>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE
POSSIBLE IN PART BY FUNDING
FROM THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
FOUNDATION.
A PROUD SUPPORTER OF QUALITY
EDUCATION ACROSS LOUISIANA.
IN THE FIELDS OF SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND
MATH.
AND THE FOUNDATION FOR
EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING.
>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO
"LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE."
I'M BETH COURTNEY, PRESIDENT
OF LOUISIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING.
>> AND I'M SHAUNA SANFORD,
NEWS ANCHOR FOR LPB.
TONIGHT WE'RE PLEASED TO BE
COMING TO YOU FROM THE
BEAUTIFUL NEW PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER AT THE MATH,
SCIENCE, AND ARTS ACADEMY
IN PLAQUEMINE.
THE FACILITY IS PART OF A
$15 MILLION FACELIFT THAT
ILLUSTRATES THIS COMMUNITY'S
COMMITMENT TO EDUCATING ITS
STUDENTS IN THE FIELDS OF
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, AND MATH.
KNOWN BY THE ACRONYM OF STEM,
THESE SUBJECTS TRULY FORM
THE FOUNDATION OF
BLOSSOMING CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES IN LOUISIANA.
>> BUT MANY OF THESE JOB
OPENINGS ARE CURRENTLY BEING
LEFT UNFILLED DUE TO A LACK
OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
HOW WELL IS THE STATE
PREPARING OUR CITIZENS FOR
STEM CAREERS?
HOW WELL ARE OUR EDUCATORS
TRAINED TO TEACH THE STEM
SUBJECTS?
AND HOW CAN STUDENTS
ESPECIALLY FEMALES, BECOME
MORE ENGAGED IN STEM FIELDS?
OVER THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL
EXPLORE THESE ISSUES AND MORE.
BUT FIRST, LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT LOUISIANA'S STEM STATUS.
>> CURRENTLY WE ARE WORKING ON
AN ANTI-BULLYING VIDEO FOR THE
SCHOOL BOARD.
>> I'M DESIGNING A WEB SITE FOR
UNIVERSITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
AND MIDDLE SCHOOL --
>> CLICK ON THE DOT, IT TELLS
YOU WHO WAS BURIED THERE, THEIR
HISTORY, WHAT THEY'RE KNOWN
FOR.
>> THESE STUDENTS ATTENDING
SHREVEPORT'S SOUTHWOOD HIGH
SCHOOL HAVE BEEN GETTING A
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN THE
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING AND MATH FIELDS FOR
THE LAST YEAR.
COURSES USE WHAT'S CALLED THE
EAST APPROACH, A SELF-DIRECTED
EXPLORATION OF STEM CAREERS.
>> I DON'T REALLY TEACH IN THE
CLASS.
I FACILITATE THEIR LEARNING.
I FACILITATE THEM TEACHING
THEMSELVES.
>> LLOYD RUSHING SAID STUDENTS
DEVELOP PROJECTS THAT SERVE
THEIR COMMUNITY WHILE RECEIVING
REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE IN AREAS
OF VIDEO EDITING, ARCHITECTURE,
ANIMATION DESIGN, AND
GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
SYSTEMS.
>> THIS CLASS ALLOWS THEM TO
COME AND OPEN UP A TOOLBOX TO
SAY HERE IS A TOOLBOX FULL OF
GREAT TOOLS THAT ALL RELATES TO
STEM.
TAKE EACH TOOL OUT, FIND WHICH
ONE THAT YOU REALLY LIKE, AND
LET'S CONCENTRATE ON LEARNING
THAT PARTICULAR TOOL.
>> THE PROGRAM IS ONE OF
SEVERAL INITIATIVES THAT CADDO
PARISH INSTITUTED IN THE 90s
AFTER THE LOSS OF MANUFACTURING
JOBS.
FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, STEM
JOBS HAVE BEEN GROWING
NATIONALLY AT THREE TIMES THE
RATE OF NONSTEM OCCUPATIONS.
THE STATE WILL NEED TO FILL
69,000 STEM-RELATED JOBS BY
2018.
ALTHOUGH THE WORK HERE IS
PLENIF
PLENTIFUL, IN LOUISIANA, THREE
STEM JOBS OPENING FOR EVERY
UNEMPLOYED WORKER.
>> A SITUATION IN LOUISIANA
WHERE I CONSIDER A BLESSING IN
DISGUISE, IN THAT WE HAVE MORE
JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STEM
FIELD THAN WE HAVE CITIZENS WHO
ARE PREPARED FOR THOSE JOBS.
AND OUR CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS
TO ENSURE THAT WE MEET THE
SHORT AND LONG TERM DEMAND OF
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY.
>> BRYAN MOORE DIRECTOR OF WORK
FORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR
LOUISIANA'S WORK FORCE
COMMISSION.
MOORE SAYS BRIDGING THE STEM
SKILLS GAP INVOLVES WORKING
WITH INDUSTRY TO PROVIDE
CUSTOMIZED TRAINING IN THE
SHORT TERM BUT WORKING WITH
EDUCATORS IN THE LONG TERM.
>> 90% OF THE STEM RELATED
OCCUPATIONS IN OUR STATE
REQUIRE ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR
BETTER.
VERY IMPORTANT TO WORK CLOSELY
WITH THE UNIVERSITIES TO
RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF
BUSINESS.
CREATE A CURRICULUM CONSISTENT
WITH THE DEMAND IN BUSINESS AND
INDUSTRY.
>> 9% OF BACHELOR'S DEGREES
AWARDED IN LOUISIANA ARE IN THE
STEM FIELD.
CLOSE TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
NOT ALL STEM CAREERS REQUIRE A
FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.
IN FACT, A RECENT BROOKINGS
INSTITUTION REPORT FOUND THAT
HALF OF ALL STEM JOBS REQUIRE
NO BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
THE STUDY RANKED BATON ROUGE
FIRST NATIONALLY FOR THESE
TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES.
WITH MANY OF THEM TIED TO THE
PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY AND
CONSTRUCTION TRADES.
>> WE GO BACK AND LOOK AND
WHERE WE PUT OUR DOLLARS OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IT IS
VERY HEAVILY IN PROGRAMS
SUPPORTING MATH, SCIENCES, ALSO
ALLIED HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES,
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES,
PARTICULARLY THOSE AFFILIATED
WITH THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
AS WELL AS THE CHEMICAL AND
PROCESSING INDUSTRIES.
>> DR. JOE MAY IS PRESIDENT OF
LOUISIANA'S TECHNICAL AND
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.
HE SAYS THE SYSTEM HAS ADDED
OVER 200 NEW PROGRAMS THAT
FOCUS ON STEM SKILLS.
LEGISLATION PASSED THIS YEAR
WILL PROVIDE OVER $280 MILLION
IN STATE AND INDUSTRY FUNDING
FOR 29 COMMUNITY COLLEGE
EXPANSION PROJECTS.
NEARLY HALF WILL BE LOCATED IN
RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.
>> AS YOU LOOK AT THE PROGRAM
LIST, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IN
THE TITLE A STEM FACILITY,
BOSSIER PARISH COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.
ALLIED HEALTH FACILITY, OTHER
SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS AND
GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS
THAT ARE REALLY BUILT TO
SUPPORT THE TYPES OF CAREERS
THAT WE SEE TODAY IN LOUISIANA.
>> KEN BRADFORD WITH
LOUISIANA'S DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION SAYS THE AGENCY IS
CONSIDERING CONSOLIDATING THE
THREE
THREE DIPLOMA CHOICES.
>> WHEN A STUDENT GRADUATES
FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THEY'RE GOING
TO HAVE AN INDUSTRY CREDENTIAL
IN THE STEM AREAS.
SO THAT THEY CAN BE EMPLOYABLE
UPON GRADUATION.
>> LOUISIANA RECENTLY ADOPTED
RIGOROUS COMMON CORE STANDARDS
FOR MATHEMATICS BUT HASN'T
COMMITTED TO ADOPTING THE NEXT
GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT LOUISIANA
EDUCATORS STILL LAG BEHIND THE
NATION IN KNOWLEDGE AND
TRAINING IN THE STEM FIELDS.
>> WE BELIEVE THAT TEACHERS ARE
THE KEY TO SYSTEMIC AND
SUSTAINABLE CHANGE.
>> G.B. CAZES VICE PRESIDENT --
BUILT TO DIVERSIFY THE AREAS
ECONOMIC BASE THROUGH THE WORLD
OF COMPUTERS, PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES TO
BETTER PREPARE EDUCATORS TO
TRAIN TOMORROW'S WORK FORCE.
KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL
INTEGRATED CYBER EDUCATION
RESEARCH CENTER, OR NICERC, ITS
PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO
TEACHERS STATEWIDE.
>> WE WORK WITH TEACHERS
PROVIDING MENTORING
RELATIONSHIPS, PROVIDE THEM
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES AND
CREATE A NETWORK OF TEACHERS ON
THE NEW FRONTIERS, IF YOU WILL
AND ON NEW WAYS TO LEARN.
>> GUIDED BY THE STAFF AT
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY,
TEACHERS IN NICERC'S CYBER
DISCOVERY PROGRAM LEARN HOW TO
ENGAGE STUDENTS IN STEM
SUBJECTS BY USING ROBOTICS.
