Celebrate STEAM Pioneers: Henrietta, Maria, Mary

K-12 STEAM education

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

The African American Parent Council (AAPC) at Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary addresses the critical need for high-quality K-12 STEAM education, particularly for African-American and systems-impacted youth. In the 2022-2023 school year, our 628 students include 428 unduplicated pupils eligible for free/reduced-price meals, English learners, or foster youth, facing systemic barriers to academic success. Our initiative focuses on year-round programs celebrating African-American women in STEAM to provide culturally relevant, engaging, and rigorous education. Through immersive storytelling, personalized learning, and community collaboration, we create an inclusive environment fostering academic achievement, engagement, and cultural pride. This effort aims to combat systemic racism, diversify education, and ensure success for all students, particularly those most affected by societal challenges.

This grant will fund year-round programs celebrating African American women in STEAM, addressing the gap in K-12 STEAM education, especially for African-American and systems-impacted youth. The initiative includes:
Henrietta Lacks Students will explore Henrietta Lacks' legacy, whose HeLa cells revolutionized biomedical research. Activities include creating HeLa cell models, with participants joining a STEM cell biology workshop. Highlighting her impact on polio vaccines, AIDS treatment, and chemotherapy underscores her ongoing influence on medicine and career paths.
Maria Van Brittan Brown Celebrating the inventor of the first home security system, students will engage in a home security design challenge and learn coding concepts. Collaboration with Black Girls Code offers coding experiences, promoting interest in tech careers and emphasizing Brown's pioneering role in modern security.
Mary W. Jackson Day Commemorating NASA aerospace engineer Mary W. Jackson with activities related to her contributions depicted in "Hidden Figures". Proximity to JPL enables educational ties with NASA, enhancing learning in astronomy and planetary studies.
This immersive approach modernizes teaching with art and technology, enhancing engagement. Focused on student achievement, holistic support, and community engagement, the program creates a safe, inclusive environment. It celebrates African American STEAM contributions, critical thinking, creativity, and youth in overcoming academic barriers.

If successful, our initiative aims to enhance academic achievement and STEAM engagement in Los Angeles County, particularly among K-12 African-American and systems-impacted youth from Pasadena Unifed School District. Short-term goals include improving ELA, Science, and Math performance with a culturally relevant curriculum and immersive technology. We seek to increase student motivation through hands-on learning, celebrate Pan African cultures, develop critical thinking and creativity, enhance digital literacy, and provide professional development for educators. Creating a supportive, inclusive learning community is crucial. Long-term, we envision an effective, responsive academy with sustained partnerships, cultural celebrations, data-driven planning, and a focus on lifelong learning, critical thinking, mentorship and digital literacy, ensuring students thrive in a global, technological world.

We define and measure success through data-driven metrics aligned with PUSD's Promise to Black Children (Resolution 2566). Success will be gauged by improvement in ELA and Math scores, aiming for grade-level proficiency. Increased student participation in STEAM activities, enhanced cultural awareness through integrated curriculum, and student proficiency in immersive technologies will also be key indicators. Improved social-emotional well-being will be tracked, along with family and community engagement in school activities. Preparation includes leveraging research and partnerships to ensure equal access, culturally responsive education, and rigorous academics. Data from CA Common Core State Standards and School Accountability Report Card have informed tailored programs, while stakeholder collaboration ensures alignment with district goals. Ongoing evaluation and adaptation based on student, parent, and community feedback will ensure our project effectively meets educational needs.

Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA): IEA will lead the STEM cell biology workshop during Henrietta Lacks Week, developing and delivering curriculum on cell differentiation and healing abilities. Their expertise in gifted education can deepen students' grasp of advanced scientific concepts.
Black Girls Code: Partnering on Maria Van Brittan Brown Week, Black Girls Code will spearhead a coding workshop, focusing on risk security. This collaboration promotes diversity in STEM and hands-on coding experience for students.
NASA JPL: For Mary W. Jackson Week, NASA JPL will conduct tours and workshops, providing insights into space exploration and STEM careers. Their involvement introduces real-world STEM applications, inspiring students through aerospace technology and scientific research.