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Confessions of a STEMinist

by Leslie Simmons | Jan 8, 2021 | Uncategorized

A message from Community WISE program manager Leslie Simmons

I don’t have a background in STEM. In fact, when I was in high school, I thought an engineer was someone who wore blue pinstripes and worked on the railroad. Why, I wondered, did my peers have to go to Cal Poly for this career pursuit?

The last math class I took was more than 20 years ago as a freshman in college. Even worse? I received a C in what was probably one of two science classes I took at the university: female physiology.

So yes, I received a liberal arts degree and today earn a living in marketing and communications.

In spite of my early challenges with science and math – or perhaps because of them – I am a STEMinist today.

The vision of Community WISE is to build resources and lead change so that every woman and girl achieves her full STEM potential. I wonder what my relationship to math and science would have been had I been aware of the many and varied STEM careers available to me? What other work might I be doing today had I received guidance and mentorship that gave me confidence in my STEM abilities?

Now that I am a mom to a curious child exploring their future pathways, I believe it is more important than ever to open doorways and provide resources that help every young person envision their future and realize their potential. Not every girl will want to pursue STEM, but we MUST provide meaningful and equitable opportunities to explore their options in these fields. Let’s give girls the chance to make an informed decision about their STEM potential by building their knowledge and confidence, versus choosing a default path away from STEM due to lack of support.

We seek to build a vibrant network of people, investments and initiatives connecting women and girls to enrichment opportunities for STEM education and careers. So let’s start with people. Whether you have a PhD in astrophysics or you’re a stay-at-home mom (or dad!), I need you in our network.

By working together, we can ensure girls are provided opportunities to engage in STEM exploration that opens their eyes and lights up their minds to a myriad of possibilities. And if you believe this work is as important as I do, I hope you will spread the word and share our mission with others, because diversity and gender parity in the STEM workforce are crucial to scientific advancement and economic growth.

One way I’m hoping you’ll engage in 2021 is through our new virtual speaker series, STEMspiration. We launch on January 21 with Carmen Medina who worked for 32 years at the CIA. We chose her not for her STEM background, but because she is a self-proclaimed rebel and successful change agent in what is probably one of the most rigid institutions in the world.

Let’s get inspired by Carmen’s example and become change agents in the world of STEM. Invite friends to our series. Invite daughters, nieces, moms, dads, teachers. Let’s build and lead change together through a vibrant network in pursuit of every girl reaching her full STEM potential.

-Leslie

P.S. There are other ways to engage with us – contact me anytime to learn more!

2020: When the Only Certain Thing Has Been Uncertainty

by Leslie Simmons | Dec 16, 2020 | Uncategorized

Message from Kathy Goodacre, CEO

As 2020 ends, I cannot help but reflect. It’s an annual tradition to look back on accomplishments and set our sights on new goals for the coming year. In considering milestones today, I began by looking back at our January 30 newsletter – released just 10 days after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the United States. So much has changed for us all!
 
All I can say is: what a year!
 
Yes, we all had many challenges. But we also had some big successes.

We expanded our partnership with YouthTruth Student Survey, which illustrated how our county’s students are affected more deeply than their out-of-county peers by the impacts of distance learning coupled with catastrophic fires experienced over the past several years. The results are so powerful and rich that it is not only informing the crucial need for the kind of engagement and hands-on learning that career technical education provides, but is guiding community-wide discussions and decision-making in areas such as housing, health, family and mental support services.

 

We joined others by standing behind: Black lives matter.And we started on a path to address systemic racism by making meaningful change through understanding and education; in both ourselves and our organization by engaging in honest conversations about race and unconscious bias. We commit in 2021 to continue engaging our staff and board as we strive for greater diversity, equity and inclusion in all layers of our work.

 

We had so much fun with our first Virtual Girls Tinker Academy. For two weeks last summer, 27 girls explored STEM concepts at home through guided hands-on activities and challenges where they were able to connect, get inspired and build confidence in science and engineering.

 

 

We zoomed, zoomed and zoomed some more. The important work we do to support students did not and cannot stop, and CTE Foundation staff have been working productively from home since March. On the bright side, we now have dozens of career exploration interviews and virtual activities such as tours and live panels on our website. And students are engaging, with over 2,400 views since the summer. 

