Shenandoah University Holds KidWind Coach Training Session

By Jace Gibson ’26

On Nov. 15, Shenandoah University’s Division of Education and Leadership held a KidWind coach training session in the Bowman Building. This initiative joined 13 Shenandoah University education students with 12 teachers, as well as other volunteers from Northern Virginia, to participate in hands-on lessons related to renewable energies that can be taught in the classroom.

KidWind is a national initiative that provides hands-on renewable energy education for K-12 students and teachers. Through the KidWind Challenge, students form teams that compete in various activities where they design and test small-scale wind turbines or solar devices to measure their power output. KidWind also offers educational resources, training for educators, and other programs to promote understanding of clean energy careers and technology.

“This training provides an opportunity for our education students to be trained with professionals and educators teaching in K-12 schools to learn about how to integrate hands-on renewable energy learning experiences in science programs. Working together in this unique educational training provides all participants an opportunity to learn about resources that teachers can use in their field,” said Diane Painter, Ph.D., associate professor of education studies.

Shenandoah University has been involved with KidWind programs since 2018, with students participating in various coaching exercises led by Dr. Painter, who also serves as a KidWind coach. Additionally, Shenandoah students were also featured in a PBS series for “This American Land.” With KidWind’s help, Diane Painter, and Jennifer LaBombard-Daniels, Ph.D., adjunct professor of teacher education, have helped train students from the Shenandoah education program, as well as various STEM disciplines.

For more information, visit KidWind.org.