WASHINGTON STATE STEM EDUCATION FDTN

THE WASHINGTON STATE STEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION WAS BORN FROM OUR COMMUNITY'S PASSION FOR IMPROVING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND HAS LED A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT TO EXPAND STEM EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS. WE WORK WITH EDUCATORS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND LEGISLATORS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE NECESSITY OF STEM EDUCATION BOTH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE STEM FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE PROGRAMS LISTED BELOW AND CONTINUES TO SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE STEM EDUCATION FOR ALL LOCAL STUDENTS.1. EXPANSION OF STEM-RELATED EVENTS WHICH RAISE SUPPORT FOR THE STEM LITERACY INITIATIVE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND THROUGH OUR STEM LIKE ME! INITIATIVE TO RECRUIT, TRAIN AND DEPLOY STEM PROFESSIONALS TO BE MENTORS AND RESOURCES FOR OUR LOCAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS.2. CONSISTENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND KEY MESSAGING TO EXPAND AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF STEM EDUCATION BOTH LOCALLY AND STATEWIDE.-SHIFT IN KNOWLEDGE: ANSWER THE QUESTION: WHY STEM? -SHIFT IN ATTITUDES, BELIEFS AND EXPECTATIONS: WE BELIEVE STEM IS A WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE FOR THE COMMUNITY-INCREASED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: STEM IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE INITIATIVE, EMPOWERING MEMBERS TO TAKE ACTION; -INCREASED INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL SCHOOLS: INCREASED EFFORTS OF THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVING LOCAL SCHOOLS, CONTRIBUTE TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE; -INCREASED CAPACITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF STEM INITIATIVES: DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS, SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES AND MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS AND EVALUATION TOOLS3. COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS: STEM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: PUBLIC/ PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS SUPPORTING COLLEGE AND CAREER-READY STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH OTHER STEM FOCUSED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. 4. DELTA HIGH SCHOOL: DELTA STUDENTS HAVE HAD MANY EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH STEM PROFESSIONALS FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE STATE BOTH IN-SCHOOL AND OUT, SUCH AS CAREER GUEST SPEAKERS, MENTORS, TOUR FACILITATORS AND ENHANCED CLASSROOM PROJECTS WORKING WITH SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS. IN SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF DELTA HIGH SCHOOL AND ITS INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL APPROACH, THE STEM FOUNDATION HAS WORKED TO BUILD AUTHENTIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND TO SUPPORT REAL-WORLD, PROJECT BASED, STEM LEARNING. THESE PARTNERSHIPS HAVE NOT ONLY LED TO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, BUT HAVE REKINDLED IN THE VOLUNTEERS THEIR PERSONAL PASSION FOR STEM FIELDS.