For nearly a year, a Kentucky elementary school teacher worked quietly on a project that would change one of his students’ lives. Scott Johnson, a STEAM teacher at Red Cross Elementary School in Barren County and the 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, designed a custom 3D-printed prosthetic hand for fourth grader Jackson Farmer, who was born without his right hand.
Jackson had previously used a rubber prosthetic with limited movement, but the new hand allows him to grip objects using simple wrist motion. The device is lightweight, made from durable bioplastic with soft padding, and works mechanically, meaning it doesn't rely on electronics. Each hand takes about 25 hours to print and several more hours to assemble, but only costs about $20, which Johnson covered himself.
After getting permission from Jackson’s mother, Johnson surprised him with the hand during a school celebration. He plans to keep refining the design as the boy grows and hopes to eventually teach him how to adjust and improve it on his own.
Source: SUNNY SKYZ
Photo: EThamPhoto / The Image Bank / Getty Images
