CFY-Atlanta will be hosting a free panel discussion focused on closing Georgia's STEM education gap next Tuesday, March 24, 2015. The purpose is to raise awareness around how participants in Atlanta's educational ecosystem – from education, business, government, and nonprofits – can come together to contribute to a highly capable future workforce. 

The following panelists will discuss the challenges and potential solutions for developing a stronger pipeline of STEM talent in Georgia, with a specific emphasis on engaging female and minority students while they are still in elementary and middle school: 

• Dr. Meria Carstarphen – Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools 
• Dr. Stephen Csukas – Science Teacher and Founding STEM Coordinator, Tucker Middle School (GaDOE STEM School Certified) 
• Michael Robertson – Executive Director, Technology Association of Georgia's Education Collaborative 
• Fabiola Charles Stokes – Community Impact Manager, Google Fiber

The panel moderator will be:

• Carrie Wheeler – Former COO and CIO of Cbeyond; 2013 Georgia CIO of the Year 

Increasing opportunities for young Americans to build STEM skills is critical to the economic future of the U.S. and its continued leadership position in the world. In Georgia, demand for STEM careers is outpacing that of non-STEM careers and will increase by 17% or 200,000 new jobs by 2018. Despite this trend, students' STEM-readiness level remains lacking. Minority students in particular remain under-represented in STEM education and careers, even as the student population increases in diversity. Additionally, though women constitute nearly 50% of the U.S. workforce, they hold less than 25% of STEM jobs.  

"This is an important topic and I'm excited to help find concrete ways to engage students earlier – particularly minorities and girls – and increase our STEM pipeline in Georgia," said Carrie Wheeler, event moderator. "CFY-Atlanta's commitment to leveraging digital learning to close the opportunity and achievement gaps that persist within our communities makes them an ideal host."

"Our goal is to highlight a growing concern in the education and business spheres," said Jeanne Artime, CFY-Atlanta Executive Director. "More importantly, we want to engage the greater community in finding a solution so that all students are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow." 

The panel is sponsored by Jabian Cares and UPS.

Register to attend: www.cfy.org/STEMpanel