b'BROOKE MCGEE: So what does STEMThats STEM. Thats a science skill. Gettingmakeadifferencetoo.Wehadalocal mean? thesechildrentoseethevalueofthesecompanyreachouttousandsaythey JessicaEveritt:StemisScience,skills and the people around them, I thinkwere interested in partnering with a school Technology,Engineering,andMath.Butthats a big way companies impact them.for a STEM program and wanted to know thats actually a funny name because thoseIve seen the kids grow in their respect forif we were interested. We took them up on are all fields of science.eachothersopinionsandtheirrespectthat, and weve done some great projects for their parents in a lot of ways. Theyretogether since the beginning of the school MCGEE: What do you do in a STEMmore excited to say My mom does this oryear. Really getting professionals in there class? My dad does this, and thats been reallywith the kids to have a positive interaction EVERITT:Itsmoreofproblem-solvingrewarding too. with them goes so far with our students. andcriticalthinkingclassandgettingMCGEE: Why should more companiesAnother way to get involved is to donate. A studentstosolvetheirproblemsinaget involved with STEM programs? lot of schools need funding for projects too, logicalway.AndwhenyouthinkaboutEVERITT:Asanation,wehavealackso if you dont have time, theres always a thatwithakindergartener,thatskindofofskilledworkersincertainfieldslikechance to donate. na different way of looking at stuff: how toGeographicInformationSystem(GIS), takestepstosolveproblemsinsteadofsoftwareprogramming,andotherrelated jumping to I think I know the solution! Itsfields. We dont know what jobs are coming about really thinking through the problem,up, but we know theyre going to require understanding the problem as a whole, andmore technical skills. What can we do toStill need convincing why you then moving to the solution.fill that gap? The only way to see benefitsshould donate your time? Here DONATE YOURfor your company economically is to startare a few facts from ACT.org:MCGEE: How do the companies visiting TIME FOR STEM STEM impact your children? gearingyourworkforcetowardsthose EVERITT:Wellyoualreadyknowaboutfields.YoudothatbymakingstudentsWorkers in the STEM Andrews visit. The little boy wanted to be aaware of the positive experiences in STEM1 fields continue to By Brooke McGee fields. If a kid can put a face and positivebe in high demandbaseball coach, and now he wants to workexperience to what your career is about, for GRIDSMART. Its so fun. He loves playingtheyre twice as likely, at least, to want to baseball, and now he wants to do this. Itschoose that career. Science. Technology. Engineering. Math; orfun to see that shift happen in their thinking. Studies predict as its more commonly called, STEM. Its ourIt also shows the communities they workthat STEM-related line of work; its what we do every day. AsGettingtoseetheirpridechangetooisin how much they care and how invested2 jobs will increase these fields continue to evolve, its criticalanotherthing.Wehavekidswhohavethey are in the people they serve. Becauseby 8.9% between to become involved with STEM programsparents with a background in construction.thats another thing that came out of STEM.2014 and 2024for children, so they learn the benefits ofAnd usually, we never hear them talk aboutThe parents were just floored at how many those fields. their parents. All of a sudden, were doing acompanies were willing to come out and construction task, or we have their parentsshare their knowledge and expertise withNot enough U.S. Recently,AndrewHall,PrincipalSoftwareat STEM night, and theyre sharing what theytheir kids. 3 students are Engineer at GRIDSMART, attended a STEMdo. The kids just light up because they areequipped for STEM night at Hardin Valley Elementary School toproud of what their parents are doing for theMCGEE: How do more companies getopportunitiesspeak to the students about GRIDSMARTfirst time. For the first time, they understandinvolved? andITS.Whileitseemslikeasimplethe value and importance of that.EVERITT:MoststateshaveaSTEM gesture,wequicklylearnedthatdonatingTheresfeedbackthatgoeswiththenetwork because STEM is a growing field time to talk to students about what we dounderstandingofwhoispresentinyourwheretheyhaveyearlyconferences.But significantly impacts them and changes theircommunityandhowmuchweareallreaching out to schools and saying youreAreyougoingtoinvestinthe perspectives on potential careers.interconnectedanddependentoneachinterested in speaking to the students canfuture of your workforce? It only takes one positive interaction IsatdownwithHardinValleyElementaryother, no matter how little you think you are.withtechnologytochangea STEM Educator, Jessica Everitt, to find outI have students who say, Well my mom justchilds life and their perspective howdonatingtimetospeaktostudentsstays at home. So I say, Does she cook?onacareer.Thatonepositive positively impacts their lives and to learn whyinteraction could be YOU. more companies should participate in STEMFormoreinformationabout programs. how to get involved with STEM programs,contactyourlocal Brooke McGee, Marketingschool district.Communications Coordinator at GRIDSMART, A Cubic Company, and editor of #talkITS. 10'