Carbon adopts STEM decree

Carbon County recognizes the importance of STEM education.

Last week, the county commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing Nov. 8 as National STEM Day in the county. STEM is the focus of science, technology, engineering and mathematics with the goal to help students learn skills that they would need in future workforces.

The proclamation states that “STEM learning can happen everywhere, in the classroom, after-school program, summer enrichment, STEM rich institutions and in the home environment.

“In order to foster innovation and provide this community and our nation with a competitive edge in the 21st Century global economy, it is necessary to support educational and entrepreneurial growth through STEM learning.”

Jeanne Miller, a community organizer and co-leader of the Carbon, Schuylkill and Luzerne STEM Ecosystem, said that this is the first time the group is promoting the national STEM day.

Throughout the week, 25 school districts across the three counties promoted STEM through various activities.

“We wanted to highlight what STEM is and what the jobs are and what training is needed,” she said.

The STEM Ecosystem is also working on four initiatives to strengthen training in the schools and future employment.

Miller said that the ecosystem is working on a comprehensive professional development plan for teachers that will provide them with the tools to bridge business and industry and the classroom; looking at expanding the SHINE Afterschool program, which currently serves school districts in Carbon, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties, to Wayne and Pike counties; creating a pilot project in Lehighton and Jim Thorpe school districts that will provide students with a high school pre-apprenticeship and future employment in advanced manufacturing companies like Highwood USA in Tamaqua; and organizing a parent tool kit so parents know where the jobs are and what skills their children will need.