Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The company that operates the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) through eastern Montgomery County has awarded a $15,000 grant to Eastern Montgomery Elementary School (EMES) to launch a new active-learning initiative.
Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, a joint venture led by EQT and NextEra Energy, owns and operates the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), a 303-mile interstate natural gas transmission pipeline.
The funding will be used to purchase a classroom set of innovative desk bikes, designed to merge physical wellness with academic instruction.
EMES Principal Kate Stewart said this grant will allow us to purchase desk bikes for classrooms, providing students with purposeful movement opportunities throughout the school day.”
“By integrating movement with instruction, we aim to increase student engagement, focus, and stamina—ultimately supporting stronger academic outcomes,” she said.
The transition to active seating is backed by a growing body of neuroscientific research. For example, research published in the journal Pediatriecs indicates that for students with high sensory needs or ADHD, structured movement functions as a “compensatory mechanism,” significantly improving “on-task” behavior and cognitive performance compared to traditional sedentary sitting (Hartanto et al., 2016).
Dr. Kelly Guempel, MCPS Superintendent, is thankful for the support from MVP to help students reach their full learning potential.
“We are excited to find innovative and creative ways for our students to learn,” he said at the unveiling.
Shawn Day is the spokesperson for MVP.
“We applaud Montgomery County Public Schools for pursuing this creative initiative to boost student wellness and academic achievement. Mountain Valley is committed to partnering with community groups and organizations that promote opportunity and stronger, healthier communities, and we are excited to support this new student-centered program at Eastern Montgomery Elementary School,” he concluded.
The bikes are specialized, silent and adjustable stationary designs for students to pedal while working. They are designed to improve focus by allowing kinesthetic learners to burn energy without disrupting class.
According to several studies, the bikes are designed for children with “wiggles” to increase oxygen flow to the brain, supporting neurogenesis (brain development) and academic engagement.
Specialized smaller sizes are available for different age groups.
Eastern Montgomery Elementary serves approximately 373 students from Pre-K through 5th grade.
