Ex-teacher gains STEAM

» Making birthday parties happen

The project was the day’s friendly competition for participants in a Challenge Island program organized by Leslie Mosley, a Huber Heights resident.

Mosley, a former seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher at the Bethel Local Schools in Miami County, recently began offering the Challenge Island programs as part of her new career as a small business owner.

Challenge Island is a hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) franchise program based out of Atlanta.

A graduate of the Ohio State University with a degree in wildlife biology, Mosley worked at Brukner Nature Center near Troy for a time and at veterinary clinics including Northgate in Huber Heights. She taught nine years before deciding it was time to pursue her dream.

“This whole time, all I ever talked about was what type of business I wanted to start. I was looking for ideas of my own, but starting a business on your own costs so much,” Mosley said. “I looked at franchises such as tutoring and then saw Challenge Island. I was like, ‘This is everything I love to do with the kids, the hands-on stuff.’ ”

During the recent tower building challenge at the Hobby Lobby in Huber Heights, participants worked to create a tower that could stand on its own and hold a golf ball.

The program encourages collaboration among participants, usually ages four through 14. They are given white boards and materials to help them solve the challenge made in the class.

“The kids get into tribes, or groups, to work together to solve a challenge. They are not alone on a computer or a cellphone,” said Mosley, who also is holding science camps this summer at Sky Zone in Centerville. “They have to brainstorm ideas. If it doesn’t work, they come back and try again.”

Lori Sebastian, a Bethel Local Schools board of education member and district parent, credited Mosley with increasing the number of district student who participated in science fairs.

“I am excited that kids are having hands-on opportunities to learn in subjects that directly interest them. Kids learn best through play, and Leslie is relaying STEAM educational content directly to the kids through topics like Minions, American Girl dolls and Harry Potter,” she said.

For more information on Challenge Island, which also offers programs for schools, churches, families and adults, go online to www.challenge-island.com or the local program Facebook page at Challenge Island Dayton South.