Stafford Elementary Introduced Lü as an Innovative Way to Engage Students
Nestled in the vibrant Tacoma Public Schools district, Stafford Elementary serves over 450 students from diverse backgrounds. Known as an innovative school for the arts with a strong sense of community, its educational mission was further amplified with the introduction of Lü, an interactive educational system that transforms traditional gym spaces into immersive learning environments.
Spearheaded by PE Teacher Matt Wood, Principal Annie Mosich, and backed by Jake Voss, Tacoma Public Schools’ Innovation Technology Specialist, the integration of Lü marked a turning point in how education is delivered in their school.
A Chance Encounter
PE teacher Matt Wood’s journey with Lü began serendipitously. Amid the challenges of remote teaching during the pandemic, he searched for ways to keep his students active and engaged. That’s when he decided to look up solutions that he could bring to his school – and stumbled upon Lü. Inspired, he immediately thought about the potential Lü could bring to Stafford Elementary and the larger community.
For him, introducing the solution to Stafford Elementary wasn’t just about adopting new technology; it was about finding a tool that resonated with his students. “I knew this would really help our kids and their learning. I saw it as a way to take my teaching to the next level and connect my students with learning in a way they hadn’t experienced before.”
Matt’s excitement quickly spread to Principal Annie Mosich, whose leadership has always been grounded in fostering a sense of community and innovation at Stafford. Together, they set their sights on bringing Lü to their school.
Challenges Across the District
The Tacoma Public Schools district, which serves nearly 30,000 students, faces familiar challenges: tight budgets, limited resources, and the need for equity across schools. Stafford Elementary was no exception.
Despite these obstacles, Jake Voss believed in Lü’s potential. With the help of a community-supported technology levy, he was able to address these challenges and pave the way for Lü’s implementation.
“In current times, budgets are really tight,” Jake explains. “But by integrating Lü into the base design of new schools or remodels, we can make it an affordable solution”. He adds that the unit’s versatility–serving students, staff, and families in multiple ways–also made bringing Lü to the school an obvious choice.
A Game-Changer for Stafford
With support from the district and the community, Stafford Elementary transformed its gym into a state-of-the-art learning space. Lü’s interactive system now projects vibrant visuals and activities onto the gym walls, turning each session into an unforgettable experience.
“Our school is in the south end of Tacoma, where access to resources is limited,” Principal Mosich explains. “To think this project could happen here was incredibly exciting.”
Installation day was met with palpable excitement. Annie recalls the moment the system was turned on for the first time: “The first reaction when we saw kids playing with the Lü was just pure joy. They had never seen anything like it before.”
The Transformative Impact of Lü
Since its implementation, Lü has helped elevate physical education at Stafford Elementary. Students who were once hesitant to participate in traditional activities now eagerly step into the gym, ready to collaborate and compete in interactive games that combine movement with learning.
PE teacher Matt Wood incorporates Lü into his daily lessons, creating activities that resonate with students of all abilities.
“The Lü has really taken my teaching to the next level,” Matt says. “Being able to embrace technology and use it to get kids more engaged, to increase their learning and their fun during PE, has been a game-changer.”
Beyond the gym, Lü’s impact extends to the broader community. “In the South End, access to parks and recreation is limited,” Annie shares. “Lü provides a space where the community can come together to play, and learn through play.”
Principal Mosich also observed a stronger collaboration among students after they spent time with Lü. She notes that teamwork cultivated during Lü activities often carries over into the classroom. Jake Voss agrees: “That to me is another indicator of success.”
Watch the Success Story
A Bright Future for Tacoma Public Schools
The success of Lü at Stafford Elementary marks the beginning of a broader vision. Jake Voss sees Lü as a cornerstone of innovation across the Tacoma Public Schools district. “The example that we’ve set here creates a good scalability for us to be able to do this elsewhere,” he says.
For Matt, Lü continues to fuel his passion for teaching. Every day, he’s dreaming up new ways to use the resource to inspire his students.
“Having a Lü is something that I don’t take for granted. I think that it’s a technology that really helps our students here at Stafford.”
As Stafford’s students thrive, the project stands as a testament to what’s possible when a community embraces innovation.
Thank you to our partner, Advanced Classroom Technologies, who helped make this project come to life.
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