Show Notes

Middle school can be a tumultuous time. This is the time when social priorities outweigh academic ones. Sadly, students who form negative opinions of math and science often retain those biases – permanently. This is what we don't want for our S.T.E.M fields which are ever so changing and much-needed career paths that need these students.  For minority students, it's even more of a fall-off.  By the time students reach high school, many view science as “uninteresting, unimportant, and irrelevant to their lives.” But programs, career mentoring, parent involvement, and guidance in middle school can significantly help “connect the dots” between STEM and real-life making science and math feel relevant for kids. 

Dr. Odell Glenn talks with Mr. Johnathan Moore, who currently serves as a middle school assistant principal. Mr. Johnathan Moore holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health and a Master in School Administration.  He discusses both majors and why he chose to change.  We also discuss why middle school is so crucial to succeeding in the sciences later on.  It takes the parent, the guidance counselor, the science and math teacher at the school to have knowledge on how to best navigate the child towards a clear pathway into a STEM high school.  Proper background courses in junior high school and high school could lead to college credit through AP courses later on.