Nearly 200 teachers from innovative public secondary schools across North Carolina will see the 21st century workplace in action June 23 during first-hand visits to 13 Charlotte-area employers that rely on workers with strong skills in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM in shorthand.

Increasingly, teachers and employers must work together to ensure that teaching and learning are both relevant and focused on the competitive job market graduates are entering. As teachers gain more industry-based experiences and better understand the modern workplace, they’re better equipped to bring the world of work into the classroom.

STEM Day, hosted by NC New Schools, provides that exposure through learning experiences developed by participating employers. The day’s activities are a prelude to NC New Schools’ annual three-day Summer Institute, where more than 800 educators from innovative schools across the state share effective practices they’re applying in their schools, districts and regions. For the first time this year, the highly participatory conference will be held in the Charlotte area.

Educators joining the June 23 STEM Day visits will convene at the Concord Embassy Suites and Convention Center to board buses at 8:15 a.m. to fan out to companies across the Charlotte region for visits from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The teachers participating in the visits are from schools that are partners with NC New Schools, many of which focus on specific economic themes: health and life sciences, energy and sustainability, biotechnology and agriscience and aerospace, advanced manufacturing and security. Four high schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district that have joined the NC New Schools network this year will be participating: Butler High School (Academy of Health Sciences), Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences, Independence High School (Academy of Engineering) and UNCC Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) Early College High School.

Several of the site hosts are members of Industry Innovation Councils that NC New Schools sponsors. The 75 member companies support numerous industry-school partnerships such as STEM Days, externships for teachers, and professional development opportunities.

Examples of STEM Day activities include these:

• ABB: Participants will tour the company’s high voltage cable facility and obtain a comprehensive view of the electric power system. They will learn about “Smart Grid” advances that are being deployed to create a more intelligent and resilient network, recent trends in power generation, and how microgrids can change the traditional structure of the grid. Participants will gain a hands-on perspective by modeling a wind and solar microgrid using industry software.
• Cabarrus Health Alliance: The STEM field experience will showcase many of the center’s unique programs and initiatives, which include high quality medical care, dental care, behavioral health, and pharmacy. The Alliance coordinates specialty programs such as Care Coordination for Children, Southeastern Diabetes Initiative, Strengthening Families Program, public pool and food establishment inspections, and immunizations. STEM Day participants will learn about career opportunities, related career pathways and effective ways of promoting health using community partners.
• Coca Cola Consolidated: Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated is the nation’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler, operating in 11 states, primarily in the Southeast, with corporate offices located in Charlotte. The company operates some of the most water-efficient plants in the world. Participants will experience all the steps necessary to produce one bottle of Coke. In addition to the guided tour of the facilities, educators will gain a first-hand understanding of engineering and quality control. Educators will also learn about best practices in sustainability.
• Duke Energy’s McGuire Nuclear Station: Participants will explore the site’s energy education center which offers hands-on, interactive exhibits on power production and energy efficiency. Participants will also hear from a panel of nuclear professionals who will provide insights on their careers and backgrounds. The day will include a rare opportunity to tour a nuclear plant so guests can see the equipment and operations up close, and experience first-hand the extensive security and safety measures at a nuclear site. Participants will conclude the visit with a discussion and exercise on how the experience can be applied in the classroom.
• NC Research Campus: This visit will put participants at the heart of biotechnology as it is applied to the improvement of human health, nutrition and agriculture. At the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Training Center, the day will start in a lab on the genetics of taste and an opportunity to learn about NC Research Campus partner Sensory Spectrum, a leader in the field of sensory science. The visit will progress to labs in recombinant DNA and to hear from Rowan-Cabarrus graduates who use their scientific training every day in labs at the NC Research Campus. The visit will wrap up with a discussion of best practices in STEM education.

Additional employers hosting the STEM Day visits span all four of the STEM-focused economic themes:

• 100 Gardens
• Ingersoll Rand
• Livingston and Haven
• Plants for Human Health Institute
• S & D Coffee
• Siemens
• The Polymers Center of Excellence
• UNC Charlotte EPIC

At all STEM Day sites, participants will interact with a variety of company employees and learn about their career paths and the skills needed to excel in their professions. Educators will finish out the day with reflection and planning time to translate their findings into project-based learning activities and curriculum materials for students.

STEM Day is made possible thanks to the commitment, collaboration, and sponsorship of the above companies.