The STEM One Project: A Collaboration between a Technical College and the Local School System

1. The STEMOne Project: A Collaboration between a Technical College and the Local School System Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston, Georgia Dr. Natoshia Anderson Dr. Mariam Dittmann

2. STEM One Project • The focus of the STEM One project is on highlighting STEM, STEM-related, and technical careers to high school students. • DCSS, Career Academies • Using the career academies adopted by the local school system, GPTC and local business partners were able to develop a series of programs that: • Have assisted in retaining students in technical and STEM career academies at the high school level, • Have been an active recruitment tool for GPTC • Allowed students to explore alternative options for postsecondary education and • Provided awareness of alternative career choices.

3. Georgia piedmont technical college • Established in 1961, Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) is one of the oldest and most respected of Georgia's 24 technical colleges. • Georgia Piedmont Technical College prepares individuals with the education, training, and skills to enter the workplace ready to make a difference in their hiring companies and in the ever changing global economy.

4. DeKalb County School systemcareer academies • DeKalb County School System(DCSS) enrolls more than 100,000 students annually. • DCSS is the 3rd largest school system in the State of Georgia

5. CAREER ACADEMIES • A career academy is a personalized, smaller learning community (SLC) within a high school, selecting a subset of students and teachers for a two-, three-, or four-year span. • GOALS OF CAREER ACADEMIES • To provide students with the academics and career-focused electives to graduate with a college prep diploma or dual diploma with specialization in a concentration in humanities, math/science, or career technology • To show the connection between academic courses and careers in the real world • To develop knowledge regarding careers that utilizes a student's talents and aptitudes

6. CAREER ACADEMIES • Major Student Benefit of Career Academies • Post Secondary Opportunities • Articulated Credit • Dual Enrollment • Joint Enrollment • Simultaneous Diploma/Degree Completion

7. CAREERACADEMIES • Business, Marketing, and Computer Science Academy • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Academy • Health Science and Human Services Academy • Creative and Performing Art Academy

8. PROJECT BEGINNINGS • Research has lamented the lack of qualified employees in STEM, STEM-related, and non-traditional careers • Dr. Anderson’s story • Garnered support from College, Business Partners and Community Leaders

9. Partnership-Local School System • College already had a partnership with the local school system • Articulation Agreements • Dual Enrollment • Admissions • Leveraged Partnership through STEM One Project • STEM ONE (Opportunities and Explorations)

10. Funding sources • ENERGE Grant • Atlanta Women’s Foundation • DCSS- Smaller Learning Communities • Business and Industry Partnerships • Perkins • PBI • Complete College Georgia

11. STEM One project Events • Touch of Tech • Girls On Tech Day • Non Traditional Career College Fair • Mini Projects-Girls Love STEM!!! • STEM Carnival • STEM Teacher Training • STEM Night Out • Tapestry Project

12. STEM One Project Events • Done during semesters (1 Fall Semester, 1 Spring Semester) • Non-traditional Career College Fair- 500 high school students • STEM Carnival- in May to coincide with Georgia STEM day if possible • Teacher Training- done at the request of the school system • STEM Night Out- done at the request of individual schools • Girls on Tech Day • Each visit had a theme, focused on girls • 20 girls from each school • Featured Criminal Justice, Architecture and Construction, Engineering, Welding, Commercial Refrigeration, Drafting Technology, Automotive Technology, Electronics • One big event at GPTC

13. Making Ice cream and lamps

14. STEM ONE PROJECT EVENTS • Three Day Nontraditional Career Workshop for Women • Result of work with teen girls • Funded by AWF Grant • Designed for women in community that were unemployed or underemployed • Focused on women empowerment, education opportunities, nontraditional career exploration. • Dream Board Activity • Automotive ,Welding and Electrical Demonstration • Career Tours

15. NCWW Activities

16. Ten Best Practices • Connect with and form a working relationship with the CTAE Director and/or staff of the local school system • Get College Administration buy-in

17. TEN Best Practices • Connect with the STEM Coordinators/Directors • Use all available resources • Use Your Business and Industry Relationships

18. Ten Best Practices • Keep good records (record meeting minutes, pictures of the events, surveys or some other assessments to measure the “success” of the program, event, etc.) • Learn from past mistakes • Don’t lose sight of the ultimate objective • Events/projects must contain energy, excitement and provide a hands on experience

19. Ten Best Practices • Use the data to tweak and change project if necessary.

20. Questions

21. For More Information Dr. Natoshia Anderson Director of STEM Initiatives 404.297.9522 x1239 anderson@gptc.edu or stem@gptc.edu Dr. Mariam Dittmann Vice President of Academic Affairs dittmannm@gptc.edu