I began involving my two grandsons, Brett & Bryce, in STEM programs when they were about 5 or 6 years old and they loved them. Today, Brett just completed his first year of college majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry with a goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. He gained his CNA certification when he was a junior in high school and works at a local skilled care facility. Bryce will be a junior in high school next fall and is a leader of his school’s math team.

I truly believe that their STEM experiences gave them the confidence they needed because they provided the opportunity to ask questions, solve problems, and work collaboratively on projects that connected learning to the real world. Thank you for bringing the importance of STEM to the attention of parents.

My question is: how do we get the message out to parents? I know if I hadn’t taken the steps needed to keep Brett and Bryce engaged in STEM programs, their parents would have never thought about it. I find that many parents still don’t understand what STEM even means.

So, how can we do more to educate parents? Maybe the national parent teachers organizations could be charged with doing more outreach in their communities? Does anyone know of a successful working model?