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

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • California School District Completes Elementary School Modernization

    The San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting for a whole-site modernization of Pacific Beach Elementary School, according to local news. The school first opened with one building in 1930 and added six more between 1938 and 1957.

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.