>> ENGINEERING PART, THEY HAVE
TO BUILD, DESIGN IT.
MATHEMATICS, YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND DISTANCE.
IF I WANT IT TO GO THIS
DISTANCE, HOW DO I NEED TO CODE
THAT TO MAKE IT GO THAT
DISTANCE?
AND THEN TECHNOLOGY, USING
COMPUTERS ALL OF THE TIME.
>> INDUSTRIES LIKE DOW CHEMICAL
COMPANY, EXXON MOBILE ARE
PROVIDING CLASSROOM RESOURCES
AND SPONSORING TEACHERS FOR
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
LAURA LEA CEPHALU TEACHES
SCIENCE AT MIDDLE SCHOOL IN
BATON ROUGE.
SHE ATTENDED THE SALLY RIDE
SCIENCE ACADEMY.
STEM FAMILY NIGHT TO PROMOTE
CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND MATH.
>> IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS.
A LOT OF WORK, BUT THE KIDS
LOVED IT AND IT SPARKED A BUNCH
OF INTEREST THAT A TEXTBOOK
CANNOT DO.
IT WAS GREAT.
>> I THINK --
>> ALEXIS JOHNSON IS AN EIGHTH
GRADER AT GLASGOW MIDDLE SCHOOL
WHO PLANS ON BECOMING A NURSE.
CEPHALU SAID HER INTEREST AND
CONFIDENCE HAS INCREASED SINCE
STEM NIGHT.
>> I STILL THINK IT IS HARD BUT
I CAN SEE MYSELF DOING IT
BECAUSE I'M MORE INTO SCIENCE.
>> REGIONAL ROBOTICS
COMPETITION AND PROGRAMS ARE
OTHER WAYS THAT THE STATE IS
TRYING TO IGNITE STUDENTS
PASSION IN STEM AND ITS OUT OF
THIS WORLD CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> IT IS DEFINITELY A RUSH ON
THE MOMENT OF LANDING TO SEE
EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE WORKED
SO HARD ON FOR THE LAST, YOU
KNOW, FROM SEVEN TO 10 YEARS
ALL EXECUTE SO FLAWLESSLY RIGHT
DOWN TO THE SURFACE OF MARS.
>> KEITH COMEAUX, A LOUISIANA
NATIVE, LSU GRADUATE, AND THE
FLIGHT DIRECTOR OF NASA'S
"CURIOSITY" ROVER THAT LANDED
ON MARS.
NOT EVEN THE SKY IS THE LIMIT
IN THE WORLD OF SCIENCE.
>> STUDENTS SHOULD GET
ENERGIZED BY SCIENCE.
SCIENCE IS OUR FUTURE.
SCIENCE DRIVES A LOT OF THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE
SEE AND ALSO DRIVES OUR
CURIOSITY.
I THINK HUMAN NATURE IS TO
EXPLORE AND I THINK SCIENCE IS
SOMEONE WAY WE CAN DO THAT.
>> TALK ABOUT ENTHUSIASM FOR
SCIENCE.
THAT LANDING WAS REALLY
EXCITING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
CADDO PARISH SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND OTHERS FOR HELPING TO
COORDINATE SEVERAL OF THOSE
INTERVIEWS.
BEFORE WE GO TO THE AUDIENCE
HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
OUR PANEL THIS EVENING.
KEN BRANFORD IS ASSISTANT
SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION'S OFFICE OF CONTENT.
STACEY CHIASSON IS A FORMER
HIGH SCHOOL BUSINESS TEACHER
WHO NOW LEADS THE PUBLIC
AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT FOR THE
DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY IN
LOUISIANA.
DR. ISAIAH WARNER IS A BOYD
PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY AT
LSU.
DUE IN LARGE PART TO HIS
RECRUITING EFFORTS, LSU
RANKS FIRST NATIONALLY FOR
PRODUCING AFRICAN-AMERICAN
PH.D.'S IN CHEMISTRY.
CATHI COX-BONIOL IS
COORDINATOR OF THE ACHIEVE
PROGRAM IN LINCOLN PARISH
SCHOOLS.
A SCIENCE TEACHER FOR 17
YEARS, MRS. BONIOL HAS
DIRECTED STEM INITIATIVES AT
THE UNIVERSITY AND HIGH
SCHOOL LEVELS.
AND CURT EYSINK IS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
LOUISIANA WORK FORCE
COMMISSION.
A POSITION HE'S HELD SINCE
2008.
HIS AGENCY WORKS AS A
MATCH-MAKER FOR LOUISIANA'S
EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.
I THINK YOU HAVE AN OPENING
QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU TO OUR PANELISTS FOR
BEING HERE TONIGHT AND OUR
AUDIENCE.
I KNOW EVERYBODY IS EXCITED AND
READY TO GO.
THIS IS FOR EACH OF YOU.
WE SAW IN THE PACKAGE THERE
THAT THE DEMAND IS GREAT, JOBS
OF PLENTIFUL WHEN IT COMES TO
CAREERS IN THE STEM AREAS RIGHT
HERE IN LOUISIANA.
BUT IS THE STATE REALLY DOING
AN ADEQUATE JOB OF PREPARING
STUDEN
STUDENTS, MANY OF THE STUDENTS
HERE TONIGHT AND OTHERS AND
THOSE IN THE WORK FORCE TO
REALLY MEET THAT DEMAND?
WE WILL START WITH YOU, CURT.
>> GREAT QUESTION TO START
WITH.
I THINK THAT GETS TO THE HEART
OF THE ISSUE RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
THE KEY THING, THESE JOBS ARE
EVOLVING.
OUR SYSTEM THAT IS DEVELOPING
PEOPLE FOR THESE JOBS HAS TO
EVOLVE, TOO.
A NUMBER OF THINGS WE ARE
DOING.
A REALLY RAMPED UP VERSION OF
OCCUPATIONAL -- LOOKS
SHORT-TERM THROUGH 2014,
LONG-TERM THROUGH 2020, AND A
SPECIAL STUDY ON THE
CONSTRUCTION JOBS MENTIONED IN
THAT SEGMENT.
WE HAVE A BOOMING INDUSTRIAL
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY THAT IS
GOING TO BE TAKING OFF VERY
SOON AND IT IS GOING TO LAST
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
ONCE WE KNOW WHAT THE DEMAND
IS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
EDUCATION TRAINING INSTITUTION,
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND
PARTICULARLY THE COMMUNITY OF
TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM, BUT
MOST IMPORTANTLY WITH BUSINESS
AND INDUSTRY TO UNDERSTAND
EXACTLY WHAT THE OCCUPATIONS
ARE, THE SKILLSETS REQUIRED FOR
THE OCCUPATIONS AND BUILDING
THAT INTO THE FRAMEWORK
AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE REALLY
STARTING JULY.
FIRST WEEK IN JULY.
FIRST CLASS FROM THIS SPECIAL
INITIATIVE WILL RAMP UP.
INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION JOBS
AND THAT IS A MODEL THAT WE PUT
TOGETHER IN THE LAST 2 1/2
MONTHS, EVERYBODY WORKING
TOGETHER TO RESPOND VERY
QUICKLY TO THIS FIELD.
>> I AM VERY ENCOURAGED WHAT
I'M SEEING IN LOUISIANA.
A NETWORK OF SCIENCE LEADERS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE WORKING
DILIGENTLY TO CREATE A NETWORK
OF RESOURCES, INFORMAL AND
FORMAL THAT CAN SUPPORT THE
EDUCATIONAL PROCESS AND BRING A
REAL AUTHENTICITY TO THE
CLASSROOM, BEYOND JUST LEARNING
THE CONTENT AND DEALING WITH
STANDARDS MANDATED BY THE
DEPARTMENT, WE ARE BRINGING IN
THE -- BRINGING IT TO THE
FOREFRONT, GETTING KIDS
EXCITED.
THAT IS WHAT IT IS GOING TO
TAKE.
WE NEED TO TURN THEM ON TO IT
EARLY.
THEY BECOME EMPOWERED AND
BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY CAN DO AND
SEE THE WINDOWS OPEN TO THEIR
FUTURE.
IT IS ALL ABOUT A MINDSET AND
GETTING THE RESOURCES IN THERE
TO EMPOWER THE TEACHERS TO DO
THAT.
>> DR. WARNER.
>> I HATE TO BE THE NAY SAYER
HERE, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU
HAVE THREE STEM JOB TO EVERY
UNEMPLOYED PERSON SUGGESTS THAT
WE'RE NOT DOING WHAT WE SHOULD
BE DOING.
I THINK WE CAN DO A MUCH BETTER
JOB PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR
THE STEM FIELD.
I THINK THAT, FOR EXAMPLE,
QUITE OFTEN, EVEN COUNSELLORS
WILL TRANSFORM THEIR OWN FEARS
TO STUDENTS.
WE NEED TO TELL STUDENTS MORE
OFTEN YOU NEED TO TAKE THAT
TOUGH STUFF BECAUSE THAT IS
WHERE THE JOBS.
I THINK WE'RE NOT DOING AS
NEARLY A GOOD AS JOB AS WE
SHOULD BE DOING IN THAT AREA.
>> DOW IS FORTUNATE, WE HAVE
SIX SITES ACROSS THE STATE.
AND SO, WE DO GET TO PARTNER
WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOLKS
AROUND THE STATE.
AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THERE
ARE POCKETS OF EXCELLENCE.
THERE ARE GREAT THINGS GOING ON
AT LSU AND TECH.
AND THERE ARE GREAT THINGS
GOING ON RIGHT HERE AT THE MATH
AND SCIENCE ACADEMY IN
IBERVILLE PARISH.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING WHEN WE
CAN'T FILL A JOB IN THE STEM
FIELD, THERE ARE NOT A YOUNG
PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THESE
DEGREE PROGRAMS.
THE KEY IS TO GET MORE YOUNG
PEOPLE EXCITED AND UNDERSTAND
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL
EXIST FOR THEM RIGHT HERE AT
HO
HOME.
THE DATA SHOWS HOW WELL THE
JOBS PAY AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO
BE FOR A YOUNG PERSON JUST FOR
THE FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.
WE HIRE 6,000 PEOPLE IN THIS
STATE, AND WE HIRE A LOT OF
ENGINEERS, BUT TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU, THE BACKBONE OF OUR
FACILITY, TWO-YEAR DEGREE STEM
PROFESSIONALS.
>> AS WE SPEAK, SUPERINTENDENT
WHITE IS OUT ON A TWO-WEEK TOUR
AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT --
THE THREE DIPLOMAS THAT A
STUDENT IN LOUISIANA CAN GET
RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS CURRENTLY A CAREER
DIPLOMA, THERE IS A BASIC
DIPLOMA, AND A CORE FOR COLLEGE
TRACK DIPLOMA.
IN THE ORIGINAL SEGMENT WE SAW,
ALLUDED TO LOUISIANA, THERE IS
THIS DEMAND RIGHT NOW, RANKED
FIRST IN THE NATION IN
METROPOLITAN AREAS IN BATON
ROUGE, AND NEW ORLEANS RANKED
NUMBER THREE FOR STEM JOBS THAT
DO NOT REQUIRE A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE.
AND SO WITH THESE THREE DIPLOMA
PATHWAYS RIGHT NOW, WITH 32,000
STUDENTS, 32,000 PLUS STUDENTS
THAT GRADUATE EACH YEAR IN
LOUISIANA, THERE WAS 170 THAT
EARNED A CAREER DIPLOMA THIS
YEAR.
WITH A CAREER DIPLOMA, WE'RE
GOING AROUND THE STATE.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO STRENGTHEN
THAT OPTION SO THAT A STUDENT
WHO IS ON A CAREER DIPLOMA PATH
WHERE THEY TAKE TWO YEARS OF
RIGOROUS ACADEMIC COURSE WORK
AND THEN THE LAST TWO YEARS
THEY WILL START TO WORK TOWARDS
AN INDUSTRY-BASED CREDENTIAL TO
HELP MEET THIS NEED.
IT WILL BE AN INDUSTRY-BASED
CREDENTIAL ALIGNED TO HIGH
DEMAND JOBS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CURT
AND THE WORK FORCE INVESTMENT
COUNCIL AND COMMISSION AND WE
ARE GOING AROUND THE STATE AND
SEEKING INPUT ON THAT NOW.
AND SO, THERE IS ALSO GOING TO
BE ACCOUNTABILITY ASSOCIATED
WITH THAT, JUST LIKE WE REWARD
STUDENTS IN THE SYSTEM RIGHT
NOW, IN SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS
THAT TAKE RIGOROUS COURSE WORK,
REWARDS IN THE SYSTEM FOR
STUDENTS WHO COME OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL WHO GRADUATE WITH AN
INDUSTRY-BASED CREDENTIAL.
>> KATHY BRAND, DIRECTOR OF THE
STARBASE LOUISIANA PROGRAM.
MY QUESTION IS THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE PROGRAM IN LOUISIANA
PROVIDES 25 CONCENTRATED HOURS
OF STEM CONTENT AND APPLICATION
TO OVER 4,000 STUDENTS A YEAR.
THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION
PLANS AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD
ELIMINATION OF FEDERALLY FUNDED
STEM PROGRAMS, EVEN THOSE WITH
A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF
SUCCESS IN AN EFFORT TO
REORGANIZE AND STREAMLINE
RESOURCES.
IF STARBASE FUNDING IS NOT --
THIS RESOURCE WILL BE CLOSED.
-- AVAILABLE IN EDUCATION,
BUSINESS, OR INDUSTRY THAT
COULD SUSTAIN A SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM LIKE STARBASE IF
FEDERAL FUNDING IS LOST?
>> THAT IS A TOUGH ONE.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO -- WHO WOULD
LIKE TO TRY THAT?
>> I WILL TAKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW
DIVERSIFIED THE FUNDING IS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE
COMPLETELY FUNDED BY FEDERAL
FUNDS.
IS THAT CORRECT THAT YOU ARE
COMPLETELY FUNDED BY FEDERAL
FUNDS.
I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT AND DOW'S PHILOSOPHY
TO HAVE A PUBLIC/PRIVATE
FUNDING MECHANISM TO SUSTAIN
THESE THINGS.
WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN
THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE
TRAINING.
SO, WE WANT TO INVEST IN THAT
FINANCIALLY AND WITH HUMAN
RESOURCES AND VOLUNTEERS.
OUR STATE HAS TO, YOU KNOW,
ENGAGE IN THAT.
I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF
THAT PUBLIC/PRIVATE FUNDING
MECHANISM IS THE NEW TECHNICAL
COLLEGE RIGHT HERE IN IBERVILLE
PARISH.
STATE DEDICATED A LITTLE OVER
$3 MILLION TO GET THE PROJECT
DONE.
IT WAS GOING TO BE A $4
MILLION.
DOW CONTRIBUTED THE ADDITIONAL
$1 MILLION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I THINK AS A PARTNERSHIP, WE
CAN SUSTAIN THAT'S THINGS THAT
HAVE GREAT TRACK RECORDS.
>> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO CHIME
IN?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT THE DEPARTMENT
IS DOING IN THE AREA OF FUNDING
IS THAT IT USED TO BE THAT
SCHOOL SYSTEMS WOULD HAVE TO
APPLY FOR THEIR FUNDING AND
THEY WOULD HAVE 25 DIFFERENT
POTS OF FUNDS THEY WOULD HAVE
TO APPLY IN THEORY, ALMOST 25
DIFFERENT TIMES.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WORKED TO
CONSOLIDATE ALL OF THAT FUNDING
INTO ONE UNIFIED APPLICATION.
AND WE WORKED TO PROVIDE
FLEXIBILITY WITH THE DISTRICTS
AND SO IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW,
WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL
SYSTEMS, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD
PARTNER WITH THEM AND SEE IF
THERE IS AN IDENTIFIABLE
FUNDING SOURCE, BECAUSE IT
SOUNDS LIKE WHAT IS OCCURRING
IS VERY POSITIVE AND I'M SURE
THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WOULD
BE AMBITIOUS IN WANTING TO
PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING LIKE
THIS.
>> IN OUR COMMUNITY AND
TECHNICAL COLLEGES, SUPPLYING
PEOPLE FOR THE GREATEST GAP IN
OUR WORK FORCE, DEVELOPING
TREMENDOUS PUBLIC PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS AND IN SOME DEGREE
WITH HIGH SCHOOLS AND
UNIVERSITIES TO BRIDGE THIS
GAP.
IF YOU LOOK AT DELGADO FOR
INSTANCE, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF PRIVATE DOLLARS COMING INTO
THAT UNIVERSITY, EITHER AS
MATCHES, IN OTHER WAYS.
CAMPUSES ACROSS THE STATE DOING
THAT SAME THING.
THE KEY IS WORKING WITH THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE ULTIMATELY GOING
TO HIRE THOSE STUDENTS AND
SHOWING VALUE AND -- FROM AN
EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE, IF A
PROGRAM IS PROVIDING VALUE,
PRODUCING PEOPLE THAT CAN MEET
THE DEMANDS BY SKILL, THERE IS
GOING TO BE A VESTED INTEREST
IN EVERYBODY PARTICIPATING IN
THAT PARTNERSHIP.
WE ARE SEEING A GROWING NUMBER
OF SUCCESS STORIES JUST LIKE
THAT ACROSS THE STATE.
I THINK HIGH SCHOOLS
PARTICIPATING IN THAT, TOO.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OVER TO YOU, SHAUNA.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT
THERE ARE POCKETS OF SUCCESS
OUT THERE.
AND LOUISIANA TECH IS CERTAINLY
HAVING A LOT OF SUCCESS AND WE
HAD SOMEONE HERE FROM THE
SCHOOL.
GIVE US YOUR NAME AND TELL US
WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE.
>> I'M THE STUDENT SUCCESS
SPECIALIST FOR THE COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE AT
LOUISIANA TECH.
AT LOUISIANA TECH WE INVOLVE
OUR FRESHMEN IN HAND ON
PROJECTS.
THEY BUILD THEIR OWN LAB THAT
IS PORTABLE AND THEY'RE
RESPONSIBLE TO BRING TO EACH
CLASS.
WE SEE THIS AS A MAJOR ROLE IN
OUR RETENTION AND RECRUITING.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK STACY OR
CATHI TO VOICE THEIR OPINION
ABOUT OUR APPROACH.
