“The entire Christmas break, it was just him and that project,” said his mother, Dianne Johnson. “Even when it wasn’t working, he didn’t give up. He stayed with it. And then one day he texted me and said, ‘It’s working.’ I was so proud.”
For DeAndre, the recognition mattered—but so did the process. “I’m most proud that I took an idea and made it real,” he said. “You can think about something forever. Building it is different.”
The science fair is part of a broader commitment at Achievement First Bridgeport Middle School to hands-on, student-driven science learning. Students are encouraged to explore original ideas, form hypotheses, test them, and explain their thinking, building confidence alongside technical skills.
“These experiences help students see themselves differently,” said Stephanie Fox, the school’s principal. “They start to understand that they can take on complex challenges and see them through.”
That culture of support was central to DeAndre’s experience. His science teacher, Ms. Bayard, known to students as Ms. Jazz, worked closely with him throughout the process, offering guidance, feedback, and time outside of class so students could test ideas and ask questions.
Teachers at the school have watched DeAndre grow over the years into a focused, independent student who takes pride in his work. His science fair project, they say, reflects that growth as much as it reflects his technical skill.
Outside of science class, DeAndre’s curiosity continues in other ways. He has practiced karate since he was four years old and recently earned his second-degree black belt. He loves building with Legos. He is fascinated by space—by how vast it is and how much remains unknown. On a family trip, he met an astronaut, asked questions, and watched a rocket launch, an experience that only deepened his interest.
When he thinks about the future, DeAndre keeps his options open. Engineering. Aerospace engineering. Maybe even becoming an astronaut someday. In the nearer term, he will take his science fair project to the state level, where he will present it at the state science fair.
And for now, he’s doing what he enjoys most. “Science lets you create,” he said. “You can build things that matter.” 
