Education Grant WinnerElsa Avila

Elsa Avila works with second grade students within the Archdiocese of San Antonio, where she is passionate about transforming curiosity into confidence through hands on learning. She believes young learners thrive when they are encouraged to experiment, collaborate, and learn from trial and error—skills that reach beyond textbooks and worksheets. In her classroom, Elsa looks for ways to help students see themselves not just as learners, but as creators and problem solvers.

That vision sparked the creation of a Makerspace Center for her second graders, made possible through support from the Firstmark Foundation. The center introduces students to open ended exploration using age appropriate materials, from simple craft supplies and building materials to beginner robotics and circuit kits. Through themed challenges and free choice projects, students turn abstract classroom concepts into tangible creations—building, testing, and refining their ideas while learning foundational elements of science, engineering, and design thinking.

The impact is felt in both skill building and mindset. Students eagerly return to the makerspace, documenting their ideas and reflections in maker journals while practicing collaboration, perseverance, and creativity. By giving students equitable access to tools that encourage exploration, Elsa’s makerspace helps lay the groundwork for critical thinking and innovation—empowering young learners to discover that learning can be joyful, messy, and full of possibility.