The University of Houston-Victoria (UHV) and Victoria Independent School District (VISD) are teaming up to strengthen Victoria’s workforce of tomorrow.
For the 2020-21 school year, VISD launched two new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) academies focused on preparing students with the necessary skills to pursue future STEM career pathways. Through STEM academies at Smith STEM Academy and Stroman STEM Academy, VISD students experience STEM content through real-world learning experiences.
“Developing community partnerships is key to providing multiple opportunities of exposure, experience and pursuit for all VISD students beginning with STEM,'' said Ann Avila, innovation specialist for VISD. “Through our strategic planning we hope to develop lasting connections that will provide student choice and confidence in exploring multiple career-focused pathways.”
To enhance this partnership, Smith STEM Academy has invited UHV college professors to engage with the campus by hosting STEM challenges, offering career informational sessions and serving as career mentors on future projects. Educating our youngest students is just the beginning.
UHV and VISD are working to facilitate a STEM Bridge Experience for students currently attending Stroman STEM Academy. This opportunity will be conducted at UHV’s newly built STEM building and hosted by UHV professors. Sixth graders from Stroman STEM Academy will participate in lab stations centered around a variety of STEM-influenced careers.
“It is terrific to grow our own STEM students in our city with a bridge to the university,” said Dr. Teresa LeSage-Clements, professor of science education. “The UHV faculty visited Smith STEM Academy before Thanksgiving and were impressed by the STEM Academy’s first-grade students working on engineering plans and designing structures to catch a turkey.”
STEM is a way of thinking. Students will learn how to apply STEM thinking to many educational Hi and career fields through the STEM pathway. The STEM Bridge aims to develop positive attitudes toward STEM while empowering learning through both voice and choice. Together UHV and VISD are excited to expand local opportunities to expose our students to a future pathway of choices.