Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Earlier this month, Spring Branch ISD hosted a round-table gathering of partners whose businesses specialize in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) services.

The goal of the convening was for partners to hear how they can better connect with students and staff in the district, and vice versa; how the district can prepare the workforce of the future with skills needed by businesses in the community.

Partner convenings such as these are hosted by SBISD’s Partnerships and Volunteer Programs office to engage with partners in a more focused way. As both partners and campuses aim to more directly align their community engagement efforts with district priorities, these convenings create the space for those strategic conversations to happen.

Representing a portion of the district’s STEM partners, representatives from Microsoft, ERM, Seitel and CITGO heard from the directors of science, math and educational technology about the current and future student programming.

“Next school year we plan to offer a blended Construction and Geometry course for 25 students,” said Ann Worley, SBISD’s math director. “This will be a different way of looking at math coursework.”

Stephanie Sandifer, director of educational technology in SBISD, told the partners about the ongoing digital expansion to provide a technology device for every secondary student. With these devices, teachers are able to increase blended learning experiences while incorporating critical thinking vocabulary across multiple subjects.

Director of science, Donald Burken, provided the partners with a wish list of opportunities that could support the department’s goal of ensuring “all students be scientifically literate and knowledgeable of all science content when they graduate.”

The three department leaders stressed the need for more “authentic” STEM experiences for SBISD students and teachers, such as career speakers, judges for science fairs, job shadowing, field trips to work sites, sponsorships for teachers and students to attend conferences, donations of used scientific equipment, and summer externships for teachers to learn about STEM careers and skills.

 “Kids need to learn about environmental sciences and sustainability to they choose careers in this field,” said Tracy Henn from ERM, an environmental consulting firm.

Involvement in school districts helps meet community outreach goals most companies have in policy to promote sustainable best practices, as well as create teambuilding opportunities around common experiences.

“If we engage our employees, they work together better,” said Richard Kelvin, Seitel’s chief technology officer. Sietel’s employees have been involved with mentoring and literacy focused events in SBISD.

Hosting a ‘dinner or lunch with the experts’ event is another way that some partners have engaged with SBISD students. Six or eight students are seated at a meal table with a STEM professional with some icebreaker questions available for the students to learn about career pathways. During the event, the young people also practice networking with industry people who may offer future guidance and support as the students journey to post-secondary learning and jobs.

Abby Walker, SBISD’s coordinator of strategic partnerships and volunteer programs noted that because of the students’ nervousness, the dinner event might start out a little “awkward.”

“But by the end of the evening, students are snapping selfies with each other and experts, and collecting business cards,” she said.

Supporting district initiatives and events such as Dinner or Lunch with the Experts is a Good Neighbor qualifying activity. Partners who complete three or more qualifying activities in a school year are eligible to be named an SBISD Good Neighbor, the district’s signature program for partner recognition.

Past convenings this year have included partners who support weekend food programs on campus and those who provide social services to families. Upcoming meetings are planned for museum and arts partners as well as those who support SBISD’s literacy initiatives, amongst others.

SBISD is always looking for more partners to make connections for students between the classroom and the ‘real world.’ To inquire about future partner convenings or learn about how your organization can invest time and talent in the workforce of the future, contact Abby Walker, coordinator of strategic partnerships and volunteers in SBISD, partner@springbranchisd.com.

 

Submitted by Becky Wuerth, SBISD Communications

becky.wuerth@springbranchisd.com