New Liberty Sophomores to Present at the Massachusetts Region IV Science and Engineering Fair Mar. 14

Sophomore trio marks third straight appearance for New Liberty Innovation School

SALEM (Mar. 2, 2024) – Jailyn Serrano, J.J. Kemp and Thomas Kind Dos Santos, each sophomores at the New Liberty Innovation School, will showcase their research projects at the Massachusetts Region IV High School Science and Engineering Fair Saturday, Mar. 14, at Tufts University.

The appearance marks the third straight year NLIS is represented at the Region IV Science Fair, which is one of six regional fairs that serve as qualifying competitions for the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF), May 9-15 in Phoenix, and the statewide competition, the Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair (MSEF). 

“We are incredibly proud of how our students challenge themselves to think outside the box, take academic risks, and represent our school with professionalism and pride,” said Dr. Brenda Goodrum, STEM educator at NLIS. “Their participation demonstrates that when students are given authentic opportunities, they rise to the occasion and discover just how capable they truly are.

“However, we celebrate not only their projects, but their growth, because experiences like the MSEF help students see that their ideas matter, their voices belong in STEM, and their future possibilities are wide open,” Dr. Goodrum added.

At the Region IV Fair, the top 2 projects are nominated for the ISEF, and the top 40 projects advance to the MSEF Friday, Apr. 4 at Gillette Stadium.

Consistent with the District’s 2023-26 Strategic Plan and core value of elevating learning, each of the scholars’ projects are geared to finding solutions to real-world problems with a wide range of creativity.

• Ms. Serano’s research investigates how temperature impacts fungal growth by comparing growth rates at different temperatures. Understanding optimal growth conditions is important in medicine and biotechnology, where fungi are used to produce beneficial compounds.

• Mr. Kemp’s project will test common household materials – nylon fishing line, elastic cord, and metal wire – to determine which works best as a substitute for guitar strings. Mr. Kemp’s testing criteria included sound quality, pitch stability, and durability with the goal of identifying an affordable alternative that could improve access to music education.

• Mr. Kind Dos Santos investigated which school surfaces have the highest bacterial growth by swabbing common areas and comparing the number and appearance of bacterial colonies grown on agar plates. The results will help identify high-contact surfaces that may require more frequent cleaning to improve hygiene and reduce the spread of illness.

“NLIS students’ participation in the MSEF shows their creativity, determination, and curiosity that define our school community,” Dr. Goodrum said. “Through their original research projects, students move beyond classroom learning and step into the role of real scientists, learning what it means to be a scientist while asking meaningful questions, solving problems, and confidently sharing their ideas with professionals in the STEM field.

“The MSEF is not just about science, it’s about access and having a place where their voice matters and their work is taken seriously,” she added. “For many students, this experience becomes a confidence boost and often the first time they receive external validation beyond school grades.”

Last year, then-sophomores Wilver Serrano, Nevin Lebron, and Zachary El Dagany and freshman Christopher Lemus presented at the 2025 Region IV Fair with Mr. Lebron and Mr. Lemus advancing to the MSEF state competition. 

In 2024, four scholars – Tyrone Manifold, Shanay Love, Johana Rodriguez and Antonio Justo – became the first-ever cohort from New Liberty to present at the Fair.

The MSEF Region IV Fair was launched in 2006. 

About Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.