Minneapolis, MN
One click to help Minneapolis STEM school win Esports classroom
Mpls teacher a finalist for classroom makeover
Minneapolis teacher a finalist for classroom makeover competition, as Hall STEM Academy is hoping to win a Wisconsin company’s contest to earn $40,000 in new furniture.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Esports craze could soon reach a budget-constrained Minneapolis elementary school, with the help of a click of your finger.
“So this is where the magic happens,” said Hall STEM Academy physical education teacher Rachel Stewart.
Magic in sports
Hula-hoops and tennis rackets are magicians’ tools in Stewart’s gym class.
Dig deeper into her class closet, and you’ll find pickleball equipment — the first sign that this isn’t the same P.E. class from a generation ago.
“My goal for our kids is to expose them to the things that they normally wouldn’t be exposed to,” Stewart said.
Most students, 92%, at Hall come from low-income families, but they have cross-country skis ready for winter, and bikes to ride all year.
Pedaling towards success
Stewart is getting elementary school students ready to push for brighter futures.
“She’s always been about the kids, always been about how do we provide amazing opportunities for our students,” said Jesse Ross, a community partner to the school.
Her next innovation could move P.E. to a computer lab, but only if she wins a Wisconsin furniture company’s giveaway.
If you take the school’s old, unused computer lab, and you add $40,000 worth of new furniture, what you get is a state-of-the-art Esports classroom.
Why Esports?
Esports is a billion-dollar-a-year industry with a high barrier to entry because it often requires fairly expensive equipment.
“That’s the benefit of the Esports classroom because it evens the playing ground, and it gives all kids a chance to be leaders and to be successful,” Stewart said.
And not just in gaming.
Stewart is hoping to connect the P.E. class with some of the STEM lessons, so kids can see the connection between coding and game design.
Creative finances
But with Minneapolis public school budgets shrinking this year, the school had to get creative to find funding.
“If we have challenges, and we have barriers, whether it’s financial or otherwise, we still believe in the purpose of providing the best education for our students,” said Hall STEM Academy principal Sherrill Lindsey. “And so we are constantly trying to find other resources.”
Stewart’s design was picked as one of 12 finalists out of more than 500 from teachers across the country.
How to help
You can help Hall make this dream a reality by casting your vote in the contest here.
Doors Open Minneapolis is growing to become one of the more anticipated events of the and this weekend is your chance to get in on the action.
From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, participants can choose venues they’d like to explore and get a closer look at areas typically closed off to the public.
Details on the event can be found online.
San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Sunday,…
San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Spurs -4.5; over/under is 215.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Spurs lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference second round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Spurs won the last meeting 115-108 on Saturday, led by 39 points from Victor Wembanyama. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32.
The Timberwolves are 31-21 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.
The Spurs are 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is fourth in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Julian Champagnie averaging 3.0.
The Timberwolves’ 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs allow. The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Timberwolves allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. De’Aaron Fox is averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 47.3 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.
Spurs: 7-3, averaging 116.9 points, 46.5 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 7.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo: out for season (leg).
Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Copyright
© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
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