It’s no secret that Washington is a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) industry leader. Washington boasts the second most innovative economy in the country, the fourth-highest concentration of fast-growing, tech-based industries, and the highest percentage of farmers using information technologies to run their businesses.
As globalization continues to transform technology, aerospace, agriculture, health care, and other sectors in Washington, the demand for entrepreneurial and creative people with skills fostered by the STEM disciplines will skyrocket.
It’s also no secret that our students often leave Washington’s schools lacking the skills they need to participate in these growing areas of opportunity. Our fourth-graders receive less than 20 minutes of science education a week — the lowest in the nation. The racial achievement gap in math is growing. Washington ranks 46th in the nation for participation in science and engineering graduate programs.
As a result, Snohomish County employers like Fluke Corp. are often forced to look outside of Washington for employees. This has led Washington to rank third in the nation for an in-migration of 22- to 29 year-olds with college degrees. Like many of our industry peers in the Northwest, our competitiveness relies not only on our access to a robust workforce educated in STEM skills, but also on their problem-solving and collaborative skills. With more than 75 million baby boomers nearing retirement in the United States alone, technology-based companies face a looming skills shortage as fewer students gain the qualifications needed for the high-tech jobs of today and tomorrow.
The good news is that leaders from education, business, communities and government are beginning to realize that achieving fundamentally different results requires that we do fundamentally different things.
That’s why we, along with other leading Washington businesses like Boeing, Microsoft and McKinstry Co. partnered with educators and community leaders to launch Washington STEM. Our role in improving our education system is critical for our company’s ongoing success. We take seriously our responsibility to play a role in developing the future workforce. We also know that our education system is at its best when all stakeholders — business, educators, parents and policy makers — take responsibility for creating excellent learning opportunities for all students.
Furthermore, if we invest in creating an educated and engaged workforce suited for the challenges of the 21st century, many other areas stand a chance of improving, including economic development and innovation; quality jobs with competitive salaries; and Washington’s reputation as great place to live, work and raise a family.
Washington STEM’s long-term vision is to create an innovation pipeline through catalytic investments, knowledge generation and stronger capacity to improve STEM teaching and learning across our state.
Two compelling examples of our approach include:
•A $593,259 Washington STEM portfolio investment that will help expand an effective model developed and tested by Washington Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA). MESA Math Scholars helps minority students bridge the critical transition between middle and high school. It will build the capacity of the organization’s six statewide MESA Centers over the next three years. Students will receive personalized academic support through an intensive three-week summer program, followed by MESA Math Mentors academic year tutoring. The program will also include professional development for teachers and college readiness workshops to engage parents and counselors.
•At Chimacum Middle School near Port Townsend, Washington STEM is providing a $10,300 entrepreneurial grant to support the expansion of the school’s local Professional Learning Community, which will expand its reach to a global scale through the use of social media and in-classroom technology. The grant will allow teachers to explore virtual professional networks for on-demand collaboration, communication, learning and professional development to improve teacher practice and connect with colleagues around the world. The aim of these efforts is to enhance the learning environment for students at Chimacum Middle School by helping teachers share ideas and practices via web-based video and blogging.
Promising approaches like these need to reach every student in our state. We must focus on delivering a public education that encourages discovery and innovation while inspiring and equipping students to succeed.
It’s time for us to exercise some of the creative problem-solving skills we hope our students gain. Let’s give them the rigorous and inspiring STEM education they need to expand their futures.
Barbara Hulit is president of Fluke Corp., a multi-national corporation headquartered in Everett. She is also a Washington STEM board member.
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