>> LOUISIANA TECH A VITAL
PARTNER TO PARISH SCHOOLS -- IT
HAS BEEN AMAZING TO WATCH THE
GAME CHANGER THAT HAS BEEN THE
RESULT OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND
I'M -- I WILL SPECIFICALLY CITE
THE NASA THREAD GRANT THAT WE
GOT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
LOUISIANA TECH.
BROUGHT THAT FRESHMAN CLASS --
WHERE OUR STUDENTS WERE
SUDDENLY TAKING COLLEGE
LEVEL -- THEIR MINDSET CHANGED
ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO
AND OPENED UP AN ENTIRE WORLD
TO THEM.
THIS PAST YEAR, THE ECHO CAR
TEAM THAT WENT TO NATIONALS
ALONG WITH LOUISIANA TECH AND
ENDED UP DOING INCREDIBLE
THINGS THAT NO ONE ANTICIPATED.
AND THOSE KIDS ARE GOING RIGHT
INTO ENGINEERING.
THEY SEE THEMSELVES
DIFFERENTLY.
THAT TO ME IS WHAT THE
DIFFERENCE IS WITH THE PROGRAM
LIKE LOUISIANA TECH BECAUSE IT
HELPS CHANGE THE MINDSET.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
CHANGE THE MINDSET ACROSS THE
BOARD IN LOUISIANA IF WE ARE
GOING TO ACHIEVE WHAT IT IS
THAT WE NEED TO.
NOT ONLY IN THE CLASSROOM BUT
IN THE PARTNERSHIPS AS WELL AS
THE GENERAL PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDING THE CHANGES THAT
NEED TO TAKE PLACE.
I SEE WHAT LOUISIANA TECH DOES
AS A MODEL FOR OTHER PARTNERS
TO FOLLOW.
AND I CAN'T SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH
ABOUT IT.
>> I GOT TO MEET ALLY LAST
SUMMER.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH WHAT
YOU ALL ARE DOING.
WHAT IMPRESSED ME THE MOST WAS
THE HAND-HOLDING THAT TECH DID
WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE
STUDENTS.
TO NOT ONLY ENGAGE THEM BUT
KEEP THEM ENGAGED.
YOU REALLY HAVE PUT YOUR MONEY
WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.
THEY HAVE HIRED PEOPLE LIKE YOU
TO DO THAT.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED, EVEN AS
AN OLD SCHOOLTEACHER, WHEN WE
WOULD GO TO PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, STAFF DEVELOPMENT,
THE TEACHERS WOULD GO, RIGHT?
YOU ARE TAKING THE TEACHER AND
THE STUDENTS, AND THEY'RE DOING
THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TOGETHER.
THAT IS A GAME CHANGER.
VERY IMPRESSIVE.
I HAVE SEEN THINGS ON LSU'S WEB
SITE WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO
DO THAT.
THIS IS GOING TO BRING IT HOME.
AND THAT STUDENT IS GOING TO
HOLD THAT TEACHER ACCOUNTABLE
IF THEY DON'T BRING THAT BACK
TO THE CLASSROOM AND THAT IS
PRETTY COOL.
>> NOT ONLY ARE THERE SOME
THINGS GOING ON AT LSU, THERE
ARE LOTS OF GREAT THINGS GOING
ON AT LSU.
WE MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE
PROGRESS IN CHEMISTRY, NUMBER
ONE GRADUATE OF
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PH.D.'S IN
CHEMISTRY.
BUT ALSO ONE OF THE TOP
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE
COUNTRY IN TERMS OF STEM.
A STEM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION AND A GROUP OF THOSE
STUDENTS OUT HERE RIGHT NOW WHO
CAN SPEAK TO THE PROGRAM.
THESE STUDENTS ARE COMING INTO
OUR PROGRAM AND THEY'RE GOING
ON AND GETTING PH.D.'S AT MIT,
MICHIGAN, GEORGIA TECH, THE TOP
SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY.
DIVERSE POPULATION OF STUDENTS.
THE POPULATION OF THAT GROUP IS
ROUGHLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
STATE.
ABOUT 35% AFRICAN-AMERICAN, 8%
HISPANIC, 48, 50%, OR MAJORITY
STUDENTS AND WE HAVE A GROUP
THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
STATE THAT IS DOING AN
OUTSTANDING JOB.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BETH.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK
ABOUT IN LOUISIANA WE HAVE
ACCESS TO TOPS MONEY TO ALLOW
MANY STUDENTS TO GO TO SCHOOL.
WE HAVE STUDENTS HERE -- A
QUESTIONER HERE.
TELL US YOUR NAME AND QUESTION.
>> HI, I'M THE COLLEGE ACCESS
CHALLENGE GRANT DIRECTOR,
LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STUDENT
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
ONE OF MY TASKS IS TO ASSURE WE
ARE AFFORDING STUDENTS EQUITY
OF -- COLLEGE AND CAREER
INFORMATION.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, COORDINATES
THE LOUISIANA CONNECT PORTAL,
WHICH IS THE STATE'S PREMIER
PORTAL FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS IN
GRADES 8-12.
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, THE -- THE
LOUISIANA WORK FORCE COMMISSION
WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE STAR
JOBS TOOL.
MY QUESTION TO THE OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL IS HOW CAN
WE PARTNER WITH YOUR
ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
STUDENTS IN LOUISIANA --
>> CATHI.
>> I WILL BE GLAD TO START
THAT.
I THINK YOU WILL FIND FERTILE
GROUND FOR THE CONNECTION YOU
ARE LOOKING FOR.
MORE AND MORE OF OUR STUDENTS
ARE LOOKING FOR THAT AUTHENTIC
CONNECTION AS WELL.
THE NEW TECH SCHOOL IN LINCOLN
PARISH, EVERY STUDENT WILL HAVE
TO JOB SHADOW A MINIMUM OF TWO
TIMES THEIR JUNIOR YEAR.
INTERN THEIR SENIOR YEAR.
THEY NEED TO DO THEIR HOME WORK
OF WHAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN
PRIOR TO THAT.
CAREER COACHES.
CAREER CENTER.
WE ARE LOOKING TO EQUIP THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE THE BEST
INFORMED DECISION THAT THEY
CAN.
YOUR TYPE OF OUTLET AND
INFORMATION BASE IS GOING TO BE
CRITICAL, AND IT IS GOING TO
HELP BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE MAKING
THESE DECISIONS BASED ON LITTLE
ADULT SUPERVISION FROM HOME, IF
YOU WILL.
THEY MAY BE THE FIRST ONE IN
THEIR FAMILY THAT IS ACTUALLY
GOING TO GO BEYOND THAT HIGH
SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED
EVERY RESOURCE POSSIBLE TO
CONNECT THEM WITH THE
OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.
THESE KIDS ARE SEEING
THEMSELVES AS ABLE TO.
THEY JUST NEED TO KNOW HOW TO.
AND SO THAT IS HOW YOU ARE
GOING TO CONNECT WITH THESE
HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGH THE CAREER
CENTERS, CAREER COACHES AND
GUIDANCE COUNCILLORS --
COUNSELLORS AND INNOVATIVE --
>> GO ONLINE AND SEE THE
COURSES THEY WILL BE TAKING --
>> A GREAT BENEFIT, LOUISIANA
CONNECT, ANY KIND OF SIMILAR
TOOL.
THIS IS THE TOOL THAT PUTS
EMPLOYERS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
OF SOLVING THEIR OWN WORK FORCE
NEEDS.
EMPLOYER LIKE DOW, SOMEBODY
ELSE, CAN GO THROUGH THAT TOOL
AND START COMMUNICATING WITH
STUDENTS AS EARLY AS THE EIGHTH
GRADE WITH PERMISSION, BUT CAN
START COMMUNICATING WITH THE
STUDENTS, TELL THEM WE NEED A
STUDENT WITH A PARTICULAR SET
OF SKILLS TO DO A PARTICULAR
JOB AND WE WILL PAY THIS MUCH
FOR IT.
IF YOU TAKE THIS PARTICULAR
PATHWAY, YOU ARE EXACTLY THE
KIND OF KID WE ARE GOING TO
WANT TO HIRE.
THAT IS VERY POWERFUL.
>> I WEAR TWO HATS.
PROFESSOR, MY FAVORITE TITLE,
VICE CHANCELLOR OF STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES.
IN THAT OFFICE WE HAVE DONE A
LOT OF THINGS WORKING WITH THE
LOCAL COMMUNITY.
IN PARTICULAR, WITH 100 BLACK
MEN, WE STARTED TO WORK WITH
THAT GROUP AND WORKING WITH
PARENTS, PARENTS IS WHERE IT
ALL STARTS.
GETTING PARENTS TO RECOGNIZE
THAT ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS ARE
AVAILABLE FOR THEIR KIDS.
ONCE YOU GET THE PARENTS SOLD
ON THIS, THEN THE KIDS WILL
COME ALONG BECAUSE THE PARENTS
ARE GOING TO FORCE THEM TO COME
ALONG.
WE HAVE A SECOND PROGRAM THAT
WE ARE WORKING IN THE SUMMER
THROUGH GEAR UP, WORKING WITH
THE STUDENTS, WORKING WITH
THEIR ACT SCORES, WORKING TO
SHOW THEM HOW TO CONNECT WITH
LOUISIANA CONNECT AND DOING ALL
OF THE THINGS THAT ARE
NECESSARY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
EFFORTS IN THE STEM FIELD.
