To close the month of March with inspiring and positive momentum, the Smithsonian Science Education Center hosted a truly inspiring conference that brought together a diverse mix of community of educators and mentors from all around the United States. The high energy and collaborative spirit that took place at Howard University in Washington D.C. was infectious, setting the stage for a weekend of impactful learning and connection. Oh and a TON of good food!
One of the key highlights of the summit was the opportunity for attendees to offer real-time feedback to each other’s work. We were in 13 groups of 5 to 6 people and each group was paired with a mentor. We were paired with an amazing mentor, Dr. Kim Robinson. Our EnCorps team offered a dynamic mix of perspectives mixing the viewpoints of Marketing & Partnerships, Programs, an EnCorps Fellow Alum, our Tutoring Director, and again, our dedicated mentor. We quickly formed a cohesive unit to get the job done! Our mission? To collaboratively develop a robust logic model aimed at addressing a critical need: the diversification of the STEM teacher workforce.
Since this is EnCorp’s mission, we wanted to come up with a new program that was innovative and would align future forward education. I think we did just that.
The conference kicked off with an engaging game designed to illuminate the strategies needed to drive meaningful change within the education system. It was such a good way to understand the importance of leveraging key players and stakeholders, showcasing the art of building strong relationships, and cultivating a strategic mindset for effectively pitching ideas and ultimately, sealing the deal. I wish we had this game at our house!! It was a great introduction to the weekend of work we were set to embark on.
The rest of the weekend was dedicated to collaborative learning and refinement of our goals and pitches. We dove deep into our problem statement, meticulously crafted our goals, and honed our pitch, iterating and improving as we progressed. The opportunity to learn from and alongside such passionate individuals was invaluable. We had some great leaders in that room and we were so humbled by the variety of experience and feedback!
For our team, the diverse backgrounds and experiences within our group proved to be a significant strength. Each member brought a unique perspective to the table, enriching our discussions and ultimately strengthening our logic model and our approach to the challenge.
The Smithsonian Science Education Center truly curated a valuable and impactful experience. The focus on collaborative problem-solving, coupled with the insights gained from the opening game, provided a solid framework for addressing the crucial need for a more diverse and inclusive STEM teaching community. We left the conference feeling energized, equipped with new strategies, and deeply connected to a network of dedicated individuals committed to making a real difference in STEM education.
We were excited to take the lessons learned and the connections made back to California, and continue working towards a more diverse and thriving STEM future. Thank you Smithsonian Science Education Center!! A special thank you to Sherrell Williams, Addy Allred, Elle Satterthwaite, and Amy D’Amico for all of the organization and work invested into making this an amazing event. We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Frazier Wilson for helping to make this program possible!
Summits like this are a necessity and we hope to join again next year!