At N.W. Harllee Early Childhood Center, learning doesn’t end with the final school bell—it comes alive in the evenings, thanks to the inspiring collaboration between PNC, the Dallas Education Foundation (DEF), and Harllee’s dedicated educators. Together, they’ve helped spark a powerful tradition: STEM Night, a highly anticipated monthly celebration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math that brings families, students, and community partners together for an evening of hands-on exploration.
At the most recent STEM Night, young learners became engineers, builders, and inventors. On the school deck, students teamed up to construct shelters. Inside, they raced marbles down custom-designed tracks, tested the strength of homemade bridges, and experimented with boat designs to see which could carry the most weight without sinking. In the robotics station, even the youngest children explored early coding concepts in playful and engaging ways.
These nights are made even more magical with the support of the community. Thanks to the support of partners like Southern Gateway, Girls Inc., the Dallas Public Library, Dallas Parks and Recreation, and the West Dallas STEM School, families see what’s possible when real-world learning meets joyful discovery.
“My mom said I was a scientist!” exclaimed Pre–K student, Chance. “I learned you can make stuff with your hands and try again if it doesn’t work. My boat sank, but then I made it better and it didn’t sink!”
Teacher, Ashley Valentine summed it up best: “It’s honestly one of the most magical nights we have all month. It feels like the whole community is coming together to celebrate learning. Even my quietest students were confidently explaining their marble tracks or testing their boats in the water station. It’s hands-on, it’s messy, and it’s full of joy—and they’re learning the whole time.”
N.W. Harllee looks forward to continuing this tradition each month as they build strong foundations for their young scholars.
With generous support from PNC and DEF, Harllee’s STEM Nights are building not just bridges and boats, but confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning. Together, they are lighting the path for future-ready scholars, one hands-on adventure at a time.
