Dear STEM Ambassador:

Thank you for agreeing to be a STEM Ambassador, a professional who works in one of the STEM fields - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and is interested in participating in this new and exciting program that is designed to increase the interest of sixth graders in STEM subjects and careers.

Being a STEM VOLUNTEER means visiting one school (that we will select and connect you to) and speaking to a minimum of two sixth grade math and/or science classes during the 2009-2010 school year. You may, of course, choose to do more. You will be joining approximately 300-500 other enthusiastic science and technology professionals across Massachusetts. You will be asked to do two things: (1) inspire students with your personal story by sharing your enthusiasm for your work, the motivation for/benefits of working in STEM fields, and the importance of math and science to your successful job/career and (2) deliver a message to students that, by taking math and science throughout school, they will have a variety of exciting career opportunities open to them.

You are helping to deal with a serious problem in this state: Massachusetts is below the national average in producing enough students with the interest or education that will allow them to work in STEM fields. Nationally, 28% of high school students taking the SAT's indicate they are interested in pursuing a STEM career. In MA, that number is only 22%. We need to increase that number to fill the jobs that industry is creating today and in the future

Before you enter the classroom, we will prepare you in two ways by providing you with: (1) a written Guide that includes an explanation of the program, highlights of our research on how middle school students relate to STEM subjects and careers, and a suggested script for you to use in the classroom and (2) a one-hour training session (by conference call) on how best to conduct your class visit. In addition, we will provide you with a set of creative, interactive materials that have been developed (and tested) to capture students’ interest. Our goal will be to connect you to a school that is either close to where you work or where you live.

We will be doing the Central and Northeast regions of the state in November and December, followed by Greater Boston in January and February, and finishing with the Southeast, Cape, Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires in the spring. We will contact you approximately 6 weeks before your school visit so please do not worry if you do not hear from us immediately. We will be spreading out the school visits over this entire academic year.

Please complete the following questionnaire so we can match you to an appropriate school.

Thanks for your interest and enthusiasm. We are delighted to be working with you.

STEMTech Alliance is a joint project of six Massachusetts technology industry associations including: The Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (lead organization), The Engineering Center, Massachusetts Networks Communications Council, Mass BioEd Foundation, the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council and the New England Clean Energy Council.

This project is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education STEM Pipeline Fund.