Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) unveiled a redesigned, technology-rich, innovation space at Palmetto Middle School’s media center yesterday. The new space includes virtual reality (VR) headsets, a Makerspacearea with robotics for hands-on learning, and new furniture in an open area where students can engage in creative group activities.
“These innovation spaces will continue to evolve and continue to innovate over time,” said Chief Academic Officer Lourdes Diaz. “Students will be able to think, learn, play, explore, and solve in a way that expands their thinking, expands their horizons, now and in the future.”
The project was funded by a $2 million partnership between M-DCPS, the College Football Playoff Foundation, and the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game Host Committee.
The 15 VR donated headsets are designed to supplement students’ math and science curriculum. The Makerspace area includes robotics, as well as arts and crafts, and other hands-on technology.
The Innovation Space also includes an Esports gaming area, with eight desktop computers so that students can delve into games like Minecraft, programming software like Scratch, and Tinkercat, a 3D printing software.
“It has been exciting to see the transformation,” said Palmetto Middle School Principal Alina Valero. “We see how students have been using the Makerspace and the computers and there are students who don’t take the robotics classes and don’t have access to this technology but now they all have access. That is important and exciting.”
Over the next two years, a total of 18 M-DCPS middle school media centers will be redesigned to meet the unique social, emotional, and academic needs of students and teachers.
In photo, pictured left to right: 2026 Miami Host Committee Secretary Ronald Albert Jr., 6th-grader Tashane Witty, 2026 Miami Host Committee Board Member Les Pantin, FPL Sr. Community Relations Specialist Darlyne Jean-Charles, Assistant Superintendent Daniel Mateo, Palmetto Middle School Principal Alina Valero, Chief Academic Officer Lourdes Diaz, College Football Playoff Foundation Partnerships Manager Margaret Frank, South Region Superintendent Rafael Villalobos, South Region Administrative Director Ana C. Othon, and 7th-grader Axelle Grueber attended the Innovation Space groundbreaking at Palmetto Middle School