Education United States Project #11050

Leveraging STEM for Social Change

by Washington STEM

Project Report | Nov 7, 2019
Issaquah School District uses Washington STEM data tools to make informed choices

By Laura Peckyno | Development and Communications Coordinator

Students celebrating STEM career choices

Career Technical Education (CTE) classes are intended to help prepare students for the academic and technical workforce; many of the related careers involve STEM. CTE courses are introduced in middle school and continue throughout high school with classes ranging from Automation and Robotics to Woods Technology. These courses are designed to expose students to different career pathways available with the education and skills the students are learning in their classrooms. In Washington, every high school student must take a CTE course to meet graduation requirements. Ideally, students select a CTE course that aligns to their personal interests and also prepares them for an in-demand, family-wage job.

Around two years ago, to better streamline their CTE course offerings, Issaquah School District began to incorporate Washington STEM's Labor Market & Credential Data (LMCD) tool within their Pathway Advisory Committees (PAC), who oversee the high school STEM programs for the district. In order for the district to get approval for the CTE courses they offer, there must be evidence that the courses will be relevant and viable career options for students in the future. That is exactly what the Labor Market and Credential Data tool has helped them determine.

One of the ways Washington STEM works to advocate for equity in STEM is by using measurement and data to identify and overcome barriers to opportunity for students. Washington STEM compiled data on future job projections that will provide family wage salaries across Washington which is what the LMCD identifies. This allows teachers to advise students to make informed and intentional decisions about what kinds of family-wage careers are available in their region.

In the Spring of 2019, Issaquah School District introduced the LMCD tool on their CTE website in order to provide easy access for anyone looking to use the data, whether that be students who are curious about future in-demand careers, or parents who may want to have a deeper understanding of the career landscape in their backyards. Distrcit teachers also use the tool in various ways, including advising students in their High School and Beyond Plan.

The LMCD tool shows students the careers that relate to the CTE electives they are taking. "As a former classroom teacher, I am fully aware that anytime a student can make the connection to where they are going to use this [information] in real life; it creates relevancy. Having students look at the Labor Market & Credential Data tool does just that," says Issaquah School Districts CTE & Secondary STEM Director, Lesha Engels.

The CTE courses offered in the district are popular among students. Engels says CTE enrollment is up 27% from the 2018-19 school year and the department hopes to offer additional relevant electives, such as a Mechatronics or Cybersecurity course. "Regardless if we are trying to help students to see variety of post-secondary options that exist or we are trying to help them find something they are passionate about pursuing …it’s about lighting that spark and allowing a student to connect with something that's interesting to them," says Engels.

Washington STEM is excited to be a part of the systems that help students find their passion as early as middle school, as well as provide tools to help districts improve the classes they offer for the betterment of their students. Our Labor Market and Credential Data tool is on our website here and is available to teachers, students, and everyone else!

For more information on how to use the Labor Market and Credential Data tool, please refer to our quick start guide.

WA STEM's Labor Market & Credential Data Tool

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Aug 20, 2019
West Sound STEM and Career Connected Learning

By Danny Gross | Communications and Digital Media Manager

Updates from the West Sound STEM Network: Career connected learning grows through cross-sector collaboration at the second regional CCL Summit.

“We must think differently about access to career pathways for our youth,” said David McVicker, former Superintendent of Central Kitsap School District. “When high school students have the chance to engage in job shadows, internships, and apprenticeships, they gain a hands-on perspective into potential careers. That’s why the work West Sound STEM is leading is so important. We need to support this.”

Developing successful apprenticeship programs and other career connected learning opportunities on the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas was the focus of this year’s Regional Career Connected Learning Summit, hosted by the West Sound STEM Network on June 3. More than 80 regional leaders, including business and industry, education, county, military, federal, Washington Workforce Board leadership, Washington STEM leadership, and legislators from across the state, attended the summit.

“I can think of no more important work going on at this very moment than ensuring our youth have paths to meaningful, sustainable careers that guarantee lifelong earning power,” said Robert W. Andrade, Jr., General Manager, Siemens Industry, Inc.. “West Sound STEM Network is leading this work.”

Legislators from the region joined the Summit to show their continued commitment to Washington students and career connected. Congressman Derek Kilmer greeted Summit attendees via video, “Not being there in person doesn’t stop me from being super-excited about the work being done by West Sound STEM Network.” He shared that the West Sound STEM Network members “play a pivotal role in our region’s economic development work and are the forefront of making sure that our youth are prepared to compete for jobs that are increasingly integrated with new forms of technology.” Congressman Kilmer also noted that the career pathways work being done by West Sound STEM Network, including the controls technology apprenticeship, is “exactly the kind of support our education institutions need to provide the necessary training to help out the youth of today and future generations so that they can compete for high-demand, high-wage jobs.”

Washington Senator Emily Randall provided remarks about the importance of career-connected learning opportunities for youth in our region and reinforced the importance of the cross-sector partnerships in West Sound STEM Network.