>> BETH, I WOULD LIKE TO
FURTHER ADD ONE OF THE OTHER
FEATURES OF THE L.A. CONNECT
PORTAL.
BENEFICIAL TO PARENTS,
STUDENTS, BUSINESS COMMUNITY,
EVERY STUDENT STARTING IN THE
EIGHTH GRADE TAKES THE EXPLORE
TEST.
AND THAT GUIDES THEM ON WHICH
DIRECTION THEY MIGHT WANT TO
HEAD DOWN IN A CAREER PATH.
THEY DO AN INDIVIDUAL
GRADUATION PLAN IN THIS SYSTEM.
THEY START TO MAP OUT THEIR
PATHWAY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN
HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY SIT DOWN, AND THEY WORK
WITH THE COUNSELOR, THE PARENT,
THE PRINCIPAL, AND SUBMIT THIS
INDIVIDUAL GRADUATION PLAN UP
INTO THE SYSTEM.
AND IT IS TRACKED.
YOU KNOW, THE KID AS EARLY AS
THE EIGHTH GRADE DECIDES I
WOULD LIKE TO BE AN AIRLINE
PILOT.
WELL, THIS SYSTEM WILL HELP
THEM MAP OUT THE COURSE
SEQUENCES THAT THEY NEED.
IT IS ALSO TELLING THEM IF YOU
WANT TO USE YOUR TOP
SCHOLARSHIP AND GO TO LOUISIANA
TECH, TELL YOU ALONG THE WAY,
HEY, LOOK, YOU ARE MISSING A
COURSE, A RED FLAG WILL GO UP.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE
TWO GREATEST RESOURCES
REMAINING UNTAPPED WHEN IT
COMES TO STEM CAREERS ARE
MINORITIES AND WOMEN.
I HAVE HEARD YOU TALK SO MUCH
ABOUT THE NEED TO GET STUDENTS
EXCITED ABOUT STEM CAREERS,
EXCITED ABOUT SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING AND MATH.
AND WITH ME NOW IS DIANE, WHO
IS WITH THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN
ENGINEERS, AND YOU ARE VERY
PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.
>> YES, I AM.
I AM A NATIVE LOUISIANAN AND A
CHEMICAL ENGINEER.
I BELIEVE -- I'M HERE TODAY
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT
ENGINEERING IS AN AMAZING
CAREER FOR ALL GIRLS.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF
WOMEN ENGINEERS.
AS PART OF THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN
ENGINEERS, OUTREACH LOCALLY
HERE, I COACH AN ALL-GIRLS
FIRST LEGO LEAD ROBOTICS TEAM
WITH THE GIRL SCOUTS.
ONE THING I NOTICED, EVEN WITH
ALL OF THE OUTREACH THAT WE ARE
DOING, STILL ONLY 30% OF
PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAMS
ARE GIRLS, AND OVERALL, ONLY
ABOUT 10% OF ENGINEERS ARE
WOMEN.
A LOT OF RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE
AND A LOT OF THEORIES MADE
ABOUT WHY, WHY IS THIS?
AND RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT
GIRLS AS YOUNG AS SIX, PRONE TO
SUBCONSCIOUS BIAS THAT CAN HURT
THEIR MATHIBILITY.
WHAT IS BEING DOWN IN LOUISIANA
TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND
EDUCATE TEACHERS, THE GIRLS
THEMSELVES, PARENTS IN THE
PUBLIC ABOUT THIS BIAS?
>> WE DON'T HAVE -- WE DON'T
HAVE THE LUXURY TO IGNORE ANY
GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM OUR
EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEM
IF WE ARE GOING TO MEET THE
DEMAND NOT JUST FOR STEM FIELDS
BUT ALL OF THE OTHER JOBS OUT
THERE THAT ARE ALSO VERY
IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH AND
VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE IS NOT ONE GROUP.
IN LOUISIANA, WE HAVE MAYBE
600,000 ADULTS WHO DON'T EVEN
HAVE A GED.
THEY ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING MUCH
TO THEIR OWN LIVELIHOOD, LET
ALONE THE WELL BEING OF THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
DO THAT VERY OFTEN.
WE HAVE TO GET THEM BACK INTO
THE WORK FORCE.
MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE WOMEN.
HIGH SCHOOL KIDS WHO DON'T KNOW
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THROUGH
TOOLS LIKE LOUISIANA CONNECT
AND LOUISIANA STAR JOBS AND
CAREER COACHING AND ALL OF
THESE MECHANISMS AVAILABLE TO
US THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE
FULL BREADTH.
OPPORTUNITIES.
ONE THING THAT WOULD BE
BENEFICIAL, SPEAK ABOUT
DIVERSITY, INDUSTRY UNDERSTANDS
THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY
COMPLETELY.
COMPANIES COME TO LOUISIANA,
ONE OF THEIR CHIEF GOALS IS
DIVERSITY IN THE WORK FORCE
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE AS
A STATE.
THEY WANT TO HIT CERTAIN
STRETCH TARGETS.
I THINK IF WE DID A BETTER JOB
OF EXPLAINING TO YOUNG GIRLS
THAT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE A
GIRL, MEANS THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO BE LOOKED AT HARD FOR THESE
JOBS.
HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
NOW, THE FACT IS THAT WE HAVE A
LOT OF JOBS, WE HAVE MORE JOBS
THAN WE HAVE UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE.
THAT IS NOT A BAD THING.
I WOULD DISAGREE ON THAT.
THAT IS THE TESTAMENT TO THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE
STRUGGLING.
IT MEANS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND GIRLS NEED TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE
EVEN GREATER FOR THEM.
>> THERE IS SOME SORT OF
DISCONNECT OUT THERE.
WE SAW THE YOUNG GIRL AT
GLASGOW SAY THAT SHE INITIALLY
THOUGHT THAT SCIENCE WAS HARD.
FORTUNATELY FOR HER, SHE HAD A
TEACHER WHO IS VERY
ENTHUSIASTIC AND EXCITED ABOUT
SCIENCE.
THEY HAD STEM NIGHT.
AND NOW SHE IS VERY INTERESTED
IN BECOMING A NURSE.
SO, YES, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK
TO THAT?
>> VERY FAMILIAR WITH -- WITH
THE GREAT, GREAT ORGANIZATION.
WE HAD WOMEN ENGINEERS FROM DOW
AT A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TALKING
TO GIRLS.
THAT WAY THE COUNSELLOR IS A
BARRIER PERHAPS OR MOM IS A
BARRIER PERHAPS, WE WILL CREATE
ENVIRONMENTS WHERE WE CAN STILL
TALK ABOUT THE POSITIVE.
I THINK IT IS REAL IMPORTANT
FOR OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS IN
THE AREA TO HAVE THE DIVERSITY
NETWORKS.
WE HAVE THOSE.
WE HAVE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN
NETWORK.
THE WOMEN INNOVATION NETWORK.
TO GET THOSE DIVERSITY NETWORKS
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, TALKING
ABOUT WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.
TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY GOT
THERE.
AND HOW DOES A WOMAN, WHO WORKS
SHIFT WORK AT DOW, STILL TAKE
CARE OF HER TWO SMALL CHILDREN?
BECAUSE THAT'S REAL.
AND, SO, IT IS GOING TO TAKE
PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE ALREADY
TO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, ONE OF
THE FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM THAT I
MENTIONED TO YOU EARLIER IS ON
DIVERSITY.
I SIT ON THE BOARD OF A YOUNG
WOMAN WHO IS A PROFESSOR AT
UCLA.
ONE THING SHE HAS SHOWN BY
RESEARCH IS THAT DIVERSITY IS
THE KEY TO LEARNING.
WHY IS THAT TRUE?
WELL, IT'S TRUE BECAUSE IF YOU
ARE AROUND PEOPLE WHO THINK
DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU DO, YOU
ARE GOING TO MAKE ARGUMENTS IN
TERMS OF WHATEVER FIELD YOU'RE
IN, THEN YOU HAVE TO BE ON YOUR
TOES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE AN
ARGUMENT TO SOMEONE WHO IS VERY
DIFFERENT THAN YOU.
BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU CAN'T
HOLD YOUR ARGUMENT.
SO SHE HAS SHOWN BY RESEARCH --
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN OUR
PROGRAM IS FOCUS ON DIVERSITY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE POPULATION
OF STUDENTS RIGHT OUT HERE.
THERE ARE MANY WOMEN AS THERE
ARE MEN.
THERE IS A GREAT DIVERSITY IN
TERMS OF RACE.
GREAT DIVERSITY IN TERMS OF
RELIGIONS, AND WHAT WE HAVE
DONE IS CREATED A ENVIRONMENT
WHERE THE USE -- USE THIS
DIVERSITY TO PROMOTE THE WHOLE
FIELD OF STEM AND CHALLENGE
EACH OTHER.
AND THESE STUDENTS ARE
PERFORMING INCREDIBLY WELL.
WE HAVE HAD 250 STUDENTS COME
OUT OF THIS PROGRAM.
ROUGHLY ABOUT 37 -- I'M SORRY,
43% OF THEM HAVE COME OUT WITH
A 3.7 GRADE POINT AVERAGE OR
BETTER IN THE STEM FIELD.
WE HAVE A GRADUATION RATE,
WHICH IS 92%, TWICE THAT OF ANY
OTHER PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY
AND THREE TIMES MORE THAN SOME
OF THE MOST SELECTED PROGRAMS.
