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A decade ago, Kelly Leovic wanted to start an outreach program to connect the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s RTP office with area schools and the community. She got an unexpected lesson in the kind of persistence that has led to countless scientific discoveries. She had to pitch her idea to eight different managers before winning the support she needed.
Today, there’s plenty of evidence proving the idea was worth the effort. Leovic serves as director of EPA’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach Program in Research Triangle Park, where more than 10 percent of employees now participate in outreach as mentors, speakers and other volunteers. The program reached more than 31,000 people in eight counties last year, with more than 170 school-based events.
“I see what the needs are in the community, from K-12 schools to universities and civic groups, and match them up with the expertise of our employees,” Leovic says. “Through active school and community engagement, we can better share EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment.”
EPA’s employee outreach programs are extensive. They include sending expert guest speakers into K-12 classrooms, universities and the community; hosting teacher externs; and offering STEM Day field study visits for faculty from NC New Schools partner schools. The EPA also sponsors a weeklong Climate Change Workshop for high school students each summer; staffs booths at career days and science festivals; judges science competitions; and leads Citizen Schools Apprenticeship, a 10-week after-school program that is being developed into a national curriculum. Most outreach programs take place at schools where at least half of students receive subsidized lunch.
In addition to running EPA’s outreach, Leovic also serves as a member of NC New Schools’ Energy & Sustainability Industry Innovation Council, is past co-chair of the Durham Public Schools Superintendent’s Business Advisory Council and helped found the Business Advisory Council at Durham’s Southern School of Energy and Sustainability.
Leovic sees NC New Schools’ mission of ensuring students are ready for the future as a great fit for EPA employees.
“When I attended my first NC New Schools conference, it was clear from the beginning that the organization’s goals were really well aligned with what we do,” Leovic says. “Every time I go to one of the conferences, I learn something new. Now I get to present at the same conferences to show schools how they can connect with businesses in their area and teach companies what they can do to help make those connections.”
Connecting students with researchers, scientists and other EPA employees is critical for all students, not just those who think they are interested in science, Leovic believes.
“When I go into middle and high schools, I tell students there’s a good chance that the careers that they are going to have don’t even exist right now,” Leovic says. “No matter what you end up doing, it’s important to prepare yourself with a good technical background so that you have the expertise, flexibility and problem-solving skills to do whatever careers are needed in the future.”
That’s why she’s so excited about starting a business advisory council at Durham’s Southern School of Energy and Sustainability to help generate relevant, real-world learning opportunities that create pathways for students to careers and post-secondary education. The business council’s five-year vision aims to engage all students in job shadowing and internships during high school and to help teachers regularly integrate work-based connections into their lesson planning through co-teaching, field studies and other opportunities.
“This is where the support from NC New Schools is so valuable,” Leovic says. “It’s really helpful to learn from other schools in the network. At an Industry Innovation Council meeting, I heard a presentation from Donald McCoy, co-chair of the business advisory council at Wake NC State University STEM Early College High School. He was so good that we invited him to speak to our council at Southern.”
Based on her experience, Leovic offers quick advice to others considering starting an outreach program to connect school and industry partners: “Start small, be flexible and learn from your mistakes.”
An environmental engineer, Leovic has worked in EPA’s Office of Research and Development in Research Triangle Park since 1987. Prior to her focus on community outreach, she conducted research on indoor air quality in schools and on human exposure to pollutants. She was previously a field engineer for Inter-Mountain Engineering in Colorado. Leovic holds a master’s of business administration, a master’s of science civil and environmental engineering, and a bachelor’s of science in geology and math, all from Duke University.
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May 2014
