Richland School District One principal flies plane over elementary school

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– An elementary school principal is encouraging students to enroll in STEM programs but in a very new way by flying a plane over the school.

At the flyover, a crowd of enthusiastic students was cheering on Watkins-Nance Elementary Principal Reynard Jefferson as he circled the school while soaring high through the sky.

The goal of the flight was to inspire students to join Richland One’s Building Lasting Aerospace and STEM trajectories (BLAST) magnet program.

The program’s leaders say STEM education provides a more practical and immersive learning experience that’s been proven to increase test scores and ignite a passion for pursuing STEM careers in the future.