The Women of TI Fund
The Women of TI Fund plans to close the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) professions. The Fund’s mission is to increase the number of girls graduating from high school who are entering a university-level technical degree program.
Our strategy involves a three-pronged approach to target high school girls, educators and counselors. The Women of TI Fund High-Tech High Heels programs include gender equity teaching strategies for educators, counselor workshops on STEM careers and physics camps for girls.
Since the fund’s inception, 254 girls have attended AP Physics Camps, 25 educators have participated in Gender Equity training and 28 counselors have attended Engineering Workshops. Future plans include implementing a replicable model for educator and counselor training and physics camps to expand to other Texas districts by 2013.
Anecdotally, participating educators provide the most dramatic impact. Gender equity training changes their approach to instruction techniques in the classroom and they give girls more confidence in their math and science capabilities as a result. |
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“I thought engineering professions were only for men and I should go into ‘helper’ fields such as teaching or nursing. I had always liked math and science, but I had not intentions of taking high-level courses in those subjects. During the summer of my sophomore year, I went to Physics Camp. There I finally realized I am a left-brained woman with a passion for learning mathematical tricks and formulas and pursuing scientific endeavors. I can and will have a career in engineering or science and will do a wonderful job.”
Nevena Rakonjac
DISD student |
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