Lt. Gov. Griffin touts STEM
Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin endorsed the principles of career and technical education Tuesday to state educators and promoted the Million Women Mentors effort to encourage more female students to pursue careers in the fields of in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The Arkansas Association for Career and Technical Education held its 87th annual Summer Conference Sunday through Tuesday at the Hot
Springs Convention Center. The event was sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Career Education, as well as Edmentum and the Innovative Strategies Group.
Meetings began on Sunday and sessions were held throughout the day on Monday. Another round of meetings was held Tuesday morning before the closing session in Horner Hall.
Griffin was invited to the conference as the keynote speaker for the closing session. He was elected in 2014 after serving for four years in the U.S. House of Representatives for Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District.
“Thank you for what you do,” Griffin said. “You are so critical to what is going on in this state right now.”
Griffin said career and technical educators have always been important, but their role is even more crucial now as the state works to attract companies to Arkansas and provide jobs for the state’s workers. He stressed the positive benefits of starting students on career paths in middle school or high school instead of waiting until after they graduate.
Workforce capabilities is a factor companies consider when they decide where to locate. Griffin said the state works with companies to fill their employer needs as they weigh other factors, such as regulations and tax policies.
Griffin said he focuses more on the areas of STEM education instead of the levels of attainment. He said workers can find high-paying careers in STEM fields with a variety of certifications and diplomas.
“I am all for education, but we have got to recognize — and we are doing a better job, I think, of this — that it’s not one-size-fitsall for education,” Griffin said. “Some people want to go to a four-year college, some people need to go to a four-year college and some people don’t.”
About 45 percent of male high school graduates indicate they have interest in STEM careers. Less than 15 percent of female graduates indicate interests in STEM.
Griffin said the matter is a national issue and not limited to Arkansas. He said an emphasis must be placed on attracting young female students to STEM fields.
“It is a much easier lift if you start early and you hit young people who are driving their own passion, instead of you trying to convince somebody my age to get interested in STEM,” Griffin said.
Griffin spoke almost a year ago at National Park College for the local launch of the Million Women Mentors, an initiative of STEMconnector in collaboration with more than 60 partners, 45 corporate sponsors and 35 state leadership teams. Organizers are working to reach more than 30 million girls and women to increase the percentage of young women who pursue STEM education, programs and careers.
Wal-Mart previously pledged to work with 5,000 mentees in Arkansas by 2018. One million male and female mentors are being sought to connect with female students.
A 52-week curriculum was developed to prepare mentors. Registration is available online at https://www.millionwomenmentors.com/.