K-12 STEM Program

“To be it, we must see it” – Former IBM CEO, Ginni Rometty

Without role models, girls have shied away from STEM fields. They don’t see themselves as innovators.    The National Center of Women’s Innovations (NCWI) is determined to change that, by showcasing the many forgotten women whose work transformed the world.  We believe contemporary girls will more likely pursue STEM fields when they learn about their foremothers’ innovations and, couple experience STEM hands-on programs related to women’s innovations.  

Dr. Gladys West GPS Stem Challenge Encourages Girls to Study Stem and Stay in School 

Celebrating NCWI Program at Washington School for Girls

We are committed to changing the number of girls going into STEM.  Today women make up only 28% of the stem workforce and women of color represent only 2 %.  This is simply unacceptable, a loss of great brainpower, and possible world-changing solutions.   

That’s why the National Center of Women’s Innovations formed a partnership with Rosie Riveters, a group already providing stem programs to girls. Our programs can combine educational expertise with NCWI’s stories of the associated women innovators. Recently we mobilized former Title 1 elementary teacher Susannah Michaelson with education advocates Zohreh Khoshnamak and Ibironke Jones to develop a STEM program associated with our Dr. Gladys West exhibit. Here were the results from the visit by 61 – 3rd graders from the Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School in Alexandria.

Make a Difference in the Lives of Young Children

The Impact on Boys and Girls

Here is a sample of the feedback the students gave on the exhibit and our program’s impact on their lives.

In response to the statement, “Learning about Dr. West is important to me because…” all commented on learning that she was behind GPS, which safely gets us where we need to go and back. One youngster said, “She is Black like me.”

In response to this statement, “Now that I know about how Dr. West achieved her dreams and goals, I plan to:

  • Be a great reader and achieve my goal by reading 300 books in this year and the next one. Then over and over because I want to get to be super smart.
  • Be just like her
  • Be a professional soccer player— chasing my dream, while another student talked about being a veterinarian and then maybe a soccer star.
  • Go to college, learn super moves and teach cheerleaders.
  • Follow my dream, no matter what. (A majority)
  • Be a teacher or doctor
  • Change the world and give courage when the homeless are scared
  • Help the world just like Dr. West

A super-majority spoke about going to college. Over 30% of the students specifically stated they wanted to change the world like Dr. West.

Quite the impact in a 75-minute program! Bless Dr. West.

Photo of 3rd graders being inspired by Dr. West’s Traveling exhibit. Courtesy of Jane Plitt.
Photo of Andre Jones, Dr. West’s eldest grandson sharing the exhibit with his daughter! Courtesy of the Jones family.

Historic Educational Launch with Washington School for Girls

The first joint program was the Dr. Gladys West GPS Challenge , which was launched in May 2024.

Third – fifth grade girls at the Washington School for Girls were inspired by Dr. Gladys West’s example of overcoming gender and racial challenges and ending up enabling GPS through her precise mapping of the world.  Combined with learning more about Dr. West and the opportunity to learn about gravity and build their own gravity well resulted in 87% of the girls stated they were more likely to stay in school and 64% said they were somewhat or very likely to study STEM.  Considering that at the start of the project only 11 % of the girls were interested in STEM, that is powerful progress.   The best thing is we get to track these girls and see what they actually study and where they end up working. Ever grateful to the Washington School for Girls (WSG). 

We are thrilled with this response and are prepared to offer this program and our most recent program to all grade levels. According to the Girl Scout study, when girls have hands-on STEM experiences, 51% go on to study and work in STEM.

Photos: courtesy of Donna Parry

“The National Women’s Hall of Fame applauds the effort of the National Center of Women’s Innovations to showcase the forgotten stories of women innovators and use their stories of women innovators and use their stories and technical solutions to inspire others . We look forward to working together to recognize extra ordinary American women.”

Jennifer Gabriel, The National Women’s Hall of Fame

– National Women’s Hall of Fame
MAKE A DONATION