She's 43 feet long, filled with larger-than-life organs, and she's officially the newest member of the Bay District Schools family.
Meet Jolene, Bay District Schools' very own inflatable humpback whale. Purchased through a grant from the St. Joe Community Foundation, Jolene is a permanent instructional resource that will travel from school to school, giving students across the district the opportunity to step inside a whale while exploring marine biology, anatomy, conservation, and ecosystems through immersive, hands-on learning.
District staff got their first look at Jolene on Thursday during her official unveiling at Gulf Coast State College. Beginning Monday, hundreds more educators will have the opportunity to experience the exhibit during the district's Professional Learning Days before Jolene begins visiting schools throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
The idea first surfaced in an unlikely place, a TikTok video.
Science Staff Training Specialist Jill Hansen came across the inflatable whale online and immediately recognized its potential as a one-of-a-kind learning tool for Bay District Schools students. She shared the idea with fellow Science Staff Training Specialist Amanda Walker, who saw an opportunity to bring the experience to life. Walker wrote the successful grant proposal to the St. Joe Community Foundation, and together with Science Staff Training Specialist Nancy Dow, the three worked to make the vision a reality.
"This is the kind of learning students remember," said Amanda Walker, Science Staff Training Specialist for Bay District Schools. "Instead of simply reading about anatomy, ecosystems, migration, or conservation in a textbook, they'll be able to step inside a life-sized whale and compare its anatomy to their own."
Complete with detailed three-dimensional internal organs, Jolene allows students to compare whale anatomy to the human body while exploring concepts such as body systems, adaptations, life cycles, food webs, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. The exhibit will be incorporated into existing science, literacy, and STEM initiatives, including biology units, life science pacing guides, STEAM nights, conservation days, and cross-curricular literacy experiences.
Because Jolene belongs to Bay District Schools, she will rotate among campuses on a scheduled basis, ensuring students throughout Bay County can experience this unique learning opportunity.
The name Jolene carries special meaning. It honors the St. Joe Community Foundation, whose generosity made the project possible, while also paying tribute to Dolly Parton, whose lifelong commitment to children's literacy and education has inspired millions of young readers through the Imagination Library.
As Jolene begins her journey across Bay District Schools this fall, she'll visit classrooms throughout the district, transforming science lessons into unforgettable experiences and proving that some of the biggest learning opportunities come in very big packages.