Welcome to our board meeting and welcome back from intersession!
I continue to be inspired by the insight, drive, and awareness of our students. Whether it’s being invited to sit on a panel at the White House Summit advocating Computer Science for All and getting national attention or, this past weekend when a group of committed students at Eastlake HS organized and hosted the 2nd Annual G.I.R.L.S. STEM Conference, we have amazing and talented students! I would estimate that close to 200 students attended the conference at ELH and were forever impacted by the inspirational and knowledgeable STEM panel of speakers.
Kudos to Emma Antoine – Conference Chair, Emily Parise, Phillip Winters, and German Salas, the team that moderated the entire conference with poise and confidence. Of course, they had help from Titanbot team members as well as their advisor Mr. Foust, Principal Maria Esther Lizarraga, and supportive parents. The theme this year was “Girls Inspiring Real Leadership & STEM.” The conference goals were to mentor & guide, inspire & engage, and “to create a positive, life changing experience where YOU (students) meet and interact with diverse leaders, engineers, scientists, college students and robotics high school students.”
The organizing high school team was able to attract a very diverse panel of powerful women speakers such as a Biomedical Scientist, Marine Turtle & Ecology Researcher, Data Analyst, Marine & Freshwater Ecology Scientist, and an Electrical Engineer from NAVAIR Avionics. Additionally, they coordinated exhibitors from SPAWAR, Booz Allen, Association for Women in Science, National Marine Mammal Foundation, SDSU, UCSD, Society of Women Engineers, General Atomics, Latino Scientists and Engineers, and NAVAIR to host info booths.
These highly focused, empowered high school students were also able to get the Eastlake Chick-fil-A to donate lunch for the conference. The messages from many of the speakers were very similar: they were primarily the only female or one of a few in their STEM university majors; it was very challenging to stay motivated; there were many times they felt like giving up; they kept focused on their dream and that’s what kept them going!
The comments and questions posed by the attendees convinced me this conference did accomplish the goals of challenging traditional stereotypes of girl leaders, engineers, and scientists; of motivating the students to expand and explore their dreams; of providing the opportunity to meet and interact with women engineers, scientists, and leaders; and of helping young women learn more about the different fields of engineering and science while having fun! We are so proud of Emma, Emily, Phillip and German! I know our future is in great hands!
Back in July at the Welcome Back rallies, we asked employees to respond to two questions. Tonight I’m going to share a few of the responses from Q1:
- What is your advice to a 1st year employee in a position similar to yours?
- Here are some responses to Q1:
- Build relationships with your students – show them you care about them as individuals!
- Learn from those around you!
- Ask for help and continue to grow!
- Bring compassion, caring, and your “A” game every day!
- Speak less, listen more!
- Be focused on truth and service from the heart!
- Treat each student like he/she is your own child!
- Go to school events: games, plays, music – be visible!
- You are part of a bigger picture. Get to know the other people you work with – they all have a story!
- It’s okay to fail. Just figure out why and how it happened!
- Establish positive relationships with all SUHSD peers/staff!
- You are not alone!
Finally, just want to remind all Sweetwater employees that Wednesday, Oct. 12 is the first day we hope to have all 4,000 staff wear their “Putting Students First” t-shirts! Please send me pictures of your school or department staff in their shirts!
In closing, on a sad note, one of our teachers, Mr. Hal Herlan, passed away last week from a second bout with cancer. He taught Science and coached Girls Basketball, as well as Track & Field, at Montgomery HS since 1998. In today’s SUHSD Learns blog, MoH Asst. Principal Dan Cohen, wrote about Hal when he said that what he has learned is “that life is a gift.” Mr. Cohen goes on to write that Mr. Herlan made the most of his gift of life by “giving back to the students he taught, coached, and counseled.” After he stopped coaching, he still attended games and school events to show support to his students. He will be missed and I hope, in his memory, we all use each opportunity to demonstrate support and inspiration to one another.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve and support each of you!