 

We shared our impact. We released our first annual impact report (2018-2019) which illustrates how our investment model is working and our approach to aligning education with workforce development is leading to transformational learning.

 

We invested quickly and wisely. In response to teachers telling us what they most needed most, we launched a distance learning grant program to get materials to students in maker, engineering and construction courses. The grant program was further expanded this fall, opening up to include other CTE programs aligned with key local economic sectors and workforce development needs. To date, nearly $40,000 has been granted to 18 local teachers benefitting 1,500 high school students.

 

Given the accomplishments of 2020, I cannot help but be extremely proud of the innovation and resilience of my staff to meet the needs of students and teachers through a crisis that we never could have predicted. I am grateful for our board and community partners who have cheered us along the way. And I am awed by the empathy, creativity and dedication of our educators persevering through so much that has been unknown, unpredictable and uncertain.
 
I’ll share more next month about what I’m looking forward to in 2021. For now, please enjoy a safe holiday season with your family. Thank you for your continued interest and engagement in our mission.


-Kathy Goodacre

Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation Pivoting to Support Students and Educators Amidst Covid-19

by Leslie Simmons | Apr 23, 2020 | Uncategorized

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Santa Rosa, California (April 23, 2020) – With education as we know it flipped upside down, Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation is pivoting to address the challenges that the shelter-in-place order has created for learning. Following extensive conversations with partners and funded programs, CTE Foundation is implementing three initiatives to support students and educators during home-based remote learning.

  1. Maker Kit Grant Program: It is well documented that instructors are struggling with the unexpected shift to teaching students from their homes, but CTE teachers have a particularly tough challenge due to the “real-world,” hands-on approach that the career technical education model delivers. Through surveys of high school CTE teachers and work-based learning coordinators in Sonoma County, CTE Foundation has identified that teachers are struggling to get materials to their students to support maker, engineering, construction and design curriculum. To address the need, CTE Foundation is offering grants for currently funded CTE courses to provide custom supply kits that support teachers’ instructional plans and allow for quality hands-on activities and learning from home.
  2. Multi-disciplinary Project Teams: CTE Foundation is partnering with Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) to support three high school interdisciplinary teams between now and the end of school year to create innovative remote learning experiences for students. Teacher teams at Healdsburg, Windsor and Rancho Cotate High Schools will collaborate to create projects that address material in each respective subject area and work with students and industry mentors to solve authentic community problems. “Mandatory remote learning in our schools poses significant challenges,” says Chuck Wade, program coordinator at SCOE. “But it also removes some traditional barriers – like bell schedules – to allow for true multi-disciplinary project development. We’re seeing this as an opportunity to support innovative and relevant learning for our students during the Covid-19 lockdown and I think it will carry beyond this crisis.”
    Girls Tinker Academy Going Virtual: This two-week summer academy for middle school girls that introduces Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) concepts through maker activities is currently being redesigned to go virtual. Sonoma State University Assistant Professor Natalie Hobson, who designed and has led the Girls Tinker Academy for the past two years, is researching best practices and assembling materials to support girls’ hands-on exploring at home. “It’s not a time to be canceling programs like this. Girls need support more than ever to pursue STEM education and career pathways,” says Natalie. “By reimagining this program amidst this crisis, we can keep them engaged and connected to their peers and to learning.”

Funding to support these new initiatives is provided in part from a $15,000 grant from Sonoma County Vintners Foundation. The Vintners Foundation announced the awards last month and informed recipients they would be allowed to “repurpose” their funding as needed to address urgent issues related to Covid-19. In addition, CTE Foundation is continuing fundraising efforts through the crisis to support and expand these and other ongoing initiatives.

“We are grateful to the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation for allowing us to utilize the grant to address the very real and urgent needs of our educational system,” said CTE Foundation CEO Kathy Goodacre. “Our aim is to fulfill our mission to innovate the education-to-career experience for students, which includes pivoting our support in response to emerging needs.  Career technical education is proven to increase student engagement which through these initiatives we hope to provide the support our kids need to remain connected and learning during this unprecedented time.”

Cloverdale High creating makers and bakers

by Leslie Simmons | Jun 24, 2019 | News and Updates, Uncategorized

Kaylie L., Cloverdale High School

“I’ve always wanted to be a baker,” said Kaylie, so it’s no surprise that she has twice enrolled in the Farm-to-Table Culinary class, one of many funded by CTE Foundation.

