Lyricos Learning LLC, the EdTech company operating out of California and Texas, is continuing to grow its popular video streaming and education platform, STEAM on Demand. It delivers hands-on lessons in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. 

When Danny Santana, head of California’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program for Tulare County Office of Education, first received a phone call about STEAM on Demand, he wasn’t necessarily looking for a new platform. But he was open to possibilities.

“A couple of years ago, I was in my office one afternoon and a phone call came through,” Santana said. “One of STEAM on Demand’s reps was calling and introduced themselves. In that conversation about what they do and what they have to offer, I became interested and agreed to another meeting. I wanted to see the product and a demonstration.”

What began as a simple follow-up meeting quickly evolved into a county-wide transformation. After seeing a demonstration of the platform’s standards-aligned, project-based video lessons for TK-8 students, Santana knew he had found something different.

“I became very intrigued and impressed,” he said. “I loved what they had to offer and how user-friendly it was. The videos, the insights, everything.”

For Santana, the appeal wasn’t just the content itself — it was how accessible it was for his team. Tulare County’s expanded learning programs rely heavily on young college students and facilitators, many of whom do not have formal teaching backgrounds.

“The hands-on activities, the enrichment activities — the fun stuff that still follows the standards we provide,” Santana said. “We can do it in a much more hands-on learning environment, and the lessons are very staff-friendly. Most of my staff that works with the kids are young college students, and so having the foundation has been great. The staff is really just the facilitator of the lessons.”

Santana oversees programs that span 12 school districts and 30 school sites, serving diverse communities with varying levels of funding. He was determined to ensure that every student could benefit from the same opportunities.

According to Santana, the STEAM on Demand team met that challenge head-on. “STEAM on Demand worked with me in terms of being able to find a good price that enabled all the districts to have access,” he said. “It was a process, but through those conversations, I got a sense that they were really there for our students, regardless of funding.”

What started as interest at a single site quickly grew into a full-scale rollout. Today, the platform supports more than 150 staff members across Tulare County’s expanded learning programs.

The onboarding process included in-person training and collaborative sessions.

“We had a couple of hiccups with training, but I was able to communicate that with the STEAM on Demand team, and they were very supportive,” Santana said. “They pivoted and listened to some of our suggestions, and we’ve been able to hit a home run because of that support. They are very supportive and solutions-oriented.”

For Carolyn Taylor, STEAM Project Specialist and part of the STEAM on Demand team, the Tulare County relationship reflects what the platform is all about: collaboration.

“The relationship we have with Danny has been amazing,” Taylor said. “He’s very open and very receptive to all the input we give him and all the support we give each other. He’s a great leader and I believe that makes a big difference.”

The results inside classrooms and afterschool programs speak volumes. “Our students love it,” Santana said. “We use the platform at least two times a week, but if sites and programs want to do it more, they are more than welcome to. It’s been really great in terms of student engagement.”

Looking ahead, Tulare County is exploring ways to extend that engagement beyond the classroom.

“We are currently working on some opportunities to bridge our families and set some things up to bring our parents in and have an evening where they can do a STEAM on Demand exercise and activity,” Santana said. “There are a lot of possibilities for the future, but it’s been great so far.”

Taylor echoes that excitement for what’s next. “We are excited for the ongoing relationship and the ongoing hopes for growth, not just within the county but also within the school districts they serve and support,” she said. “Being able to have those relationships with the superintendents, as well as the teams there at the site, is great. It’s all about continuing to grow as a team and as a company as well.”

ABOUT STEAM ON DEMAND:

STEAM on Demand® is a technology platform that offers science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) interactive lessons “on demand” that are designed to be used in a collaborative classroom setting or online. Hundreds of interactive video lessons have been developed as part of the platform’s core content. These kid-tested videos spotlight topics that align with national and state-level curriculum standards across all STEAM subjects and guide teachers and students through hands-on projects. Also included is access to a variety of coding pathways for students of all levels. The platform provides all the content and tools needed to plan and conduct entire afterschool programs.

ABOUT IDEA LAB KIDS:

IDEA Lab® Kids was founded as a way for kids to explore their love of science, technology, engineering, art and math subjects. The award-winning Houston-based education franchise offers afterschool classes, camps, birthday parties, open labs and much more to children. The brand has positioned itself to be a leader in the growing STEAM education space with franchises in the U.S. and Canada. IDEA Lab Kids franchises are only offered or sold in states where they are registered or compliant with applicable franchise laws.

ABOUT LYRICOS LEARNING, LLC:

Lyricos® Learning, LLC is the home to IDEA Lab Kids and is also the creator of STEAM on Demand, a leading provider of streaming interactive content and tools for planning and leading standards-aligned, engaging and fun TK-8 STEAM hands-on lessons.