At the NCCAT conference, I was very much reminded of the immense technology challenges we face at my extremely rural Title I school.  The tools presented at the conference were incredible and ever so engaging for students, preparing them as competitive 21st century global citizens.  The tools we learned about would greatly improve the excitement, rigor and student engagement.  The tools used 21st century technology that would prepare my students as global citizens in the constantly evolving world of STEM.

Driving home from the conference, I felt excited about the potentials of these new-to-me tools, but also frustrated and deflated.  Most of the tools and activities required computer access or laboratories or city and industry access.  My school (the largest middle school in Duplin County) has only two computer labs which are shared by the entire 6th, 7th and 8th grades.  The computers are slow and re-start frequently, often times making for a frustrating instructional experience with much wasted time.  That being said, a lot of my best lessons are done in those labs – interactive virtual scientific labs and rigorous web quests.

I have been feeling pretty disturbed, unsettled, and discouraged by the inequities in our education system.  The world of STEM holds so many incredible future career opportunities for this next generation.  However, only certain populations of our youth have access to these opportunities or even access to knowing that the opportunities exist.  Only some have access to the knowledge and preparation, and to people who will expose them, guide them and teach them.  The playing field is so uneven.

As upset as I am mulling all of this over, I feel motivated to take action and fight for educational equity and for my talented, intelligent, and hard-working students.  The fires of why I teach what I teach and why I teach where I teach have been re-ignited. I want my kids to be exposed to the life possibilities and opportunities outside their communities and for them to bring back their knowledge and experiences to their communities.  Ultimately, I want for my students to be invested in and involved in of their own community growth and transformation so that their community can be a sustainable place full of opportunities.  My mind is currently buzzing with ideas of ways I can create pathways of opportunity in my classroom, school, and community.  I am looking into grants, and for STEM organizations I can perhaps connect with and bring to Duplin County.  And, I believe the Kenan Fellows program is an excellent first initiative to this growth I want to happen.  The Kenan Fellows program will help connect my school to the most exciting and flourishing agricultural industry in the county, and I will be connected to an incredible support system of STEM educators throughout North Carolina.