Saturday, October 17, 2026
Freeport Public Schools are partnering with Molloy University, in Rockville Centre, on a new program at the university, a unique interactive learning experience called the Learning Bus. The initiative has proven to be a meaningful weekly educational adventure for elementary and college students alike.
Molloy’s Learning Bus is a part of a national initiative led by educational organization BioBus and is a fully equipped mobile teaching laboratory. University students studying education and social work lead children through a variety of activities focusing on science, technology, engineering and math — the STEM subjects. The program began during Molloy’s spring semester, when the Learning Bus traveled to the Farmingdale and Central Islip school districts.
This fall, Freeport’s fifth- and sixth-grade classes at the Caroline G. Atkinson Elementary School have gotten in on the fun as well. The Learning Bus stops at the school on most Wednesdays for about an hour, and will continue offering mobile lessons through the end of Molloy’s semester in December.
“We have a longstanding relationship with Freeport,” Vicky Giouroukakis, associate dean of Molloy’s School of Education and Human Services, told the Herald. “They provide placements for our student teachers … So we really value this collaboration, and we hope to partner with them again in the future.”
Molloy students majoring in social work have joined their education-focused counterparts on the Learning Bus. “We want them to get out and do as many engaged learning opportunities as they can,” Lisa Newland, chair of the university’s Department of Social Work, said. “So we felt that this was an opportunity for them to work on their engagement, certainly working on their comfort with different populations.”
Roughly 825 Atkinson students from 42 classes are taking part in the program, according to Principal Tameeka D. McNeil. She said that thanks to the work of Auriel Watson, the Freeport district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and Grants Director Catalina Castillo, the students have benefited from the weekly interactive instruction.
“Our students now take an assessment in fifth grade, and we wanted to really bring learning outside of the classroom,” McNeil said. “So they were able to partner through a grant and make this possible for us.”
Recent activities in which Molloy students led Atkinson grade- schoolers included crafting “gratitude jars” and dissecting owl pellets — the undigested parts of an owl’s food. Some of the college students expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to work with the kids from Freeport.
“This experience has been amazing for me,” Brianna Paino, a senior education student, stated. “We get to teach the same lesson repetitively and see a variety of different classes. The repetition helps me to practice and gain confidence with my teaching skills.”
D’Onna Brown, a junior social work major, also wrote in a statement, “These teaching experiences help build my confidence when speaking in front of others and participating in group activities. … I believe this will help me in my future career as a social worker.”
Giouroukakis explained that Molloy is currently renting the Learning Bus from BioBus thanks to a grant from the Amy Hagerdon Fund and private donors. The university hopes to own it in the future and continue partnering with Freeport and other school districts.
