The Snoqualmie Valley School District will host its Technology Fair on Thursday, January 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mount Si High School, offering community members a hands-on look at how classroom tools are used across the district. The event is open to everyone, not just families with students currently enrolled in SVSD schools.
Designed as a community open house, the fair invites residents to explore interactive displays, student-led demonstrations, and short presentations that show how learning happens in SVSD classrooms today. According to Justin Talmadge, the district’s Director of Technology, “The goal of the tech fair is to bring awareness to the amazing things that SVSD teachers and students are doing with technology and to show the wider Snoqualmie Valley community that their support of the Technology Levy is having a positive impact.”
Attendees will encounter interactive booths led by district staff and students showcasing everything from audio amplification systems to Promethean panels and student devices. A live middle school robotics competition will take place in the North Commons, giving visitors a chance to see students apply coding, design, and teamwork skills in real time.
For younger children, hands-on kid zones will let them try out classroom tools, interact with digital resources, and get a preview of the learning experiences they’ll encounter as they progress through the district. Activities include printing faces on cookies and playing student-created video games. Older students will demonstrate more advanced projects and programs throughout the evening.
Beyond the booths, short presentations will highlight topics like classroom audio systems, AI and digital learning tools, career-ready programs, and robotics and engineering. Click here to see a list of all the topics. Attendees will also have the chance to collect raffle tickets at booths for prizes, and vendors will offer free swag.
District leaders emphasized that having students lead demonstrations and present their work isn’t just about putting on a show. According to Melissa Lazorik, administrative assistant for the district’s technology team, “When students have a chance to showcase their work in an authentic setting, it further develops their conceptual understanding and builds a sense of pride and ownership as well.”
Students will participate in the robotics competition and demonstrate how they’ve used various tools to create and learn. Examples of what attendees will see include elementary STEAM learning activities with 3D printing and graphic design, assistive technologies supporting students with individualized learning needs, middle and high school robotics and digital media projects, and various career and technical education programs, including welding, food science, and agriculture.
The fair is designed to show more than just cool gadgets. Talmadge said, “The Technology Fair isn’t just a display of cool tools; it’s a way to connect what students are using in classrooms right now with our bigger district goals around college readiness, career pathways, and digital equity.”
By bringing classroom tools together in one place, the event helps community members see how these resources support student learning and build 21st-century skills. Lazorik noted that attendees will see how tool use in the district is intentionally designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.
The fair showcases actual classroom tools, STEM activities, robotics, engineering resources, and digital creation platforms to demonstrate how today’s learning experiences help students develop skills they’ll need for their future. For families with younger children, hands-on activities are designed to spark curiosity while reinforcing real classroom learning goals, giving them a glimpse of what to expect as their children progress through the district.
Interest and questions raised during events like the Technology Fair also help inform future planning within the district. The district’s Technology Advisory Committee captures community input and uses it to guide long-term planning and investments. According to Lazorik, “Community events like the Tech Fair play a meaningful role in shaping what the district invests in next.”
The fair also provides transparency around how district funds are used. When asked why it was important to open the fair to all local residents and taxpayers, Talmadge said, “We want to provide a venue for the community to access information so they can know what their tax dollars are funding.”
RSVP is optional but helpful for planning – walk-ins are welcome. Light snacks will be available, and student groups may sell items in designated areas. This is not a vendor sales event; it’s a district learning showcase led by staff and students.
Community members with questions or accessibility needs can contact Justin Talmadge, Technology Director, at talmadgej@svsd410.org.
