STEMCO The STEM Coalition US First robotics Edgewood ISD

Background: Pressures & the Workforce Ecosystem Key Factors What We Should Do Next Steps and Q&A

What is STEM? Technology Science Math Engineering

What is STEMCO? A broad based (currently) independent coalition In long-term engagement to address STEM education and career pipelines Mission Enhance San Antonio’s global competitiveness through the collaborative efforts of STEM educators, workforce systems, government and industry.

100,000 feet Regions that win in the global economy will succeed at long-term transformation of their education and workforce development systems. This will require a collaboration of education, academia, governments, workforce systems, community leaders and industry.

The Workforce Ecosystem Two-Year Colleges Four-Year Colleges Graduate Programs Summer Programs After School Programs Assessment Services Articulation Agreements Policy High Schools Middle Schools Magnet Schools Academies Cities Counties States Economic Developers Workforce Boards INDUSTRY

Pressures on the Workforce Ecosystem

There are more Indian college graduates than U.S. high school graduates. There are more English speakers in China than in the U.S.

Other nations outpace U.S. in engineering graduates Source: National Science Board, “Science and Engineering Indicators – 2004”; Table Russia, India and S Korea data from University of Texas NCR Report 2004

A National Conversation “This is a story about the big public conversation the nation is not having about education … whether an entire generation of kids will fail to make the grade in the global economy because they can't think their way through abstract problems, work in teams, (and) distinguish good information from bad …” Time Magazine, December 2006 Quoting the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce

Texas Workforce Commission “Meeting Industries Critical Needs” Grant Wins Dallas-Fort Worth3 Houston2 Austin2 San Antonio0 1! Alamo Community Colleges and Northwest Vista College win $470K to expand robotics summer camp region- and state-wide.

The Key Observation “San Antonio is growing in targeted clusters above the state and national averages, but we are doing so despite the preparedness of our workforce.” Alamo WorkSource Industry Cluster Report 2005

Pressures on the Workforce Ecosystem More Indian college graduates than U.S. high school graduates More English speakers in China than in the U.S. “This is a story about the big public conversation the nation is not having about education … whether an entire generation of kids will fail to make the grade in the global economy because they can't think their way through abstract problems, work in teams, (and) distinguish good information from bad …” Time Magazine, December 2006 Quoting the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce Houston Community College organizing to graduate 500 bio- technicians Houston stands up Robotics Education Support Center Arlington organizing to recover manufacturing base with state grants Alamo WorkSource survey raises red flags about sustainability of San Antonio’s growth.

10,000 feet There are innovative STEM programs everywhere you turn over a rock. Alignment is always a challenge. These programs are only loosely connected to industry support, workforce pipelines, regional strategies and global best practices.

What Pockets of STEM activity? Alamo Area Aerospace Academy Information Technology & Security Academy Manufacturing Technology Academy SpaceTEAMS Edgewood Robotics Program Information Technology Academy (Roosevelt) Communication Arts High School Health Careers High School FIRST robotics competition BEST robotics competition TexPrep XYZ

Pathway Continuous planning and assessment … The New Education / Workforce Ecosystem? Middle School High School, Magnet, Academy (or is it College?) College / Workplace COUNSELINGCOUNSELING COUNSELINGCOUNSELING Holistic Assess- ment Integrated coursework and exploration

Master of the Obvious We will have a competitive advantage if we work together. We will be at a disadvantage if we don’t.

So what should we do?

Key Facts 1.Global pressures are changing the K12-Workforce landscape. 2.Pressures filter down to regions. 3.The “wins” are (mostly) regional.

Key Principles 1.Region-wide strategies This is a regional issue with regional motivators, but with global pressures and global best practices. 2.Long-term sustainment 3.A bias for action 4.Stakeholder education, top to bottom

Key Stakeholders 1.K12 teachers, counselors and administrators 2.College faculty and administrators 3.Workforce and Economic Development Professionals 4.Industry 5.Government

Key Questions 1.How do we create a regional strategy that essential stakeholders deeply buy into? 2.How do we translate that strategy into action? 3.How do we sustain action over the long term?

The Answer Has Always Been … 1.Create a framework for collaboration. 2.Give it leadership. 3.Celebrate front line innovators. 4.Educate stakeholders. 5.Engage stakeholders in defining strategies and actions. 6.Build in a bias for action. 7.Resource and motivate that action. 8.Review and refine; show results.

NeedOur Proposed Action FrameworkCreate STEMCO Leadership Recruit leading citizens, core leaders, stakeholders Celebrate front line innovators Education Engage in defining strategies and actions Yearly symposium: “STEMCO 2007” Bias for action Empower and resource teams based on mission and values. Resource and motivateThrough public recognition and funding. Review and Refine; show results Set high expectations for autonomous teams; fight institutionalization

STEMCO Symposium LEADERSHIP Mission and Values Conference Agenda All Stakeholder s IDEAS ACTION NEXT YEAR

Option 1 -- STEMCO San Antonio 2007 Dr. Willard Daggett “Once every year, thousands of America’s school administrators, teachers, parents, business leaders, and policymakers join together at one event for ideas and inspiration that place our children first. It’s the nation’s premier conference on K- 12 education reform.” Celebrate and give visibility to front line innovators Stakeholder Education Workforce System Alignment to Identified Local Clusters Breakouts & Problem Identification Urgency & Culture Change

Status and Next Steps 1.Create STEMCO. 2.Find a home (in progress). Buy or build? 3.Build a steering committee (in progress). 4.Secure stakeholder & leading citizen support. 5.Secure funding – estimated $100K for Year 1. 6.Commit and go.

Signs of Success 1.Teachers deeply understand the global imperative. 2.STEM programs explore careers and feed pipelines in a formal way. 3.Industry influences curriculum and programs at every level. 4.Industry provides long-term financial and resource support. They will buy if something valuable is for sale. 5.These things are pervasive and systemic.

Do this and we will create a generation of kids who are “golden” in every way. An inspired mind An improved economic future An ability to self-fund more education A help in drawing high wage industry in jobs A foundation for innovation & leadership An agent of economic development

STEMCO The STEM Coalition US First robotics Edgewood ISD PRESENTATION CREDITS Dr. William Daggett International Center for Leadership in Education Jim Brazell President, VentureRamp, Inc.,

Q&A Is STEMCO yet another organization? That depends. It could be an organization and/or a conference housed elsewhere. It can be anywhere there is big and innovative thinking.

Q&A How do we keep this from just being another meeting? We require leadership to set the tone and demand action. The conference must be designed around finding and taking action. Dollars and support must be available to resource the actions needed. There must be rewards for action and a culture of terminating inactive efforts. We must recognize that short term solutions are an illusion. We must find a way to initiate and sustain activity to solve our education and workforce problems.

Q&A How do you carry out this effort without staff? You don’t. At most, we can run one conference without staff. Then we need resources to carry the conference forward. Even better, we engage at least an Executive Director in Year 1.