“I loved this class and recommend it for everyone,” said Kaylie, a sophomore at Cloverdale High School. “I like the fact that we cook every week and I learn new and better ways to cook things than I already knew.”

She especially enjoyed the hands-on experience in the garden and getting important skills she can take anywhere in the future – not only in the kitchen but also project management and marketing.

“It surprised me to learn how easy it is to make homemade products like lip balm, lotion and candles. I’ve learned that instead of using chemicals, you can use bees wax. It’s just three ingredients and you’re done.”

Kaylie’s enthusiasm and experience were enough to impress Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville. Earlier this year, she and her classmates attended the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Career Summit hosted by CTE Foundation, and to her surprise, Kaylie was offered a baking job on the spot at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville.

“I’m so excited,” Kaylie says. “I’m going to be in the baking department getting trained for two months and then I can actually be alone and do everything by myself.”

News Release: Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation Launches Fresh Initiative to Support Local Workforce Pipeline

by Leslie Simmons | Mar 13, 2019 | Uncategorized

For Immediate Release

Santa Rosa, California (March 13, 2019) – The Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation Sonoma County has launched its newest initiative in partnership with the county’s largest employers and education institutions. The Sonoma Corps is a pilot program recruiting high school students in their senior year to prepare them for a “gap year” work experience internship following graduation. Beginning in Fall 2019, up to 20 seniors from Piner High, identified through a competitive application process, will attend semi-weekly classes to develop work-readiness and technical skills, meet employers, and explore how personal interests can lead to lucrative careers with Sonoma County employers. Upon high school graduation, participants will be assigned to a year-long paid internship based on their learning objectives and aligned to economic development needs in the county. After successful completion of gap-year internships, participants will be awarded scholarships for tuition at a post-secondary institution, preferably into education pathway programs at SRJC and SSU.

Students across the country are increasingly opting to postpone their traditional academic plans and participate in a gap year experience, a break between high school and college that might include travel, work or volunteering before continuing academic studies. The trend supports increased demand for structured gap year programs, which allow young people to explore their interests and ultimately enter their post-secondary school more energized and focused. Data shows how students who had internships where they could apply the knowledge and skills they were learning in the classroom are more likely to find full-time employment after college and to be engaged in their work.[i] 

The Sonoma Corps concept was developed to further a key strategy of Strategic Sonoma’s “grow our own” approach when addressing local workforce shortages. In its competitive assessment, Strategic Sonoma sites the demand for workers with mechanical and technical skills, stating, “Education-dependent technology jobs grew 36% over the past decade – compared to only 3% overall growth.”

Ethan Brown, program manager at the Sonoma County Economic Development Board and Sonoma Corps steering committee member, sees that many in-demand jobs increasingly require skills and knowledge that go beyond entry-level skills.

“For at least a decade, we have seen local companies struggle increasingly to recruit and retain skilled employees,” Brown said. “The 2017 fires exacerbated this problem and it’s crucial that we develop a pipeline to train young people for careers that will keep them in the region and support the growth of our local economy.”

Sonoma County’s population is aging faster than the national average – 28% of our local workforce was over the age 55 in 2016 – and rapidly losing residents under 25 years old due to the region’s high cost of living and perceived lack of opportunities to earn a living wage. Concurrently, many high school graduates find themselves unprepared to enter college – financially, emotionally, and academically – and instead languish in transfer programs with little direction or motivation to persevere in their studies. These same students also lack relevant skills for efficient transition to in-demand, skilled, high-wage jobs which would allow them to stay local.

“CTE Foundation has a proven track record in creating and funding programs that create pathways to careers and post-secondary education,” said Jim Happ, president of Labcon and Sonoma Corps steering committee member. “This initiative leverages CTEF’s experience with other successful programs like the North Bay Construction Corps and expands growth of a skilled workforce pipeline for the industries that drive our local economy. I look forward to participating in and growing the program so that we can continue hiring skilled workers from our community.”

