Superintendents Explore STEM Education

Maxwell AFP, Ala. — NPRWEB — Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters is joining with the Air Force Association’s Montgomery Chapter to provide School Superintendents of Alabama members a day to learn about the many military-related science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educational and career opportunities available to students and educators in formal and informal educational programs.

The visit by Dr. Tommy Bice, Alabama state superintendent, and superintendents from around the state will be hosted Wednesday by organizations on Maxwell Air Force Base, including the 908th Airlift Wing, Air University and the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development.

The group will begin the day with a welcome and educational message from the president and commander of Air University, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast. Kwast will talk about the new Air Force Cyber College and will emphasize the importance of national cyber security sustainment through education and training of the future cyber workforce.

Col. Adam Willis, commander of the 908th Airlift Wing, and his staff will follow with educational opportunity discussions and will prepare the group for an orientation flight aboard a C-130 transport plane. The C-130, provided by the 357th Airlift Squadron, will take the superintendents on a round-trip flight to Birmingham and will help demonstrate the varied jobs available in military aviation.

The group will then gather at CAP’s National Headquarters, where luncheon presentations from CAP, the AFA and Air Force Junior ROTC will showcase K-12 aviation and STEM products and programs that can enhance schools’ core curriculum and help guide students toward high-demand, exciting STEM careers.

Presentations will promote free STEM programs from CAP, teacher professional development experiences and AFA STEM competitions in cyber and space, as well as career preparation in the CAP and Air Force Junior ROTC cadet programs. The group will then be given a special experience at STARBASE Maxwell, a STEM program for the River Region’s fifth-graders.

“Bringing the educational leaders of our state to Maxwell and to CAP’s National Headquarters gives an opportunity to engage with the Total Air Force family and the high-demand STEM career opportunities available to all student,” said Don Rowland, CAP chief operating officer.

Scott Key, Montgomery AFA chapter president, added, “The efforts of the Montgomery AFA chapter and our partner sponsors to educate the educators and provide stimulating and challenging educational STEM programs and mentor support will bring great dividends to our schools, our communities and ultimately our nation.”

Featured

  • Quattrocchi Kwok Architects Opens New Office in Denver

    Education planning and design firm Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) recently announced that it has opened a new office in Denver, Colo., the firm’s third overall. QKA is headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., and runs an East Bay Area office in Oakland.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.