“Continuing the Momentum in our Region” was the focus of an interactive panel discussion. Participants conveyed the need to develop a highly talented future workforce and the urgency required to identify pathways for youth to high-demand jobs. Captain Sam Goodwill, Boeing, Robb Andrade, Siemens, Perry England, MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, Jiquanda Nelson, Kaiser Permanente, Rick Thompson, Chimacum School District, Dr. Marty Cavalluzzi, Olympic College, Lance Wrzesinski, OSPI, Shannon Thissen, OSPI and Eric LeVine, CellarTracker presented successful case studies of initiatives to prepare students for the jobs of the future.

Maud Daudon, Career Connect Washington Executive Leader, provided a video update on Career Connect Washington and highlighted the building of a regional career-connected system by West Sound STEM Network. Panelists then shared strategies that can successfully connect and support local schools, teachers, employers, colleges, industry groups, business and others in the community.

As the second regional Career Connected Learning Summit came to an end, there was a resounding agreement across all attendees that this work was essential to ensuring that Washington students can take advantage of the economic opportunity available in the state.

“It’s great to see this incredible cross-section of the community convening,” said Gilda Wheeler, Senior Program Officer, Washington STEM. “This is a great model program for the entire State.”

“This effort has built an incredible foundation to help develop the critical skills that lead to high demand, high wage jobs in our region,” said Dr. Kareen Borders, Executive Director, West Sound STEM Network.

The West Sound STEM Network will reconvene Summit attendees in the fall as business, government, and communities across the region continue to build the necessary partnerships that will enable career connected learning to thrive on the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.

Your support as a donor allows this type of cross sector collaboartion to happen all over the state of Washington. THANK YOU!

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May 24, 2019
2019 Legislative Update from Washington STEM

By Danny Gross | Communications and Digital Media Manager

2019 Legislative Update from Washington STEM

This year’s 105-day legislative session was a productive one for Washington STEM. Throughout the session we have been engaged with legislators, community leaders, and partners from across the state to support legislation that will benefit Washington students equitably and strengthen our education systems.

When it comes to getting meaningful legislation passed, it takes a village, and our advocacy efforts embody that. First and foremost, we want to thank you. Your support is what makes our work in Olympia possible. We want to give a huge thank you to our 80-person policy committee composed of our STEM Networks and their local partners, as well as nonprofit, business, community, and education partners throughout the state. We also want to thank our state legislators who worked days, evenings, and weekends to craft legislation and a budget that provides strong opportunities for Washington students.

Our advocacy efforts resulted in two big wins for Washington students:

HB2158 establishes a competitive grant program that will allow community organizations, like our STEM Networks, to apply for resources that are dedicated to creating more career connected learning experiences so that students can explore, engage, and launch into careers in their communities.
HB2140 creates a full-time position at each Educational Service District (ESD) in Washington to support the expansion of career connected learning into every community in Washington. These new positions will strengthen the education systems that support our students and provide local expertise and connections for regional career opportunities.

So what does our advocacy work look like in action? Here’s a brief snapshot:

For our annual Advocacy Day on February 27, we were joined by 40 representatives from our STEM Networks and their community and business partners to hold 70+ meetings with policymakers and their staff. We used those meetings to highlight how Washington STEM and our STEM Networks are creating meaningful impact and change for students, families, and communities across the state.

Dr. Andy Shouse, our chief program officer, was invited to provide an expert briefing to the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

Dr Jenée Myers Twitchell, our impact director, was invited to provide an expert briefing to the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee.

On April 1, 2019, we joined more than 50 partners from across the state to support the Career Connect Washington legislation and showcase why it is a great investment in students and in our economy.

Education, business, and community partners from across the state stood in support of our priorities and the priorities of our STEM Network partners:

Susan Mullaney, President of Kaiser Permanente Washington, shared her thoughts on how the legislature can create the supports needed so students can connect with STEM and healthcare career pathways.
Kevin Chase, Superintendent of ESD 105 and lifelong Yakima resident, shared how STEM and career connected learning are vital to rural students and how the South Central STEM Network is connecting local employers to schools and students.
Todd Mielke, CEO of Greater Spokane Inc., showed us how their partnership with the Spokane STEM Network is strengthening career connected learning partnerships between employers and educators in Spokane and the surrounding areas.
Perry England, VP of Building Performance at MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, and Robb Andrade, Branch General Manager at Siemens Corporation, showcased the need for more career connected learning experiences on the Kitsap Peninsula and how their partnership with the West Sound STEM Network is creating opportunity for local communities.
Stela Heuschkel, Human Resources Director at Chemi-con Materials Corporation, an advanced manufacturer in Moses Lake, highlighted her partnership with the Apple STEM Network and how together they’re connecting students and families to STEM careers.

We’re excited about what we’ve been able to accomplish in 2019, and we’re looking ahead to 2020 to build upon these successes and continue to push for equity, access, and opportunity in STEM education for Washington students.

Thank you for your continued support,

The Washington STEM team

Early learners in Lake Chelan, WA

Working with early STEM providers and parents

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