###

About Sonoma Corps

Developed in partnership with public and private stakeholders, Sonoma Corps is a gap year program for high school students. Several industry partners are involved in the design and implementation of the program, and have signed up to host a “gap year” intern with their company, including: County of Sonoma General Services Department; E&J Gallo; Keysight Technologies; Labcon; Straus Family Creamery; and Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART). In addition to major employers, key education stakeholders have pledged support to bring Sonoma Corps to fruition: Jerry Miller, Senior Dean, Career & Technical Education and Economic Development at Santa Rosa Junior College; Lisa Vollendorf, Provost at Sonoma State University; and Stephen Jackson, Director, CTE Partnerships at Sonoma County Office of Education. Jen Klose, President of Santa Rosa City Schools Board (the largest district in the County with six high schools, including Piner) is a close collaborator on Sonoma Corps, and will be instrumental in its pilot implementation, evaluation and model development. Finally, Ethan Brown, Program Manager at the Economic Development Board will represent the Strategic Sonoma coalition on the Committee. Steering Committee activities launched February 11, 2019. All partners named above gathered to discuss motivations for joining the effort, come to agreement on program goals and desired outcomes, and provide input on the ideal candidate for the program. Monthly meetings have been set for the year to guide program development, including senior-year course curriculum, gap-year internship structure, student recruitment and wrap-around support planning.

About Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation

The Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation, founded in 2013, works to improve the economic outlook for Sonoma County’s youth by investing resources in a coordinated system of college and career readiness programs that lead to high-wage, high-demand, and high-skilled jobs in the county. The aim is to significantly improve overall student success and achievement through innovative educational programs that simultaneously mirror local economic trends and workforce demand. This is accomplished by gathering input from local employers about the skills gap and workforce training needs to help guide and coordinate opportunities to build a constructive connection between educational institutions and industry leaders while retaining the flexibility to respond to the challenges and needs faced by both.

-end-


[i] Learning to Work and Working to Learn, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF), June 20, 2017, https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/reports/learning-work-working-learn

News Release: Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation Exceeds $3 Million Investment In Local Schools & Programs With Recent Grant Awards

by Leslie Simmons | Feb 8, 2019 | Uncategorized

Santa Rosa, California (February 6, 2019) – The Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation has approved $343,652 in grant funding for 22 technical education programs among 11 Sonoma County schools.

Now in its sixth funding cycle, the CTE Foundation has invested over $3 million since its founding in 2013, creating new programs that connect students to employers for career exploration and skill-building and spurring over 100 new classes in local schools that focus on career and technical education in industries including engineering, manufacturing, agriculture, health, and the construction trades. 

The 2019-2020 funding adds two new schools to the organization’s portfolio and new classes with topics from robotics to welding technology that will expand opportunities for at least 400 students throughout the county, including more than 50 girls who will enroll in a Women in Engineering pathway at Rancho Cotati High School. The funding also aims to enhance the students’ classroom experience through supply grants that help teachers provide engaging, hands-on learning. Two planning grants were also awarded at Credo High School and Technology High School to create blueprints for pathways in regenerative agriculture and building math confidence, respectively. 

“Our organization’s momentum continues, and we are thrilled with the innovative learning opportunities presented by all of our awardees that align with the county’s workforce demands,” said CTE Foundation Board Chair Bob McGee, who is also President and Chief Operating Officer at Straus Family Creamery. “We are seeing more students better prepared for in-demand careers that are both high-skilled and high-wage.”

In addition to grants for schools, the CTE Foundation invests in programs that increase relevance for student learning from the classroom to real life, and students enrolled in these programs are engaged, active learners who graduate at higher rates and are better prepared for the rigors of both college and career than their non-CTE counterparts.  

To learn more about the CTE Foundation, programs, funding or donor opportunities, contact Kathy Goodacre at (707) 708-7081 kgoodacre@ctesonomacounty.org. To tour a CTE classroom, contact Leslie Simmons at (707) 755-5722 or lsimmons@ctesonomacounty.org.

Rethinking College and Career Readiness

by amber figueroa | Sep 5, 2018 | Uncategorized

Last spring, the CTE Foundation, in partnership with Sonoma County Office of Education, launched a community engagement process to help develop a common definition and success measures for what it means to truly be “college and career ready” for Sonoma County graduates.   Through this effort, a task force was formed to answer the question: What skills and characteristics does a K-12 graduate in Sonoma County need to demonstrate in order to successfully transition to the post K-12 world? 

