As you know, I am generally on the road traveling around the NWESD region (which is the second largest ESD geographically in WA state so I’m on the road A LOT). I really love being out in our districts, but it is a special treat when we host visitors at the NWESD in Anacortes. This spring the NWESD was honored to have Washington STEM Board Chair Mary Wagner, Chief Impact Officer Jenée Myers Twitchell, and Senior Program Officer Tana Peterman, who participated in an action-packed day of discussions with NWESD Leadership including Larry Francois, Superintendent, Deka Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, David Forsythe, Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Sinead Fitzpatrick Plagge, Career Connected Learning Coordinator, and Jenny Veltri, NW Washington STEM Network Director and Career Connect Washington NW Regional Co-Director.
The lively group discussed various topics all day long. They were having such a good conversation that they didn’t even break for lunch but continued chatting away munching on their yummy sandwiches. Between bites, they discussed various topics such as early STEM learning, dual credit equity, career-connected learning, and building capacity to support additional direct services to students in our region.
Afterward, I had a chance to catch up with event organizer Jenny Veltri, who reflected that “It was such a tremendous opportunity to share our current initiatives and learn about new statewide programs that could directly benefit our region’s schools and students.”
Jenny’s face beamed when she shared the highlight of the day, a tour of the Marine Technology Center, which sits right next door to the NWESD in Anacortes. Jenny said, “The great work, creativity, and collaboration shown in support of the marine sector was inspiring. A special thank you to Lynette Brower of the Northwest Career & Technical Academy, Mike Beemer of the Skagit Valley College Marine Maintenance Technology program, and Ann Avary of the NW Center of Excellence for Marine Manufacturing & Technology for hosting and sharing information on their innovative programming!”
For more information on STEM in the NWESD region
Jenny Veltri, NW Washington STEM Network Director and Career Connect Washington NW Regional Co-Director.
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Mike Beemer, Department Chair: Marine Maintenance Technology, discusses the program with the group.
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Jenny Veltri, NWESD 189, NW Washington STEM Network Director, discusses the work of her program.
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Larry Francois, NWESD 189, Superintendent, tours the program's boat.
