State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg Visits Girls in STEM Career Exploratory at Minuteman High School in Lexington

By Judy Bass

“Don’t let anything get in your way. Do what you love to do.” That heartfelt advice was given recently by State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg to middle-school students in the Girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Career Exploratory held at Minuteman High School in Lexington.

During a visit to the school on August 5, Treasurer Goldberg intently observed what these seventh-and eighth-grade girls were doing and learning, frequently interacting with them and asking many pertinent questions. She said the girls are being empowered “so they can realize their own dreams and make a difference” in the state’s economy, especially in burgeoning, 21st-century fields like healthcare, finance, high-tech and biotechnology that are largely dominated by men.

“The Treasurer understands that high-quality vocational technical education is a critical partner in the workforce development and economic health of the Commonwealth,” Minuteman Superintendent Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon noted. He called Treasurer Goldberg’s awareness of how vocational technical education improves economic opportunities for young women in STEM fields “remarkable.”

The week-long Girls in STEM Career Exploratory followed upon the success of the first Girls in STEM Camp ever held at Minuteman in February. Both programs featured hands-on learning experiences for the participants, who were mentored by Minuteman Girls in STEM Club members who themselves are being mentored by women in STEM careers. The Girls in STEM Career Exploratory was attended by 34 middle-school girls from Arlington, Bolton, Dracut, Everett, Lexington, Lincoln, Newton, Weston, and Woburn.
“What we’re doing is answering a need out there,” according to Minuteman’s Director of Career and Technical Education, Michelle Roche. She - along with Engineering Instructor Becky Quay and Horticulture/Landscape Technology Instructor Sarah Ard - has played an integral role in establishing these new STEM opportunities for female students at Minuteman.

SkillsUSA, a national organization that runs trade and leadership competitions for students in career and technical schools, affirmed the value of Minuteman’s mentoring efforts for girls in STEM by awarding this initiative the 2015 Grand Prize in the Student2Student mentoring program.

Treasurer Goldberg’s visit began with a presentation about Girls in STEM at Minuteman by students Julia Ruderman ’16, of Arlington, Alicia Benway ’17, of Waltham, and Tristin O’Connor ’16, of Bolton.

They told Treasurer Goldberg about meeting with their adult STEM mentors and training to become mentors themselves. They also referred to statistics that prove there are still persistent gender barriers and stereotypes associated with STEM. For example, although 74% of high school girls say they are interested in STEM, nearly half admit they would feel uncomfortable being the only female in a STEM-related group or class.

Treasurer Goldberg asked Julia, Tristin and Alicia if math concepts are introduced to the students in Girls in STEM in ways relating to finance. “Those jobs pay really, really well,” she emphasized. “We want more and more women. We need people with math skills.”

Treasurer Goldberg proceeded to four classrooms - one devoted to each STEM area – where activities were underway. She introduced herself to the students, asked them to discuss the experiments they were conducting, and plunged in with gusto when it was her turn to take part.

In the math classroom, Treasurer Goldberg was invited to blow into a long plastic tube to demonstrate her lung capacity by seeing how much water she could displace. After she did so, the students calculated how much water she displaced. Superintendent Bouquillon tried it as well.

“This shows you the relevance of math,” Treasurer Goldberg said.

She asked them why they came to this STEM program. All agreed that they liked the females-only aspect of it. Several told her that they plan to pursue STEM careers. One declared she loves science.

The second experiment Treasurer Goldberg did was with the science group. It illustrated the different densities of milk and food coloring, and how soap can break up fats in whole milk. Wearing a pair of safety glasses and standing at a lab table surrounded by eager students, Treasurer Goldberg again conversed with the girls, questioning them about what drew them to STEM and what their goals are.

After stopping in at the technology and engineering classrooms of the Girls in STEM Career Exploratory, Treasurer Goldberg said, “”These girls will be able to be in the jobs we grow here. Having a diverse workforce positively impacts businesses. We will make a difference.”

Students like Minuteman’s Julia Ruderman are making a difference already by helping the next generation of girls up the ladder. “We need to persevere,” she said. “You have to do it for the girls who come after you.”

Local officials, members of the Treasurer’s office and Minuteman staff who were present for Treasurer Goldberg’s visit included Superintendent Mary Czajkowski, Lexington Public Schools; State Representative Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury); Jordan Eldridge, aide to State Representative Kate Hogan (D-Stow); David Horton, Minuteman School Committee representative from Lexington; Cheryl Mahoney, Minuteman School Committee representative from Boxborough; Dan Matthews, Needham Selectman; Adam W. Chapdelaine, Town Manager, Arlington; Laurel Bufano, Belmont Burbank Elementary School PTA; Harriet Wong, Belmont Burbank Elementary PTA; Mary Ann Williams, Minuteman Owner’s Project Manager, Skanska; Alayna Van Tassel, Deputy Treasurer and Executive Director of Economic Empowerment; Emily McLaughlin, Deputy Director, Office of Economic Empowerment, Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Office; Keenen Grooms, Outreach and Marketing Manager, Office of Economic Empowerment, Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Office; Brian Lynch, Policy Team, Office of the State Treasurer; Minuteman Superintendent Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon; Kevin Mahoney, Minuteman Assistant Superintendent of Finance; Minuteman Principal Jack Dillon; Minuteman Director of Career and Technical Education Michelle Roche; Minuteman Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Bill Blake; Minuteman Director of Outreach and Development Steven C. Sharek; and Minuteman Girls in STEM advisors Becky Quay and Sarah Ard.

Minuteman is an award-winning regional high school that gives its graduates a competitive edge in the new global economy by providing them with a high-quality career and technical education, coupled with a rigorous grounding in mathematics, English, science, and social studies.

At Minuteman, students can currently major in 19 career and technical education programs at the same time they take challenging academic courses, similar to those in traditional academic high schools. Minuteman offers a wide selection of academic courses and programs.