Governor Pat McCrory joined today with GSK and North Carolina New Schools to announce a major venture to advance STEM education in public education aligned with industry and higher education. Called STEMAccelerator – Next Generation Learning for North Carolina, the initiative will accelerate proven STEM education approaches and develop new ones, focused on transforming mathematics and science instruction.
“High quality STEM education is critical to North Carolina’s future prosperity,” said Governor Pat McCrory in announcing the initiative. “To address the gap in education and workforce needs, we must provide resources and support for teachers’ professional growth – especially in the critical areas of science and mathematics. The STEMAccelerator will help us meet one of my administration’s goals of transforming the teaching profession into a rewarding, long-term career.”
The brainchild of NC New Schools, one of the largest public education innovation agencies in the country, the STEMAccelerator will build on NC New Schools’ proven efforts to advance effective science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education with its partners in industry, K-12 education, and higher education.
GSK, a leading global healthcare company and long-time advocate of STEM education, is jumpstarting the initiative with a $1 million investment.
“For nearly a decade, GSK has partnered with NC New Schools to enhance and expand STEM education opportunities for North Carolina students across the state. GSK is committed to supporting the communities where we work and where we live. A major focus of that investment is devoted to expanding the local and national workforce in science, technology, engineering and math. We are proud to deepen this partnership as a founding investor in the STEMAccelerator,” said Jack Bailey, president, US Pharmaceuticals, GSK.
“Through critical public-private partnerships, North Carolina is a national leader in advancing STEM education,” said Tony Habit, president, NC New Schools. “The STEMAccelerator builds on that important progress and recognizes that a deep foundation in science and mathematics for all students is essential for our state’s competitive edge. To build that foundation, we must make professional learning and support for all teachers a top priority, especially in those content areas that are essential building blocks for success in STEM fields and professions.”
