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Stem East
It began as a modest idea more than a decade ago. Expand science, technology, engineering and math — STEM — curriculums in rural middle schools, and students’ awareness of jobs in industries specific to Eastern North Carolina will increase. They learn through summer programs, science centers and community colleges about an economic ecosystem that supports regional target industries, including aviation, agriculture, energy systems, biopharma, manufacturing, blue economy and health sciences. “It was very logical to think that if we were going to develop the economy of our region, we have to start with the workforce,” says Bruce Middleton, STEM East executive director and former teacher and administrator in the Alamance and Orange County school districts. “We had to develop a knowledgeable, skilled workforce.”
NC East Alliance takes a personalized focus to growing the region’s economy, supporting its 29 counties and 31 school districts. It formed in 2015, when Northeast Commission and Eastern Commission merged. Back then, state funding was divided among eight Prosperity Zones, and STEM education was underway in only a few counties.
“So, I approached the superintendents about a new version of STEM East and was fortunate to get 29 of the counties onboard and 10 of the 16 community colleges,” says Patrick Miller, former Greene County Schools superintendent and current director of regional school district engagement and support. “The teachers and students had no idea what goes on in those giant shell buildings they pass on the way to school, so we were trying to peel back the curtain on what exists in these industry clusters. Like in aviation, there are thousands of jobs that support that industry such as the Aviation Logistics Center and Aviation Technical Training Center in Elizabeth City.”
“Those aviation jobs have a whole lot of opportunities for people to work with the planes,” Middleton says. “They need electricians [and] welders, and they pay a good [annual] wage, like about $60,000. And they’re constantly looking for people.”
Wesley Beddard, former Martin Community College president, joined the team as director of regional community college engagement and support. Ethan Lenker, former Pitt County Schools superintendent, became director of regional industry engagement and support. Soon, 30 of the school districts were hooked into STEM East. “It was the start to a great conversation,” Middleton says. “We had to organize the districts and their programming to see where we could provide assistance.”
NC East sought funding from Golden LEAF Foundation, a nonprofit formed in 1999 to increase economic opportunity in rural communities. That money helped put STEM labs in middle schools.
An initial task was to inform school districts of STEM East’s major pillars or focuses. They include an Industry in Schools program; STEM Schools of Distinction, a N.C. Department of Public Instruction recognition for schools with a higher standard and level of instruction; and Industry in Schools weeks, recognition of job and career awareness across the region. “Those were the big three for K-12,” Middleton says. “Then we added our community college program and how to develop and submit advanced technology grants and national science foundation grants. It gives community colleges funds upfront to develop advanced technology programming.”
Miller says the Industry in Schools focus draws the most attention. “But if STEM East were a shopping mall, Schools of Distinction would be the anchor store,” he says. “We don’t have any hard data yet, because we’re still so young out of the gate, but our first strategy was to increase awareness in the teachers, to make them aware that the students are the first part of economic development in our region. So, when a student says, ‘I like this. Can I make a career out of it?’ the teacher knows that they can, says yes and this is how you can do it.”
STEM East emerged from the COVID pandemic with a monumental event in Greenville that drew representatives from 30 school districts and 15 community colleges. “And that became our core membership,” Middleton says.
“About 70% of the jobs only require an industry credential or associate degree to get started,” Miller says. “Then there is more education if needed and, often, the company will pay for it. Not necessarily pay for a bachelor’s degree but pay for the training needed to advance their jobs. And a $60,000 salary goes a lot further in Eastern North Carolina than in a metro area. Students don’t necessarily have to stay in their counties; they can stay in their region.”
Collaboration between regional businesses, school districts, private foundations, state and local governments, and economic development efforts are helping STEM students directly align with career opportunities. About 28,500 students and 770 teachers are engaged in the programs. Thirty-six STEM Outreach Camps bring together community college representatives, prospective employers, and more than 2,500 middle school and high school students.
Industry in Schools weeks culminate with summarizing what K-12 teachers can relate about professions: What does the industry look like? What is the pathway to get there? How can you teach the specific subject you teach and make it relate to this field? “One time, we heard from math teachers who asked how they could use what they learned, saying that math didn’t apply,” Middleton says. “But it applies to aviation. It applies to other fields. We bring awareness and support, and we talk them through the process. Our biggest message is you don’t have to move away to have your career.”
STEM East launched a Career Coach Network this summer. It’s professional development for career center directors and advisers, furthering education as a major success, along with NC East’s other initiatives — economic development, marketing, community development, and securing hidden or lost talent.
“Because the education initiative is our most robust and most mature initiative, it currently gets the most attention,” says Todd Edwards, board chairman of NC East. “It is also where most of our large victories lie for the moment. But we have other initiatives that will equally bloom in the coming year or so to build a truly unique vehicle for positive change in Eastern North Carolina. Each piece is critical to the overall effort.”
Six new STEM East Schools of Distinction — three from Lenoir County and one each from Beaufort, Wilson and Onslow counties — were announced in May. They join five in Pitt County and three in Greene County. Those 14 schools represent 28% of active STEM Schools of Distinction statewide, and 19 more in NC East territory have expressed readiness to participate in summer workshops.
“Maybe one of the best things is that we’re bringing a regional conversation to them not just a local conversation,” Middleton says. “If they’re only having job fairs in their county, that doesn’t bring a lot of hope, because they may not see very much. But kids are going to be mobile. East of Interstate 95 is constantly losing people, because kids think that to be successful you have to go to the other side. We’re letting them know that is not the case. If I lived in Northampton County, I could still go to work in Washington County or Beaufort or Carteret and commute or be home weekends. They can live in a great place with a low cost of living and have a great career.”
Miller tells the story of a family that lives in the state’s northeastern corner. Several years ago, the oldest son decided he needed to move away to succeed, and he found a career in Charlotte. About three years ago, the father arranged for the middle son, then a high school junior, to job shadow at the Fleet Readiness Aviation Repair and Maintenance Center in Havelock while he was at a business meeting. That son was sold on what he observed, went to ECU’s College of Engineering and Technology to focus on mechanical engineering, and was offered a job with the Department of Defense. He’s interning for two summers then will start at an annual salary of about $70,000. The youngest child, still in elementary school, likes what her brother is doing with airplanes and wants to stay near home when she grows up, too. She wants to be a pilot.
“Soon, our community colleges will be booming with kids going through upskilling or earning credentials that will lead to a better job,” Miller says. “Our vision is to have a bunch of Industries in Schools weeks a year, a blue economy week, a smart manufacturing week. And all that will be not only to build awareness with teachers but also with parents. We want people to see that Eastern North Carolina is a destination. It’s a place to live, not a place to leave.” ■
— Kathy Blake is a writer from eastern North Carolina.
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