Dayton Region Educational Leaders Support STEM Education

Dayton Region Educational Leaders
Testify Before State Senators on Importance of Supporting STEM Education in Ohio Budget

Columbus, OH (May 5, 2009)  With the state of Ohio struggling economically and the state budget under fierce debate, a contingent of Dayton Region STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education leaders testified before the Senate Education Committee to bolster support for STEM funding.  Margy Stevens, Executive Director of the Dayton Regional STEM Center and Michele Wheatly, Dean of Math and Science at Wright State University, presented compelling evidence that robust STEM activities in the Dayton Region and throughout the entire state can be the stimulus to overcome Ohio’s economic and workforce woes.

“Right now Ohio is one of the emerging leaders in STEM education and we are priming the pump for STEM talent,” Dean Wheatly said.  “Other states are very concerned that Ohio will beat them in the race for talent, so we must continue to set the pace.  Our future depends on it.” 

Leaders across the state joined Wheatly and Stevens in testifying on the critical importance of investing in math and science to help students become internationally competitive and gain the skills and knowledge valued by employers in growing industries. Their goal was to preserve state funding for critical STEM programs and initiatives that is slated for more than a 50 percent cut in the K12 budget.  These funds have been used by districts throughout the Dayton Region to begin revamping their middle school math and science programming, engage in rich professional development for teachers and create new models of educating children such as the soon to open Dayton Regional STEM School.  Without continued funding, these programs are at risk.

Wheatly gave convincing examples how the Dayton Region’s institutions have collaborated across sectors—higher education, government, philanthropy and business—to create new and innovative ways of reaching  teachers and learners not only in the region but throughout the entire state to promote and support STEM education, as well as to leverage available funds.

One of the most exciting examples of this work is the Dayton Regional STEM Center  Stevens testified that the work done at the Center is critical for training and supporting STEM educators and designing curriculum that is aligned to current and future workforce needs. 
“The STEM Center has become part of the economic lifeline and must have support to continue this nationally recognized work in order to meet our needs and give Ohio the competitive edge it needs,” Stevens said.

STEM education is based on project-based and inquiry-based curriculum that is anchored by real-world applications.  The curriculum being designed at the Dayton Regional STEM Center is intended to support teachers and students in classrooms across the region.  More than 370 teachers and 11,000 students have benefited from the state grant funding and STEM Center support.
In addition to Tuesday’s testimony, last week in Columbus a team of more than 22 educators and advocates from the Dayton Region participated in STEM Advocacy Day at the Statehouse.  The group met with eleven legislators, shared their work with others from across the state and attended a reception where former astronaut and Senator John Glenn served as the keynote speaker.  Statewide advocacy activities have been conducted in concert with the Ohio STEM Learning Network and the Ohio Business Alliance for Higher Education & the Economy.

STEM literacy unleashes creative, engaged learners who are innovators, collaborators, problem-solvers, skillful communicators and critical thinkers—all qualities that foster success in college, career and life.  That is why in 2007 the Dayton Region undertook a strategic focus on STEM education.  Ambitious STEM efforts are underway at the Dayton Regional STEM Center, Dayton Regional STEM School, Ponitz Career Tech Center, Miami Valley Career Technology Center, Chaminade Julienne High School, Sinclair Community College, Wright State University, University of Dayton, UDRI, Montgomery County Educational Service Center, and Western Ohio Center for Excellence and as well as many other schools and districts throughout the area. 

EDvention – a collaborative of over 80 organizations dedicated to accelerating STEM talent development to grow the region, works with these entities to catalyze action, attract new opportunities and advocate for STEM education for every child.
As Wheatly stated in her testimony: “Why should we fund STEM when there are so many competing demands for state dollars?  The answer is a simple one - because the State of Ohio can’t afford not to.”