1. MICAH GONZALES EDCU 6331 INTERNSHIP II SECTION KKL Campus Improvement Project II S.T.E.M. Career Nights

2. Competencies DOMAIN I—SCHOOL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP  Competency 001The principal knows how to shape campus culture by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.  Competency 002 The principal knows how to communicate and collaborate with all members of the school community, respond to diverse interests and needs, and mobilize resources to promote student success. “If we all don’t row…the boat won’t go”

3. Abstract The first goal of this project is to enhance students’ knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) related careers, by offering hands on “STEM Career Nights,” once a month over a four month time period. A second goal is to allow the students to discover the many options of careers that are not as well known within the elementary grades. Students will explore as well as be engaged and motivated to learn more about these careers and what each one involves. A third goal is to involve our school’s stakeholders such as, parents, community members, and local businesses. This goal will be achieved by reaching out to a variety of stakeholders, local high school students, and local businesses to volunteer for our STEM Career Nights.

4. Evidence of Need There is a rising demand for professionals in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers. The generation of students in our schools today needs to be directed towards STEM careers so that they can remain competitive in a global workforce in the future. Research shows that it is becoming more important for the students to be educated in the STEM areas in order to be qualified for well paying jobs. According to researchers, we will need to fill 758,000 STEM related jobs in Texas by 2018. STEM education will give many of the younger workers an opportunity to improve their earning potential during their careers. (http://www.tapcoalition.org) The US Department of Labor predicted that jobs requiring STEM training will increase about 34% between 2008 and 2018. (http://www.bls.gov) This project will support the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) from Kindergarten through fifth grade in the subjects of science, math, and technology. The TEKS are guidelines of what the students need to master in each grade level in given areas. By developing and implementing this project we will be reaching students in a new way and allowing them more hands-on experiences with these important subjects. By allowing hands-on learning students will gain knowledge and relate to these subjects, which in return will help the students be successful on district as well as state assessments.

5. Strategies for Implementation What A variety S.T.E.M. career nights Who School S.T.E.M. committee Campus staff Parents/caregivers Local businesses Community members Local high school students Students and their families When: One night a month through out four months How: This event is made possible through the use of grant money and donations. Promotion This event will be promoted by: parent letters sent home; parent connect calls and emails; announcements made daily at morning assembly, prior to each night; information posted on school marquee and school website; Northgate PTO Facebook page; and teacher promotion in classroom

6. Predicted Outcomes At least 50% of the students will have a greater interest in STEM related careers. At least 80% of the students will have a better understanding of what STEM related careers are.

7. Evaluations Students will be given a pre and post survey asking them to tell us what career they would like to pursue when they grow up. Students will write an expository piece about a STEM career that they have learned about as a means of assessing their understanding of STEM related careers.

8. Comparing Survey Data Pre Survey ResultsPost Survey Results Do you plan to attend college? 97% of students said they plan to attend college Do you plan to attend college? 99% of students said they plan to attend college

9. Comparing Survey Data Pre Survey ResultsPost Survey Results Do you know what STEM stand for? 10% of students knew what STEM stands for Do you know what STEM stand for? 46% of students knew what STEM stands for

10. Comparing Survey Data Pre Survey ResultsPost Survey Results What career would you choose? 35% of student chose a STEM career What career would you choose? 47% of student chose a STEM career

11. Results Overall 2% more students said they planned to attend college. Overall student knowledge of STEM was increased by 36%. Overall 12% more students chose a STEM career.

12. Artifacts From S.T.E.M. Career Nights What people are saying:  “Thank YOU for coordinate and setting this fun event again for us all It is such an AWESOME evening” – Northgate Parent  “Thank you to our school for hosting such a fun night for us!” -Northgate Parent  “It was lot of fun!!!!” –Northgate Parent Pictures of the STEM nights on following slides. Sources: Northgate Crossing P.T.O Facebook page comments

17. OUR FUTURE STEM TALENT

18. Improvements and Modifications Successful: Overall the S.T.E.M. career nights were a huge success. The students and parents had positive things to say about each night. Improvement/Modifications: One modification I would make is assigning a station to grade level teams (including office staff and Special Education). Each team would be in charge of a station for each night. The teams would be responsible for: (a) gathering a list of items needed for their station; (b) organizing volunteers for their station; (c) set up and clean up for their station. I believe this would not only relive the responsibility from a few people, but would also provide hands on for ALL teachers and staff to be involved in some way. A second modification I would make is organizing a way to have more parents whose careers fall into S.T.E.M. categories to volunteer at a station. A third modification would be to assemble a team who would go into the community and recruit different business to host a station during each night.