SO, WE HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE
INCLUDING WOMEN.
WE HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN
INCLUDING MINORITIES.
GRADUATION RATE FOR MINORITIES
OUT OF OUR PROGRAM, FOR WOMEN
OUT OF OUR PROGRAM, FOR
MAJORITY OUT OF OUR PROGRAM,
92%.
EXACTLY THE SAME.
WE HAVE ELIMINATED THE
DISPARITY, WHICH YOU SEE IN
MANY OTHER PROGRAMS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
>> YOU MADE A VERY IMPORTANT
STATEMENT WHEN YOU SAID THAT
THE YOUNG LADY SAID UNTIL SHE
HAD A TEACHER THAT WAS EXCITED,
AND I JUST GOT THROUGH HAVING A
MEETING WITH ELEMENTARY
TEACHERS THIS PAST WEEK, AND WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT INFUSING
THEIR DAY WITH SOME STEM.
AND THEY FROZE IMMEDIATELY.
AND THEY SAID I DON'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
AND I THINK WE DO A GREAT
INSERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS, AT
THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, ELA,
DOUBLE BLOCKING MATH AND THERE
IS NO REAL SCIENCE,
ENGINEERING, ANYTHING TAKING
PLACE AT THE ELEMENTARY GRADES
AND THEY BECOME AFRAID OF IT.
THEIR TEACHERS ARE AFRAID OF
IT.
IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT.
I SPENT A GOOD BIT OF TIME
COLLABORATING WITH AN
ENGINEERING COLLEAGUE AND WE
DID WORKSHOPS ON TEACHERS TO
INFUSE THEIR CURRICULUM -- I
THINK WE HAVE TO RETHINK WHAT
IS GOING ON AT THE ELEMENTARY
GRADE SO THAT THESE KIDS ARE
NOT AFRAID OF IT, THEIR
TEACHERS ARE NOT AFRAID OF IT,
AND THEY CAN TRANSITION INTO DO
GREAT STEM STUFF.
WHEN THEY GET A GOOD TEACHER
DOING SCIENCE, NOT JUST
DEFINING WORDS AND ANSWERING
QUESTIONS AND WORKSHEETS, BUT
DOING THE SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING, THAT IS WHEN WE
SEE THINGS CHANGE.
>> THIS SUMMER WE ARE TRAINING
800 TEACHERS IN ADVANCED
PLACEMENT STEM FOCUS COURSES.
THEY WILL LEARN HOW TO DELIVER
ONE OF THESE RIGOROUS ADVANCE
PLACEMENT COURSES.
WE TALKED ABOUT SOME
INCENTIVES.
RECENT LEGISLATION WAS PASSED
WITH SENATE BILL 202.
WHAT THAT IS DOING FOR STUDENTS
THAT TAKE ADVANCED COURSEWORK
IN HIGH SCHOOL, THEY NOW GET A
WEIGHTED GPA FOR THOSE COURSES
IN THEIR TOP -- IN THE TOP
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
THEY ARE RECOGNIZING THESE
ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND COLLEGE
DUEL ENROLLMENT COURSES.
>> THANK YOU.
BETH.
>> I HAVE BEEN ANXIOUSLY
WANTING YOU TO COME OVER HERE.
ACTUAL CHEMICAL ENGINEER --
>> I'M A RECENT GRADUATE OF
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AT LSU.
WHILE AT LSU, PART OF THE
STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY
OF WOMEN ENGINEERS AND PART OF
DIVERSITY AMBASSADORS AT THE
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.
ANOTHER PART WHILE AT LSU, ACT
TUTOR.
AND I REALIZED THAT WHEN I WAS
TRYING TO LIKE SHOW THEM, YOU
KNOW, CERTAIN MATH PROBLEM AND
EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY THEY GOT IT
WRONG, I NOTICED THAT THEY
UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM
CONCEPTUALLY, AND THEY COULD
TELL ME I NEED TO GET FROM HERE
TO HERE, BUT THEY LACKED THE
FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE.
ONE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY
COULDN'T LIKE DIVIDE FRACTIONS
AND ANALYZE THE GRAPHS.
THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED TO GET TO
A CERTAIN POINT BUT DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO DO THAT.
AS LEADERS IN EDUCATION, WHAT
DOES THAT SAY TO YOU AND HOW DO
YOU THINK THAT SHOULD BE
SOLVED?
>> THIS IS WHAT I WAS REFERRING
TO EARLIER.
THAT WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOBS
AT THE LOWER AREAS.
WE'RE NOT ENCOURAGING OUR
STUDENTS TO TAKE THOSE
SO-CALLED TOUGH COURSES THAT
ARE NEEDED IN THE MATHEMATICS
AREA TO HAVE THE FOUNDATION TO
DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE FOOL
OURSELVES IN LOUISIANA, WE ARE
NOT DOING AN ADEQUATE JOB.
AND THAT IS A FACT.
NOT ONLY CAN I STATE THIS, BUT
STATISTICS BASICALLY SUPPORTS
WHAT I'M SAYING.
IN THE JAPANESE SOCIETY, THE
MOST REVEERED PERSONS ARE THE
TEACHERS.
AND WE NEED TO GET TO THAT
POINT HERE WHERE WE PAY OUR
TEACHERS WHAT THEY'RE WORTH.
WE DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF
TRAINING SCIENCE TEACHERS IN
LOUISIANA.
WHAT HAPPENS?
THEY GO TO TEXAS AND MAKE 30%
MORE THAN THEY MAKE HERE IN
LOUISIANA.
WE NEED TO PAY OUR TEACHERS,
PARTICULARLY OUR STEM TEACHERS,
THEY ARE A VERY VALUABLE
RESOURCE, WE NEED TO PAY THEM
MORE, AND WE KEEP THE BEST
PEOPLE HERE IN THIS STATE AND
DO A BETTER JOB AT THE
ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL
LEVEL OF GETTING BETTER
TEACHERS.
>> WE ARE STILL HAVING
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHERS WHO
DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ADVANCED
MATH.
ISN'T THAT STILL A PROBLEM --
>> YES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO
BACK TO THE SCENARIO THAT YOU
OUTLINED WHERE, YOU KNOW,
STUDENTS ARE COMING TO LSU AND
THEY CAN'T DO SOME OF THE ENTRY
LEVEL FRESHMEN MATH THAT IS
THERE.
THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT I WAS
ALLUDING TO EARLIER.
IN LOUISIANA, THREE DIFFERENT
DIPLOMA MATHWAYS.
VERY CONFUSE -- PATHWAYS.
CONFUSING FOR PARENTS,
STUDENTS, COUNSELLORS, ETC.
WE WANT TO MOVE IN THE
DIRECTION WITH ONE LOUISIANA
DIPLOMA, TWO CAREER TRACKS IN
IT.
ONE A CAREER TRACK AND THE
SECOND ONE A COLLEGE TRACK.
COLLEGE TRACK WILL ALIGN WITH
TOPS AND THE RIGOROUS ENTRANCE
REQUIREMENTS THAT THERE ARE.
STUDENTS CAN GRADUATE WITH A
CORE FOUR DIPLOMA, COLLEGE
TRACK DIPLOMA, BUT YET STILL
NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS FOR A TOP
SCHOLARSHIP.
WE WANT TO HAVE THAT RIGOR IN
THERE.
WE TALKED ABOUT INCENTIVIZING.
WE ARE TRAINING 800 TEACHERS IN
THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT
COURSEWORK.
150 OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY
MIDDLE SCHOOLTEACHERS BEING
TRAINED IN PRE-ADVANCED
PLACEMENT COURSE WORK.
BUT TRAINING THOSE TEACHERS.
THE STUDENTS, THEY'RE
INCENTIVIZED TO TAKE THIS
COURSE WORK.
WHEN THEY GO TO GET A TOPS
SCHOLARSHIP, THE COURSES WILL
BE WEIGHTED IN THE GPA, AND
ALSO IN THE SCHOOL
ACCOUNTABILITY FORMULA.
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THESE
RIGOROUS COURSES, EXTRA
WEIGHT --
>> COMMENTS ABOUT MATH, THAT IS
NOT TRUE ONLY FOR ENGINEERS, EM
EM -- CHEMISTS AND DOCTORS,
RESEARCH SCIENTISTS.
IT IS TRUE FOR PIPE FITTER,
WELDERS, 86,000 INDUSTRIAL
CONSTRUCTION JOBS WE NEED TO
FILL.
THAT IS TRUE ACROSS THE BOARD.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY THINKS
THAT ANYBODY IS COMING OUT
FULLY PREPARED.
MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF
RESTRUCTURING.
THEY HAVE TO START AT A
COMMUNITY, OR TECHNICAL COLLEGE
THAT IS A BETTER ENVIRONMENT
FOR THOSE KIDS TO GET THOSE
SKILLS.
DROP-OUT RATE FROM THE
UNIVERSITY THAT IS TOO HIGH,
JUST AS FROM OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND THIS FOCUS ON FOUNDATIONAL
IMPROVEMENT IS -- IT IS WHERE
IT ALL STARTS.
IT STARTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE CAN'T BUILD A PERSON'S SKILL
SETS IF THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A CHANGE
IN HOW WE APPROACH THAT IN
LOUISIANA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
>> I WORK WITH LSU COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING OFFICE FOR
DIVERSITY PROGRAM.
