West Sound STEM Network, a regional network with over 50 members from a cross-sector of industry, education, government, and nonprofit sectors dedicated to ensuring that area youth have access to career pathways that lead to family-wage, high-demand careers, recently presented four “Outstanding Partnership” awards at the West Sound STEM Network Career Connect Washington Summit. Two of the awards were presented to Smart Buildings Center Education Program (SBC EP) Board members Perry England, MacDonald-Miller, and Robb Andrade, Siemens.
MacDonald-Miller and Siemens are industry members of West Sound STEM and a driving force in developing the controls programmer and associate controls specialist apprenticeships. MacDonald-Miller and Siemens provide outstanding leadership on the Senior Leadership Team and on the Implementation Team and regularly interact with and support education and industry within the West Sound STEM Network region. MacDonald-Miller has led STEM Cafes for teachers with a focus on engineering design, and Siemens works with educators and schools in the region to bring real-world applications into the classroom. These efforts provide real-world training opportunities for teachers and students to increase their own STEM knowledge, connect with industry, and engage in activities that they can take back to their classroom. The professional development links real-world application to classroom instruction in a way that is engaging and understandable to both teachers and students. MacDonald-Miller and Siemens have also hosted teacher externships and worksite learning tours for students. Thank you to MacDonald-Miller and Siemens for providing these deep and meaningful connections for educators and students which are critical to support developing the workforce of today and tomorrow.
