Experiential Learning and the Power of “Seeing Beyond” with Scott Williams of Discovery Park of America

On this episode of At Scale, tnAchieves welcomes Scott Williams, President and CEO of Discovery Park of America, for a conversation about education, career exposure, community investment and the kind of hands-on learning that helps students imagine what is possible for their future.

Located in Union City, Tennessee, Discovery Park of America is one of Northwest Tennessee’s most unique educational and cultural assets. The 50-acre campus and 100,000-square-foot museum were built from the vision of Robert Kirkland, founder of Kirkland’s, who wanted to create a “center of education” that would inspire children and adults to “see beyond.” That phrase continues to guide Discovery Park’s work today.

Williams shares the story of Kirkland’s original vision, which began with a desire to help his hometown respond to economic change. After the Goodyear tire plant announced it would leave Union City, taking thousands of jobs with it, Kirkland began imagining a place that could expand opportunity, strengthen the local economy and introduce students and families to new ideas. He invited the community to help shape that vision, gathering more than 200 people at the library and asking them to organize around topics like science, history, space, transportation and art.

That spirit of community-informed innovation remains central to Discovery Park. Williams explains that while the organization holds tightly to Kirkland’s original mission, it also continues to evolve based on what students, educators, families and the region need now. Recent exhibits have highlighted agriculture, conservation and energy, each developed with input from experts, community members and industry partners.

The conversation also explores the importance of career exposure, especially for students who may not yet understand the full range of opportunities available in fields like agriculture, conservation, engineering, design, history, science or tourism. Williams shares how Discovery Park’s agriculture exhibit challenges outdated perceptions of who works in agriculture by featuring portraits of people across ages, races, backgrounds and career pathways. For students, seeing themselves reflected in a field can be the first step toward imagining a future in it.

That idea connects directly to tnAchieves’ work to help students move from college access to completion and into a meaningful career. Students need more than information. They need experiences, relationships and moments of discovery that help them connect their interests to real pathways. Discovery Park offers those moments through exhibits, events, STEAM programming, school visits and an environment built for curiosity.

One of the most memorable examples from the episode is also one of the simplest: an escalator. Williams describes how many visitors experience an escalator for the first time at Discovery Park. Because the escalators and elevators are enclosed in glass, students can see the mechanics behind them. What might seem ordinary becomes an opportunity to inspire future architects, builders, designers and engineers.

Williams also discusses Discovery Park’s role as an economic driver for Northwest Tennessee. With 95 percent of visitors coming from outside the local zip code, Discovery Park generates significant tourism activity for the region while also serving as an educational resource for schools, colleges and families. Through the Kirkland Scholarship Fund, eligible school groups receive free admission, helping ensure cost is not a barrier to student access.

As the conversation turns to technology and artificial intelligence, Williams offers an important reminder: some experiences cannot be replaced by a screen. Discovery Park uses technology where it enhances learning, but its true value is in the opportunity for students and families to connect, explore, touch, question and experience something together.

This episode is ultimately about openness: openness to opportunity, openness to new careers, openness to community partnerships and openness to the kind of learning that changes how students see themselves and their futures. For Williams, that openness also shaped his own career journey from Memphis to Graceland, the Newseum in Washington, D.C., and eventually back home to West Tennessee.

At tnAchieves, we know that helping students build a future requires more than a single program or pathway. It takes local partners, trusted relationships, career exposure and experiences that help students connect aspiration to opportunity. Discovery Park of America is a powerful example of what that looks like in action.

Listen to the full episode of At Scale to hear more from Scott Williams and learn why Discovery Park of America belongs on every Tennessee family’s list.