturing is all about and all that goes into making a product,” Kent ISD Workforce Development Coordinator Holly Engelberg said.
The morning kicked off with breakfast and being shuttled to Amway’s cosmetics plant. Touring the assembly line, a minty-fresh scent filled the air, as educators witnessed the process of making and packaging toothpaste.
Across the complex, the group got a look behind the scenes of Amway’s powdered drinks, supplements and proteins, while clothed in the height of manufacturing fashion: blue gowns, hair nets and safety goggles.
After lunch, teachers participated in break-out groups with the goal of connecting their classroom learning to real-world manufacturing environments and preparing students for entry manufacturing careers.
Kent ISD’s MEERA teacher trainer Jennifer Soukhome also gave a presentation about the Manufacturing and Engineering Education Reimagined for All program, a national K-12 initiative focused on introducing middle school students to careers in modern manufacturing and engineering.
Caledonia’s Duncan Lake Middle School currently hosts one of three pilot programs and Kent ISD is the first fully-staffed training center outside of MEERA’s Virginia headquarters.
“The MEERA lab looks amazing and offers so many opportunities,” Bloomfield Hills STEAM teacher Abigail Gordon said. “Manufacturing isn’t just a ‘dirty’ job, but can offer so many different career paths.”
Kentwood K-5 STEM teacher Megan Nieboer said the day was an “incredible experience.”
“My mind is spinning with ideas and ways I can implement manufacturing related lessons in my K-5 classrooms,” she said.
In her first year teaching STEM at Kenowa Hills’ Central Elementary, Liz Vanderlugt said she chose to participate in the professional development event because she was eager to connect with other educators and learn about different ways students can use STEAM in the future.
Vanderlugt said it was interesting to hear how the skills she teaches elementary students, like coding, engineering and robotics, can evolve into an “amazing career.”
“These skills are beneficial for students who want to enter college, as well as those who want to go straight into the workforce,” she said. “The teamwork, collaboration and problem-solving skills they learn will be valuable in any future role.”
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