BUCKEYE, Ariz. — For the past two years, Amanda Whitehurst has worked to make science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education available for Arizona's classrooms. Hundreds of teachers have been able to provide 3D printers, coding courses and even robotics programs to students.
Tech giants like TSMC and Intel have set up shop in the Valley, but experts say many Arizonans don't have the skillset to qualify for those jobs.
Whitehurst is the convergence lead and co-PI for the Arizona Stem Acceleration Project (ASAP). ASAP aims to catch Arizona students up to other states. The problem? The program is set to shut down by September if additional funding isn't secured.
“If we don’t have kids interested, excited, seeing themselves going into STEM professions by middle school, then we’ve really lost that opportunity," Whitehurst said.
She's worried that our students could fall even further behind.
Hundreds of teachers apply for STEM fellowship program to improve education for students
Whitehurst, a former classroom teacher, said the program applied for COVID relief funding in late 2021 to launch the program. They were awarded $10 million and started the program in 2022.
"We knew that teachers needed support, they needed financial support, and they needed a community around them to help them be connected and to be supported, and to get the materials that they needed and have the knowledge to teach all of these STEM subjects," Whitehurst explained.
During the program's first year, over 900 teachers applied for the fellowship, according to Whitehurst. Around 500 were selected. The teachers involved are given multidisciplinary lesson plans for STEM subjects and must do a student project at their school or in their community. The teachers receive a stipend and funding to help supply their classroom with STEM supplies.
One of the teachers in the program is Susan Matteson, a science teacher at Freedom Elementary School in Buckeye.
“This is what the future is. And if our kids are not exposed to this stuff now, they’re gonna be behind when they’re in high school and they will never catch up at that point," Matteson said.
Matteson also teaches an after school STEM and robotics club.
“They are asking and doing and trying to learn about coding," Matteson said.
She's been able to bring in 3D printers, robotics devices, and more because of the funding she's received through the program.
Arizona '10 years behind' when it comes to STEM education
The program comes at a time when Arizona desperately needs it, experts say.
“Arizona has a real problem," Whitehurst said.
Whitehurst said many other states launched STEM-focused programs 10 years ago, putting Arizona's students, and ultimately Arizona's workforce, behind. While tech giants like TSMC and Intel have come to the Valley, they're finding that Arizonans can't keep up.
“It is a real tragedy that our students aren’t being prepared for these jobs. These companies are looking out of state, asking people to move here, and these are jobs that our kids should have access to," Whitehurst said.
In September, ASAP's grant runs out.
If they can't secure additional funding, the STEM program is over.
“One thing that the public can really know is that their voice is very important in terms of letting policymakers, lawmakers know how important programs like this are as an investment for their children," Whitehurst said. “It’s definitely not something we can afford to wait another five years for this kind of investment.”
UP TO SPEED
Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12News YouTube playlist here.