Since 2014, when the San Francisco 49ers made their first foray into STEM education, the local Santa Clara schools have revolutionized how they engage students in the study of science, technology, engineering and math. The 49ers STEM Leadership Institute, which started with 60 kids at Cabrillo Middle School, now has 180 students in grades seven through nine who study a rigorous curriculum both in and out of school. (The 74: Super Bowl Surprise: Inside the Stadium That Will Host the Big Game, a First-of-Its-Kind STEM Curriculum)
And even though they spend time in class, on weekends and over the summer studying STEM, the kids are practically begging for more.
“With this first group in particular, we didn’t know exactly how they would flourish,” Jennifer Lee, 49ers STEM Leadership Institute program director, said of the first group of 60 students who applied to the institute during the 2014–15 school year. “We knew they would flourish, but we are seeing amazing changes in their deep familiarity with STEM content, taking math and applying it to the real world in advanced and honors classes. It has been a big development for us, and an eye-opening experience for the kids.” Read More…