SPECIFICALLY WITHIN MY ROLE, I
WORK WITH A PRECOLLEGE
ENGINEERING PROGRAMS.
MY ONLY PERSONAL BACKGROUND,
GRADUATE IN ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING AND I WENT TO
PRACTICE ENGINEERING FOR 3 1/2
YEARS.
I THEN WENT TO BE A TEACHER.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUNDAMENTALS
FUNDAMENTALS, THEY ARE SCHOOLS
SERVICING OUR STUDENTS WITH
LOWER ECONOMIC STATUS -- -- ONE
OF MY CONCERNS, NOT ONLY HOW DO
WE INCREASE INTEREST IN STEM
AMONGST THE STUDENTS IN THE
SCHOOLS, BUT ONCE WE RECRUIT
THEM INTO THE UNIVERSITY, HOW
DO WE RETAIN THEM IN THE
UNIVERSITY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO
ULTIMATELY GET THE DEGREES THAT
WOULD LEAD TO THE JOB?
>> I WILL START.
AND I WILL TAKE IT FROM A HIGH
SCHOOL LEVEL.
I'M SITTING HERE THINKING ABOUT
EIGHTH GRADERS, WHEN THEY WERE
COMING IN THE NEW TECH SCHOOL
AND DID NOT HAVE FOUNDATIONAL
SKILLS AND WE REALIZED RIGHT
AWAY THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE
TO BACK UP AND REGROUP.
BUT ONCE WE HELD THEIR HAND
THROUGH THAT FIRST YEAR AND
THEY TASTED SUCCESS, THEY
REALIZED THAT THIS HE WERE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO
SOMETHING.
I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE
EQUATION.
WE HAVE TO GET THEM IN THERE
AND LET THEM REALIZE WHAT THEY
ARE CAPABLE OF DOING.
IT IS OUR JOB AS TEACHERS AND
EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS TO PUT THE
BUFFET IN FRONT OF THEM AND SAY
HERE ARE YOUR OPTIONS AND THINK
ABOUT IT.
THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THEY CAN DO IT.
TOO MANY OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN
TOO FAR THINKING THAT THEY'RE
NOT CAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING.
I'M THINKING OF STUDENT AFTER
STUDENT IN MY MIND RIGHT NOW ON
A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TRACK,
DIFFERENT PATH.
THEY ARE ADVOCATES FOR
THEMSELVES.
THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS
SUCCESSFUL.
THEY ARE GOING PLACES.
THEY WILL GRADUATE FROM HIGH
SCHOOL AND GOING TO POST
SECONDARY TRAINING.
IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THAT
ORIGINAL EXPERIENCE OF SUCCESS
WHEN THEY GOT INTO THE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT, I TRULY BELIEVE
THEY WOULDN'T BE THERE.
MIDDLE GRADE, HIGH SCHOOL,
UNIVERSITY, WHATEVER, IF WE
DON'T ALLOW THEM THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THAT
SUCCESS, TO REALIZE WHAT
THEY'RE CAPABLE OF, THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO MAKE IT OUT.
>> WELL, HELLO.
I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
JUST BEING IN THE SHOES OF A
STUDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL AND
SOMEONE WHO IS A GRADUATE IN
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES FROM
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
WE HAVE SPOKEN A LOT ABOUT
LSU -- THE PROGRAMS, BUT
PERSONALLY, I'M A GRADUATE OF
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, NUMBER ONE
GRADUATE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS
IN ENGINEERING AND NUMBER ONE
NURSING PROGRAM IN LOUISIANA
FOUR TIMES IN A ROW.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT
REACHES -- IT IS A PROGRAM
BETWEEN LSU AND SOUTHERN
UNIVERSITY THAT THE ENGINEERING
CAN GET A DEGREE IN
ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING, AND IT IS A
PROGRAM BETWEEN OUR ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT AND LSU.
WE DON'T PERSONALLY HAVE A
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT.
SO STUDENTS TAKE CLASSES AT LSU
AND ALSO AT SOUTHERN AND THEY
CAN GRADUATE WITH A DEGREE IN
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING.
>> WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION.
>> MY QUESTION IS WHAT OTHER
PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THAT, WE CAN
DO BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES TO
DIVERSIFY THE WORK FORCE.
>> THANK YOU.
QUICK QUESTION -- ANSWER.
>> I HAVE THE SAME PRIDE THAT
YOU HAVE.
I AM ALSO A GRADUATE OF
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
IF IT WERE NOT FOR SOUTHERN
UNIVERSITY I WOULD NOT BE
SITTING ON THIS STAGE AND HAVE
THE KIND OF EDUCATION THAT I
HAVE HAD.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
PARTNERSHIPS, THE LS -- PROGRAM
ALSO PARTNERS WITH SOUTHERN.
THE PROGRAM -- WE HAVE A
COMPONENT OF THAT,
SUBCONTRACTED FROM SOUTHERN TO
LSU.
WE HAVE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING
IN THAT PROGRAM OUT OF MY
OFFICE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER
ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED WITH WITH SOUTHERN.
>> NOT JUST PARTNERSHIPS
BETWEEN THE FOUR-YEAR
UNIVERSITIES, WE HAVE BEEN IN
TALKS WITH LSU ABOUT
PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY
AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE TRAINING
SOMEONE AT THE COMMUNITY AND
TECHNICAL COLLEGE LEVEL WITH A
TWO-YEAR DEGREE, THAT PERSON,
WHO STARTS OFF AS AN OPERATOR,
PROCESS TECHNOLOGY DEGREE, MAY
WANT TO BECOME AN ENGINEER.
HOW DO WE USE THE SAME LEARNING
TOOLS BETWEEN THAT TWO-YEAR
DEGREE AND A FOUR-YEAR
UNIVERSITY.
I THINK -- THAT IS A GAP RIGHT
NOW.
WE NEED TO GET THERE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE
UNIVERSITIES AND THE
COLLABORATIONS, BUT ONE OF THE
THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS TALK TO
THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT
SCIENCE.
BECAUSE THE WHOLE LEVEL OF
UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE -- THINK
YOU HAVE A GUEST OVER THERE --
>> WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
ACCESS.
SO, GIVE ME YOUR NAME AND TELL
US WHO YOU ARE WITH.
>> I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
EDUCATION, SCIENCE CENTER,
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.
MY QUESTION GOES TO RESOURCES.
I AM THE COLLABORATIVE LEAD FOR
LOUISIANA STEM GIRLS
COLLABORATIVE PROJECT IN THE
STATE.
WE KNOW THERE ARE THESE GREAT
POCKETS OF THINGS HAPPENING ALL
OVER OUR STATE BUT NOBODY KNOWS
ABOUT EEP -- EACH OTHER.
WE HAVE AN ONLINE RESOURCE
WHERE WE CONNECT THOSE PEOPLE
TOGETHER AND GIVE THEM WAYS TO
LEVERAGE RESOURCES, WE EVEN
HAVE MINI GRAPHS AND THINGS.
I'M ALSO THE GIRLS RISE NETWORK
TRAINER.
I TRAVEL AROUND ARKANSAS,
TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, ALL OF
LOUISIANA, TRAINING INFORMAL
EDUCATORS LIKE MYSELF IN
MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES, SCIENCE
CENTERS ON HOW TO GET GIRLS
INVOLVED IN STEM.
I HAVE ALL OF THESE RESOURCES
AND DIFFERENT VENUES FROM
FORMAL TO INFORMAL.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO I
ACCESS -- HOW DO I SHARE THOSE
RESOURCES?
I HAVE MANY OF THE RESOURCES TO
HELP OUT SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS
EVENING.
LIKE GETTING GIRLS INVOLVED IN
STEM FROM ELEMENTARY, IN THE
MIDDLE SCHOOL, BECAUSE WE KNOW
ONCE THEY HIT THE MIDDLE
SCHOOL, THEY HAVE DECIDED WHAT
THEY ARE GOING TO DO AND WHAT
THEY'RE NOT GOOD AT.
HOW DO I DO THAT?
>> WE HAVE OUR TEACHER TOOLBOX,
WHICH IS FULL OF RESOURCES THAT
WE HAVE POSTED TO THE WEB SITE.
AND WE HAVE SOME DEDICATED
PAGES ON OUR WEB SITE THAT
ADDRESS EVERYTHING FROM STEM TO
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION,
ADVANCED PLACEMENT,
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE,
AND IF -- WE REVIEW THEM AND
GET THOSE OUT THERE.
THEY SOUND VERY, VERY, LIKE
VERY GOOD RESOURCES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT AS
WELL.
A STATE SYSTEM, LIKE THE
DEPARTMENT OF ED, WORK FORCE
COMMISSION, AND ALSO THE
LOUISIANA COMMUNITY AND
TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM.
THAT STATE SYSTEM CAN BRING
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE
IN ONE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN
SHARE THAT RESOURCE AND MAYBE
GET YOUR INFORMATION OUT
QUICKER.
>> CONTACT YOU, CONTACT YOUR
OFFICE?
WE WILL GET YOU THAT
INFORMATION.
THANK YOU.
BETH.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I GUESS THIS IS ONE OF THE
ROLES THAT WE AT LPB ARE TRYING
TO DO AS WELL.
BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL
CONVERSATION WITH MANY OF YOU
IN THIS ROOM AND WE HAVE SO
MANY QUESTIONS.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO
EVERYONE'S.
WE HAVE ONE FROM A TEACHER --
>> FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH --
PROGRAM AT LSU -- I WANT TO
COME BACK TO THE DISCUSSION
THAT I THINK THAT THE PROBLEM
WITH THE -- THE TEACHERS, THE
TEACHERS -- THEY DON'T HAVE THE
KNOWLEDGE.
I MEAN -- LOUISIANA, TO TAKE
PHYSICS, YOU NEED ONE COURSE IN
SCIENCE, NOT EVEN IN PHYSICS.
ONE UNIVERSITY COURSE IN
BIOLOGY.
MY QUESTION IS, ANY PLAN TO
RECOGNIZE THE TEACHERS --
REQUIRE THAT THEY REALLY HAVE
TRAINING TO TEACH STEM --
>> WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE
RIGOROUS HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE
COURSES AND WE HAVE ALLUDED TO
SOME ADVANCED PLACEMENT
TRAINING GOING ON.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS ANOTHER
PROGRAM, THE COURSE CHOICE
PROGRAM.
THE COURSE CHOICE PROGRAM HAS
INVITED IN BUSINESS AND
INDUSTRY TO DELIVER COURSES
THROUGH THE COURSE CHOICE
PROGRAM SO THAT STUDENTS CAN
TAKE A HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT.
WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH THE
COMMUNITY, LOUISIANA COMMUNITY
TECHNICAL COLLEGE, THEY'RE PART
OF THE CORE CHOICE PROGRAM.
OFFERING COURSES THROUGH CORE
CHOICE AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS MULTIPLE
VENUES FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE
ACCESS TO INSTRUCTORS.
WHETHER THAT IS AN ADVANCED
PLACEMENT INSTRUCTOR, OR AN
INSTRUCTOR THAT THEY WANTED TO
TAKE AN ELECTRICIAN COURSE OR
THEY WANTED TO TAKE ANOTHER
STEM-RELATED COURSE, AND IT IS
BEING OFFERED THROUGH THE
COURSE CHOICE PROGRAM.
THERE ARE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
PROVIDERS.
AS AN EXAMPLE, THE INNOVATION
CENTER UP IN BOSSIER.
CYBERINNOVATION CENTER OFFER
COURSES THROUGH THE LOUISIANA
COURSE CHOICE PROGRAM.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE
DELIVERING THE INSTRUCTION.
PARTNERING WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS
AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO
STUDENTS.
>> SHE'S GETTING TO THE HEART
OF THE PROBLEM, EXACTLY WHAT I
HAVE BEEN SAYING, IS THAT WE
NEED TO PAY OUR TEACHERS MORE.
IF WE PAY OUR TEACHERS MORE, WE
KEEP THE BEST TEACHERS HERE IN
THE STATE IN THE STEM FIELD.
THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.
>> WHEN YOU ADD ART TO STEM,
WHAT DO YOU GET?
>> WHEN YOU ADD THE A IN ART TO
STEM, YOU GET STEAM, AND I'M
SURE OUR PANEL KNOWS THERE IS A
NATIONAL EFFORT TO ADD THAT A
FROM STEM TO STEAM.
I'M BRIAN, WITH THE NEURON
CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS,
LOUISIANA'S ARTS CONSERVATORY
FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
CORPORATIONS LIKE CHEVRON HAVE
INVESTED HEAVILY IN THE WORK,
PREPARING ARTISTS AND
INTELLECTUALS FOR THE JOBS IN
STEM, IN STEAM, AND BEYOND.
I WONDER IF SOME OF OUR
PANELISTS WOULD MIND COMMENTING
ON THE IMPORTANCE, THAT A, IN
STEM, STEAM, HOW YOU SEE IT
BENEFITING FOLKS IN THE WORK
FORCE AND BEYOND?
>> I THINK IT IS A GOOD SIGN.
YOU SEE LOTS OF HEADS SHAKING,
NODDING.
>> I JUST WROTE A COLUMN ON
THAT.
BEING A STEM ADVOCATE, PEOPLE
PROBABLY GET SICK OF ME GOING
ON ABOUT THAT.
I TALKED ABOUT THE STEAM.
RUSTON, A SMALL COMMUNITY, VERY
RICH IN ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ARTISTS.
I BELIEVE IN BRAIN-BASED
LEARNING.
AND I THINK IT CAN'T BE LEFT
OUT.
WHEN WE INFUSE STEM WITH THE A
AND MAKE IT STEAM, KIDS MORE
NATURALLY CONNECT TO IT.
BECAUSE IT SERVICES THEIR WHOLE
BRAIN AS WELL.
YOU HAVE MY 110% SUPPORT THERE.
>> I THINK THE KEY THING THAT
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE IS WHAT
MAKES LOUISIANA A GREAT PLACE
TO LIVE.
IT WOULDN'T BE THE GREAT PLACE
WITHOUT THAT A.
TODAY I WAS INTERVIEWED BY A
RADIO STATION ABOUT A LIST THAT
JUST CAME OUT IN A BUSINESS
MAGAZINE THAT RANKED BATON
ROUGE 5th IN THE COUNTRY, NEW
ORLEANS 7th, AS BEING GREAT
PLACES FOR YOUNG SINGLE PEOPLE
WHO ARE BROKE TO GET A START IN
LIFE.
I THINK THEY ARE SAYING FIND A
JOB, FIND LOVE, AND FIND CHEAP
ENTERTAINMENT.
NOW, THE A GOES WELL BEYOND
THAT.
BUT THE A IS A KEY COMPONENT OF
THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE
HAVE IN LOUISIANA.
BEFORE I SAID WE HAVE TO -- WE
HAVE TO PRODUCE PEOPLE FOR MORE
THAN STEM JOBS.
A LOT MORE TO THE FABRIC,
VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAN WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
TONIGHT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE VIBRANT
COMMUNITIES WITHOUT WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT AND WE
DON'T HAVE IT WITHOUT THE OTHER
COMPONENT.
IF YOU LOOK AT LOUISIANA STAR
JOBS, SYSTEM THAT RANKS THE
VALUE OF OUR OCCUPATIONS BY HOW
MANY OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE
AND WHAT THEY PAY.
92% OF STEM JOBS ARE THREE,
FOUR, FIVE STARS IN THAT
THEY'RE HIGH-VALUE OCCUPATIONS.
A BUNCH OF THE OTHER HIGH-VALUE
OCCUPATIONS COME FROM THAT A,
WITHIN THAT A.
WE ARE NOTHING IF WE DON'T
PRODUCE PEOPLE FOR THAT TOO.
>> TO PIGGY BACK ON THAT,
TECHNOLOGY FIELD, MOVIE MAKING,
WHAT IT IS IN OUR STATE, A HUGE
PART OF OUR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND WE ARE FOCUSING
ON THAT IN THE NEW TECH SKILL
SO THAT THE KIDS HAVE THE
SKILLS, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE
ARTISTIC TO BE ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH THE BEST OF THAT AS
WELL.
THAT FITS INTO IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL
QUESTIONS.
THAT IS ALL OF THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS EVENING, BEFORE
CLOSING COMMENTS, I'D LIKE
TO -- I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE US
ALL LOOK AT SOMEBODY WHO
ACTUALLY DID MAJOR IN A STEM
FIELD AND WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO US.
>> HELLO, I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT
SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
AS A CHEMICAL ENGINEER, YOUNG
OF MOM STUDENTS, THIS IS A
CAUSE I HOLD CLOSE TO MY HEART.
WORLD WIDE DEMAND OF SCIENTISTS
AND ENGINEERS GROW, STUDIES
SHOW STUDENTS IN AMERICA RANK
LOW IN BASIC SCIENCE AND MATH
PROFICIENCY.
TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THE
REWARDING AND HIGH PAYING JOBS
IN 21st CENTURY, WE NEED TO
COME TOGETHER AND COMMIT --
CLASSROOMS FOSTER AN INNOVATIVE
AND RICH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
THAT ALLOWS OUR STUDENTS TO
THRIVE AND SURPASS NOT ONLY
OTHER STATES BUT OTHER
COUNTRIES.
>> WELL, WHAT A GREAT COMMENT.
I WANT TO THANK OUR AUDIENCE
AND OUR PANELISTS THIS EVENING.
MR. BRADFORD, MISS CHAISSON,
DR. WARNER, MS. BONIOL AND
MR. EYSINK.
>> WHAT GREAT DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR
PANELISTS.
AND OUR AUDIENCE MEMBERS, YOU
WERE FANTASTIC.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE
COMMUNITY OF PLAQUEMINE -- WE
ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO THE WEB
SITE, lpb.org/PUBLICSQUARE TO
VIEW ADDITIONAL VIDEO CONTENT
AND COMMENT ON TONIGHT'S SHOW.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
>> GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
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>> FOR A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM,
CALL 1-800-973-7246 OR GO
ONLINE TO lpb.org.
>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE
POSSIBLE IN PART BY FUNDING
FROM THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
FOUNDATION, PROUD SUPPORTER OF
QUALITY EDUCATION ACROSS
LOUISIANA.
IN THE FIELDS OF SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND
MATH.
AND THE FOUNDATION FOR
EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING.