STEM jobs are anticipated to grow more than three times faster than non-STEM jobs between 2022 and 2032, yet fewer than 30% of students are interested in pursuing STEM-related careers. To close this gap, it is crucial to develop students’ STEM identities, which includes their STEM skills and competencies, but also students’ self-perception of their ability to succeed in STEM and their exposure to and engagement with high-quality STEM experiences. In this session, National Math + Science Initiative’s CEO Jeremy Anderson will share how cross-sector partnerships focused on educator professional development can objectively and measurably strengthen students' excitement and engagement with STEM, create long-term systemic changes that raise proficiency levels, and create a strong pipeline into local STEM careers.