We are fortunate to live in a forward-thinking county, where we enjoy the collaborative support and leadership among our education, business and community partners. To help address this question and with a focus on achieving college, career and life success for EVERY student, the Task Force has chosen a powerful approach called Portrait of a Graduate (POG).  This collaborative model, designed by Batelle for Kids, is transforming school districts nationwide by engaging the larger community in developing a collective vision that articulates the community’s aspirations for ALL students. During the next nine months the College and Career Ready Task Force, renamed POG Design Team, will be engaging with a broad representation of community stakeholders to answer the following:

  • What are the hopes, aspirations, and dreams that our community has for our young people?
  • What are the skills and habits of mind that our children need for success in this rapidly changing and complex world?
  • What are the implications for the design of the learning experiences—and equitable access to those experiences—we provide in our school systems?

Several local high schools are already implementing around graduate profiles, providing a stated vision for what students should know and be able to do to succeed and prepare for “what’s next” after graduation.  With the input from local districts, the development of a Sonoma County Portrait of a Graduate through a community-wide approach, can serve as a North Star for local school in setting their own strategic direction in designing the overall educational experience for students. More importantly, this collective vision can reinvigorate and re-engage our students, teachers and community stakeholders.

We are seeking input and participation from business and community leaders for the design and development of the Sonoma County POG, if you are interested, please contact kgoodacre@ctesonomacounty.org

 

News Release: CTE Foundation to receive $1 million grant to expand North Bay Construction Corps

by amber figueroa | Apr 11, 2018 | Uncategorized

Santa Rosa, CA (April 10th, 2018) – The Career Technical Education Foundation Sonoma County has been approved for a $1 million grant from Tipping Point Community, a prominent Bay Area funder that fights poverty in the Bay Area, to support expansion of a successful local youth training program called the North Bay Construction Corps. The funding is part of their Emergency Relief Fund, established to support the North Bay’s recovery and rebuilding efforts following the devastating fires last year that damaged thousands of homes and businesses.

 

The CTE Foundation and its partners in the Construction Corps program, the North Coast Builders Exchange and Sonoma Office of Education, announced the grant today noting that the funds will be used to enhance and expand the NBCC training program in response to the increased workforce needs of the building trades as the 4-county North Bay begins to rebuild. According to the CTE Foundation, the $1 million grant will be used to leverage and supplement the current support for the Construction Corps program in Sonoma County and will provide for expansion into other neighboring counties in the future.

 

The North Bay Construction Corps is a 5-month training program that introduces high school seniors to careers and jobs in construction in various trades. The program, now in its second year, has proven to be a very successful model that currently includes two cohorts in Sonoma County comprised of 37 young men and women who are in their last semester of high school. The CTE Foundation will work with the North Coast Builders Exchange to develop and execute programs in Napa and Lake Counties, as well as coordinate expansion of an existing Mendocino County Construction Corps program that began earlier this year. Additional interest and funding has been pledged to support expansion into Marin County as well.

 

“It is so important to provide engaging opportunities that inspire the next generation of tradespeople,” says Barbie Richardson, Owner of Simpson Sheet Metal and CTE Foundation Board Member. “Construction Corps encourages high school students to explore in a hands-on environment how their interests can be leveraged to create a successful career in this industry.”

 

The five-month training program includes classes that meet one night a week and one

Saturday a month and are exclusively taught by local construction industry representatives to give students a sampling of what it’s like to work in a variety of trades and to expose them to multiple employers.  Students learn the fundamentals of tool handling, safety, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, solar, and more. They also earn certifications in Forklift and Scissor Lift Operation, OSHA 10, and CPR/First Aid, giving them a significant advantage upon completion as they seek entry level work or further training such as an apprenticeship.

 

The program culminates in a 2-week Boot Camp during the summer that allows students to practice their skills and experience first-hand the day-to-day work life in the industry while earning a stipend. Along with trade-based technical skills, students learn soft skills such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, leadership, and working on deadlines, which are all applied throughout the program.

