Real world skills focus for Lynn educators

LYNN – The Lynn School Committee shifted its focus to the technical fields during Thursday night’s meeting, with visits from local leaders involved in what has become known as STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education.Through new programs and partnerships, the committee hopes to better prepare Lynn students for STEM careers by starting related education programs early on and promoting them as post-education options.”We hear it all the time from adults, they say, ‘I’m not good at math,’ and that’s a wall that is put up before people,” said Mary Sarris of the North Shore Workforce Investment Board. “Computer skills are critical and basic skills now; they’re no longer extra or fun things to have.”Sarris addressed the board on the importance of STEM-related curriculum, especially in the North Shore, where health care and durable goods manufacturing are the leading industries.”We are trying to figure out a way to help young people feel that there is indeed a place for them in the STEM economy,” she said. “They can do math, they can do science, and they can actually like it and choose it as a career for themselves. It can provide them with the opportunity to make a living for in the future while also supporting our local economy.”Schools Superintendent Catherine C. Latham said the committee is drafting a revised policy for improved math education in the district. She sympathized with two students who spoke about their problems getting accepted to certain math-based college programs because of insufficient math curriculum at Lynn Tech.”I feel we have let you down,” Latham told the students. “I hope you will keep at it and not give up on your dreams.”The committee also received information about a new program the district will join, the Gateway Project, which is organized by the National Center for Technological Literacy at the Museum of Science, Boston.As part of the program, Lynn will send a team of teachers and administrators to a conference at the museum to exchange strategies with other districts and develop action plans for the future. The project, which starts at an elementary level and pushes for an earlier emphasis on science, currently serves 58 districts in the state, with similar programs in Texas and Maine.”We truly believe that if we believe that if we didn’t start at the early grades, the opportunities to spiral it into the older grades would be slimmer,” said Dr. Yvonne Spicer, Vice President of Advocacy for Education Partnership at the Museum of Science. “The more momentum this project gets the better it is.”The Gateway Project will cost around $500 per teacher/administrator, which includes all curriculum costs and follow-up meetings and visits with project leaders. Latham said the program will greatly benefit the district.”It’s hard not to get excited about it, isn’t it?” she said. “Everyone now is gearing up (for this) and we want to make sure we’re gearing up as well. We have to do a better job of introducing students to science and math.”The North Shore Workforce Investment Board also publicized its youth programs, including First Jobs, which provides job preparation workshops throughout the community and develops summer jobs for teens. The Youth Career Center, located at 181 Union St. with additional locations in Salem and Gloucester, helps students find jobs and explore a variety of careers.”There are things we need to understand: what are the critical industries, what are the skills needed in those industries?” Sarris said. “We like this Museum of Science program because it gets right to the issue here: helping teachers teach science and math, and helping students learn about career opportunities in those fields.”The school board also voted to pass a new admissions policy for Lynn Tech and continue non-participation in the School Choice Program for the 2010-2011 school year. Students applying for transfer to Lynn Tech after their junior year must have previously attended a Chapter 74-approv