Hialeah Gardens High School Unveils Hospital-Simulated Classroom
Students at Hialeah Gardens High School can now prepare for careers in health care inside a classroom designed to resemble a real hospital environment. The school officially unveiled its renovated health sciences classroom, equipped with new technology and dedicated areas for nursing, emergency care, rehabilitation and other medical training.
The transformation was made possible by a $50,000 Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) STEM Classroom Makeover Grant, awarded to the school for the 2024-25 academic year.
After approximately a year of renovations, the classroom now features nursing stations, a simulation lab, allied health assisting, emergency care and rehabilitation areas. The goal is to give students opportunities to apply what they learn through hands-on experiences similar to those they may encounter in professional health care settings.
“The ability to actually have the materials here, that’s the biggest thing,” said Dr. Mauris Baluja, Hialeah Gardens Senior High School Health Sciences Educator. “You could only talk about it or show it in pictures, but that hands-on experience they are gaining makes me very proud.”
The new classroom was unveiled Oct. 1 during a ceremony that brought together FPL, The Education Fund, Miami-Dade County Public Schools representatives and community partners.
More Opportunities for STEM Careers
Now in its fifth year, FPL’s STEM Classroom Makeover Grant program provides $50,000 grants to eligible Florida schools to create transformational learning opportunities in economically disadvantaged K-12 classrooms.
Funding can be used for technology and other resources that strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics education while exposing students to potential STEM career paths.“We believe deeply in the power of education to transform young lives,” said Kate Cotner, FPL Director of Community Engagement.
According to Linda Lecht, president of The Education Fund, FPL’s investments in Miami-Dade County Public Schools have totaled more than $500,000 over the past three years, providing students with additional resources to strengthen STEM education.
The transformation at Hialeah Gardens High School reflects a growing emphasis in education on connecting classroom instruction with the skills students will eventually need in the workforce. For students interested in health care careers, access to equipment and realistic simulation environments during high school can provide an early introduction to the professional settings they may encounter after graduation.
With the new classroom now open, that career preparation becomes part of the students’ daily academic experience, giving them an opportunity to explore different areas of health care before making decisions about college, technical education or future careers.
For more information about FPL’s STEM Classroom Makeover Grant and its commitment to education, please visit www.FPL.com/ClassroomGrant.