 

 

“A national survey of homebuilders conducted recently revealed a startling statistic, one that likely applies to the North Bay,” said Jeff Scott, President of the Builders Exchange. “For every five construction workers who will retire over the next several years, only one new worker is entering the field.  That is unsustainable.” Scott added that NCBE is enthusiastic about continuing its great partnership with the CTE Foundation which will lead to the Construction Corps concept expanding to other counties to lend support to industry workforce development goals.

 

In addition to funding the multi-county expansion of the program, the Tipping Point Emergency Relief Fund donation also provides funding to meet a local grant challenge to expand the program within Sonoma County. Local funders, Tony Crabb & Barbara Grasseschi, Morgan Family Foundation, Syar Foundation, and Bancroft Foundation have collectively donated $200,000 to be offered as a challenge match to the public. An additional $200,000 is needed to support the Sonoma County program through 2020. Fundraising is already underway, with commitments from the Engineering Contractors Association, BIA Bay Area, Charlie Palmer’s Pigs & Pinot Event, Windsor Education Foundation, and North Coast Builders Exchange.  The resulting support would potentially fund a total of eight cohorts, including four in Sonoma County, and serving up to 240 high school seniors.

 

As our community is faced with one of the largest disasters in its history, both public and private funding is needed to find ways to relieve the pains and rebuild the losses.  “For those not directly impacted by the fires, it might be easy to think of the tragedy that we faced last October as long past,” says Karen Fies, Director of Sonoma County Human Services and CTE Foundation Board Chair, “Yet there are thousands of displaced residents that want to go back to their homes, and the only way they can do that is if we have a strong workforce of Construction and trades professionals to put the pieces back together.”

 

 

For more information about the Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation and/or the North Bay Construction Corps, contact Kathy Goodacre, Executive Director, at kgoodacre@ctesonomacounty.org or call 707-708-7081.

 

Kaiser Permanente Supports Health Career Pathway Programs

by amber figueroa | Aug 1, 2017 | Uncategorized

Northern California Community Benefit Programs Awards $95,000 to Fund Health Careers Academy and Summer Health Careers Institute

CTE Foundation is happy to announce its renewed partnership with Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Program. The grant supports work to expand and enhance two signature programs that enable high school students to explore a wide variety of careers in healthcare while learning technical and soft skills required by the industry. Implemented by Santa Rosa Junior College, students learn through a series of lectures, labs, and job shadows at local institutions. Importantly, participants earn both high school and college credit. Read the stories of two students who participated in last year’s Summer Health Careers Institute, and check out links to both programs below. Registration is now open for Fall 2017 Health Careers Academy!

 

Daisy always knew that she would go to college one day, but she really didn’t start thinking about what it would take to get there until encouraged by her teachers at Casa Grande High School. “College felt far away,” she says, “In Mexico, education is really different, and I didn’t have a sense of the process.” Daisy’s Clinical Biology teacher knew that she was interested in becoming a nurse and told her that the SRJC’s Summer Health Careers Institute would be a good experience, and it would help her prepare for ongoing education.

Daisy talks enthusiastically about the application process, saying that not only was it her first real interview experience, but it also helped her learn how to present herself in a professional way. “You can’t be trying to help people and not be passionate about helping others,” she says, and learning how to express that passion verbally was an important experience for her.

During the program, Daisy gained a much clearer picture of her potential career pathways and the required education to get there. The immersive, hands-on learning opportunities have only fueled Daisy’s passion for helping others. When asked about the class sessions that inspire her most, she first tells a story about being able to watch nurses in action at St. Joseph’s hospital, and then how helping them with their patients made her feel a strong sense of purpose. She then goes on to describe other classes, such as shadowing a public health official in the field, and observing hospital doctors in cardio and in pediatrics, and how those experiences have inspired her to think beyond her original goals. “Every week I change my mind about where I want to go. It helps me out because I now know I have a lot of other choices too, not just nursing. I know because of this program that there are a lot of things in healthcare that I can do.”

 

Throughout his youth, Bryan has committed to helping others. Growing up he would sometimes end up in a hospital, and it was there that he saw first-hand how caring doctors and nurses could be. It was an experience that impacted him greatly, “I want to be in a position to help others, to comfort them, to make sure things at home are good,” he says.

