STEALTH Sciences
Abstract
In 2020, two squadrons of F-35 Lightning II fighter jets moved to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. Over the next ten years, these 54 jets will bring an additional 3,500 airmen, contractors, and family members, including 1,930 individuals under the age of 17, to our community. The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District intends to use DoDEA grant funds to launch the Stealth Science Project to meet the Career and Technical Education (CTE) learning needs of 4th-8th grade students at military-connected schools. In preparation for the arrival of the new military families, Agnew: Beck Consulting facilitated a Career and Technical Education community needs assessment in 2018. Local workforce development experts emphasized the need for earlier introduction to technical training and vocational education programs in a young person’s educational experience. Students expressed a demand for educational programs in health, STEM, arts, and military industries. Top industries of interest by students in Fairbanks North Star Borough: 1. Health/Medical 2. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) 3. Arts, Audio/Visual Tech, and Communications 4. Military DoDEA grant funds will launch the Stealth Sciences Project to directly address the needs identified by the CTE community needs assessment. Implementation will build new, and expand existing, STEAM and health sciences CTE learning opportunities for 4th-8th grade students at six targeted schools that serve a high military-connected population. Cultivating partnerships with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, 354th Medical Group at Eielson Air Force Base, and Foundation Health Partners will support project success and sustainability. At each targeted school, DoDEA grant funding will sponsor extracurricular activities such as clubs, competitions, and summer programs. Organizational capacity building strategies such as train-the-trainer, mentoring STEAM programs, and developing community support for STEAM and CTE-Health Sciences will also be deployed at each targeted school. By leveraging an evidence-based approach to spark students’ interests, this project will accomplish DoDEA’s program priority to build strong foundations for STEAM literacy to ensure students have the opportunity to learn, apply, and articulate introductory and advanced STEAM concepts. Stealth sciences project goals: 1. Military-connected students in elementary school will increase their science achievement during this grant cycle, as evidenced by quantitative and/or qualitative measures. 2. Military-connected students in middle school will increase knowledge and skills related to CTE-Health Sciences during this grant cycle, as evidenced by quantitative and/or qualitative measures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2021
- Source ID
- HE12542112000
Entities
People
- Sheena Cummings
Organizations
- Department of Defense Education Activity
- United States Department of Defense