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STEM Learning Ecosystems Move to Self-Governance; Initiative Demonstrates Global Power of Collaboration

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Leaders plan future of 100 communities committed to STEM learning for all

New York, NY – The STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP), launched as an initiative supported by philanthropy, is moving to sustainability with the appointment of 16 leaders from across the globe to serve as members of the newly formed Leadership Coordinating Council (LC2.)

Supported by the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES,) the backbone organization of the SLECoP, LC2 members will lead all aspects of the work of the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice as it enters its seventh year.

The SLECoP, the first initiative of its kind, brings together leaders from business and industry, K-12 and higher education, out-of-school-time providers, museums, non-profits, philanthropy and government to work together for meaningful STEM opportunities for all.

Forming STEM Learning Ecosystems has been cited as the top priority for driving meaningful STEM gains for communities by the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy and others and is credited with driving meaningful change in cities across the U.S. and in several other countries.

From programs to policy, the STEM Learning Ecosystems have been at the forefront of positive STEM gains in cities in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Israel and Kenya.

The LC2 will move the SLECoP to new heights of leadership, recommending and implementing efforts to best support 100 global communities working to connect the diverse partners who recognize the power of STEM to improve the lives of individuals, families and entire communities.

“The STEM LEARNING ECOSYSTEMS has been an agent of change for reimagining STEM experiences, in large urban communities like New Orleans, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Tulsa or more rural communities like upstate New York and Idaho. Leaders in STEM Learning Ecosystems across the globe are organizing cross-sector partners to expand opportunities for and increase the inclusion of marginalized scholars in STEM, shining the spotlight on the diverse talent within each and every community across an Ecosystem’s footprint,” said Judd Pittman, former special consultant to the Secretary of Education for Pennsylvania.

“This work is transforming communities around the world and I am honored to be chairing the Leadership Coordinating Council (LC2),” said Pittman, explaining that collective action and network approaches to supporting scholars in STEM aligns with his new role as the director of K–16 Initiatives at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Pennsylvania.

Reginald McGregor, Global Defense Diversity and Inclusion Manager Rolls-Royce North America, will serve as the vice chair of the LC2 and liaison to the Strategic Advisory Council. McGregor, who has been active with the Indiana STEM Ecosystem, said, “The LC2 will shape the future of this country by defining STEM as a skillset and diversifying the participants leading and those they are serving.”

Other members of the LC2 are:

 

Dr. Jeremy Babendure

Dr. Jeremy Babendure is the Executive Director of the SciTech Institute leading signature programs including the annual Arizona SciTech Festival and the Chief Science Officers. The festival involved 800+ collaborators, 50+ signature events and draws 50 …

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Dr. Deborah Bailey

Dr. Deborah L. Bailey has over 25 years of experience in education and program management having started her career as a High School Science teacher with the United States Peace Corps in Namibia, South Africa. Currently she serves as the STEM Education …

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Dr. Donna J. DeSiato

Dr. Donna DeSiato, a respected leader in the field of public education, proudly serves as superintendent of the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District since 2005. She has previously served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruc …

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Dr. Frank Creech

Dr. Frank Creech has served large urban and small rural low-wealth school districts in NC for over 20 years as a teacher, principal and district leader. Frank completed his MSA and Ed.D in school leadership at UNC Chapel Hill. Frank worked for the NC D …

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Graciela Rojas

She has promoted scientific thinking as a path to social wellbeing for more than 20 years. In 2014 she was awarded the National Entrepreneur Award. Also in 2015 she received the National Quality Award. She is Ashoka Social Entrepreneur and has been rec …

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Jo-Ann Coggan

Jo-Ann worked at Science World, Vancouver, BC, Canada for 22 years. She started out as a science facilitator, became a manager and then a director of outreach for 17 of those years. She is now a one person HR department at a rapidly growing company tha …

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Kathleen Schofield

Kathleen Schofield is the Executive Director of the Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub. In this capacity, she works to assure equitable access to computer science and STEM learning across the northeast Florida region. Working as a liaison between the …

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LaTrenda Leonard Sherrill

LaTrenda Leonard Sherrill serves as the Working Group Strategist of the Pittsburgh Regional STEAM Ecosystem, powered by the Remake Learning Network. She is committed to increasing racial equity and access in STEM, particularly computer science in the G …

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Levi Patrick

Levi Patrick is a 7th generation Oklahoman who taught 8th-grade math, Algebra 1, and Geometry in Putnam City and Oklahoma City Public Schools. Patrick holds his Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics Education from Oklahoma State University and his Master’s …

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Lisa J. Blank

Lisa is the Director of STEM Programs for Watertown City School District in Watertown, New York. Lisa serves the STEM community as a leader in a variety of capacities, including membership on the New York State Curriculum Advisory Panel for Computer Sc …

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Lori Flippin

I have always had a great deal of passion for STEM, which led me to pursue degrees in biology, chemistry, physics, math and secondary education. I spent the first fifteen years in the secondary classroom and then became an assistant principal in charge …

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Natasha Smith-Walker

Natasha Smith-Walker has 25 years of experience in youth development and education. Her career has focused on supporting youth and communities having access to opportunities that will support their growth. As the Executive Director of Project Explorati …

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Tal Hakim Dromi

Tal Hakim Dromi is the manager of ECOSTEM21 in Beit Hakerem Regional Cluster. The Cluster comprised 7 municipalities located in the galilee of Israel. Tal has a wide experience in managing education and municipals organizations. She has a Master’s degr …

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Willonda McCloud

Willonda McCloud is a trusted leader and community organizer in Lancaster, PA and the surrounding region. For nearly twenty years she has been at the vanguard of the cross-sector collaboration that has built Lancaster into a national model for nonprofi …

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LC2 members were selected based on their demonstrated leadership at the STEM Learning Ecosystem level with brilliance in understanding the importance of STEM and the alignment with workforce and economic development.

The LC2 will prepare for the first in-person convening of the SLECoP since the pandemic, “People, Planet, Prosperity.”

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