Outside of school, Bryan works 4-5 days a week at a local pizza restaurant, teaches Tae Kwon Do to little kids, and volunteers at both the food bank and at Petaluma Hospital. While getting his homework done is a challenge with these extra-curricular activities, he is grateful to have the opportunity to participate in the Summer Health Careers Institute. “This program is making me stay focused on my goals for the future. It’s worth giving up my summer to do this,” he states with a smile.

When asked about what he appreciates about the program most he begins by  saying, “I cannot stop talking about this things I have learned these last weeks, it’s incredible!” He starts by sharing how he has already used the techniques learned in the Crucial Conversations training at both his work and with his Tae Kwon Do kids. He then talks about his experiences shadowing people at the hospital, learning about how to chart, and observing the process of diagnosing patients.

But most importantly for him was learning that there are options in healthcare beyond simply going to medical school. The program has shown him other pathways that could lead to a career as a doctor while allowing him to work and gain experience along the way. At the moment, he feels the best approach is to start as a nurse, then work his way to physician’s assistant, perhaps becoming a trauma doctor, and then decide if committing to extra schooling is right for him. “A step-by-step program makes me feel more comfortable,” he says, “And this course has helped me create a laddered approach to learning and building my career.”

 

Summer Health Careers Institute - 5 Week Summer Program

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Health Careers Academy - Academic School Year Program

Registration for 2017-18 Open Now

Community WISE Kick-Off Event Raises $30,000 in Pledges!

by amber figueroa | May 9, 2017 | Uncategorized

CTE Foundation, Sonoma State University, and Community Leaders Gather to Discuss Importance of Supporting Women and Girls Pursuing STEM Education and Careers

From Left: Lise Asimont, Kim Bishop, Jessica Kilkullen

From Left: Jenny Chamberlain, Nancy Dougherty, Jenifer Eaton, Denise Webb, Linda Mayberry-Chavez

From Left: Eileen Gittins, Holly Berkely, Supervisor Shirlee Zane

From Left: Michelle Zygielbaum, Barbara Grasseschi, Tony Crabb, Suzy Marzelek, Mike Marzelek, Paul Zygielbaum

Community WISE (Women Investing in STEM Equity), a project of CTE Foundation, made its official debut this past weekend and quickly earned enthusiastic support from local industry and community leaders.

 

Dr. Judy Sakaki, President of Sonoma State University, and her husband, Patrick McCallum, hosted the intimate gathering at their home Sunday. Dr. Sakaki shared her story of breaking barriers and overcoming gender bias throughout her career, and spoke to the need for programs that support future female leaders in the county.

Kathy Goodacre and Dr. Lynn Stauffer, co-leaders of Community WISE, provided background on the program, its Mission and goals, and future plans for investment in local initiatives that inspire and prepare girls and young women in pursuit of STEM education and careers.

Three students – Tania Deleva from Sonoma State University, Isabel Nunez-Perez from Healdsburg High School, and Miranda Pokorny from Technology High School – shared personal stories of the challenges each faced as young women forging their way through science, technology, and engineering education.

Lisa Wittke Schaffner, Executive Director of the John Jordan Foundation, and Hamish Gray, Senior Vice President at Keysight, each addressed the group and pledged their financial support to launch the program. Lisa and Hamish, both CTE Foundation Board Members, discussed the positive impacts on work force development and the local economy achieved by encouraging more girls to explore careers in STEM, and asked members of the audience to join them in the effort. Additional pledges were received following the presentation, generating more than $30,000 in pledged support.

About Community WISE

In 2016, CTE Foundation, in partnership with several local organizations and women leaders, set out to form a leadership group to address the formidable gender gap for girls and women in pursuit of Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education and careers. Community WISE was formed under the guidance of female leadership from CTE Foundation, Sonoma State University, Sonoma County Office of Education, Keysight Technologies, Straus Family Creamery, Sonic, and students in Engineering/Technology pathway programs in local high schools.

Today, Community WISE seeks to convene a coalition of local employers, education institutions, students and community leaders who will identify and invest in engaging learning opportunities that inspire and prepare more girls and young women to pursue STEM majors and careers. Community WISE believes that our STEM workforce issues can only be solved by diverse partners collaborating to create disruptive solutions that promote equity for all girls and underrepresented racial minorities.

To learn more about Community WISE, or to join the coalition, please see our program web page, or contact Kathy Goodacre at 707-708-7080.

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