New STEM school could benefit Air Force mission

  • Published
  • By Larine Barr
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- --  When the Ohio Board of Regents awarded $600,000 in state funds Feb. 15 to Dayton to develop a special school aimed at educating tomorrow's high-tech workers, the Air Force Research Laboratory was one step closer to being a direct beneficiary of the schools' graduates.

Students attending the new STEM school, which is projected to open in 2009, will be immersed in much needed science, technology, engineering and mathematics - all required disciplines to fill AFRL's scientific positions. With a projected lack of qualified candidates in the future to fill high-tech jobs, AFRL has worked steadily to head off the deficit by supporting a range of educational outreach programs, to include establishing a STEM school.

"What is bringing STEM issues to the forefront is the realization that with the future job openings coming to Wright-Patterson as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure activities, many critical research jobs may go unfilled because statistics show that less and less US citizens are pursuing STEM related degrees," said program manager Rick Negron, AFRL Sensors Directorate. "Studies show that in order to affect STEM in a meaningful way, we need to develop a K-12 pipe line that ties STEM-rich curriculum with meaningful research experiences."

Serving as an anchor to inspire the establishment of a STEM school, AFRL has worked with its community STEM partners to provide the necessary research experience to complement the curriculum. Mr. Negron said AFRL will help to plan and develop curriculum in concert with the newly established STEM Resource Center, and AFRL researchers will work hand in hand with educators and industry to translate technology development into meaningful activities for the students. Contributions from AFRL will be in-kind and could involve donations of surplus or excess lab equipment.

"It's been exciting and rewarding to be involved with the formation of this special project, knowing that we are building not just a school, but a complete educational experience that will better prepare our students to be future leaders," said Mr. Negron.

The Dayton Regional STEM school initially will be located in a facility provided by Wright State University with services donated by local coalition partners. Admission will be open to students who show high potential and a spirit of inquiry. Plans are to start with a ninth grade class in 2009, and grow in increments to sixth through 12th grade by 2012.

"We should start seeing results from monitoring Ohio proficiency tests and other state measurements in the first two years of operation," said Mr. Negron. "Results also will be measured through deploying best of class curriculum that would be developed and tested at the school, in addition to new teacher training techniques that will be implemented at the school."

According to Wright State University, the university will invest $500,000 in the initial development of the school and serve as the fiscal agent for the project, providing long-term administrative and operational support, along with access to such facilities as labs and libraries.

"Our goal for the Dayton Regional STEM School is to prepare students with the skills necessary to compete in our rapidly changing economy while nurturing in our young people the same enthusiasm for discovery, invention and application that launched the vision of powered flight," said Gregory Bernhardt, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Wright state, in a news release.