Boeing is investing $300,000 in Huntsville-based nonprofit Free 2 Teach to expand hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in classrooms across North Alabama.

The investment, announced Monday, will support Free 2 Explore, a program that provides teachers with STEM supplies, classroom lesson kits and access to a lending library at no cost.

The initiative serves educators across eight public school systems in Madison, Limestone and Morgan counties.

As the program’s Transformational Partner, Boeing will help expand three areas: access to essential STEM supplies, ready-to-use lesson kits developed through community partnerships and the STEM Lending Library.

The lesson kits combine instructional materials and supplies for an entire classroom of 30 students, allowing teachers to incorporate hands-on STEM activities without purchasing materials themselves.

“At Boeing, we recognize that a strong STEM education foundation is essential to the future of aerospace innovation and economic growth, both here in Alabama and across the globe,” said Chrystal Morgan, Boeing executive director of state government operations.

“By investing in Free 2 Teach’s Free 2 Explore program, we’re helping to build a pipeline of talented, curious students who will become the engineers, scientists, and problem solvers driving our industry forward.”

Free 2 Teach CEO Alison Kling said the investment will help connect North Alabama’s aerospace and technology industries with the region’s classrooms.

“Our community is home to some of the world’s most innovative companies, and we have an incredible opportunity to connect that expertise and investment directly to the classrooms where our future scientists, engineers, and innovators are learning,” Kling said.

“Boeing’s extraordinary investment will allow us to deepen and expand this work, equipping teachers to inspire curiosity, creativity, and discovery in classrooms across North Alabama.”

Free 2 Explore brings together businesses, nonprofits, educators and volunteers to develop classroom lessons using industry expertise and community resources.

The program is designed to make STEM learning more accessible while giving students opportunities to explore scientific concepts, experiment and develop problem-solving skills.

Free 2 Teach serves 159 public schools across Madison, Limestone and Morgan counties, providing free educational resources to more than 6,000 educators who teach nearly 98,000 students.

In addition to STEM materials, the nonprofit provides classroom supplies, books and other educational resources throughout the year.

For more information about Free 2 Teach and Free 2 Explore, visit free2teach.org.

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