In recognition of National Center & Career Technical Education (CTE) month, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) will visit the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History during ‘Engineers Week’ and host a roundtable discussion on a new law to promote STEM education and jobs.
At the roundtable, Sen. Cornyn will hear from leaders at Tarrant County College (TCC), Bell Flight, GE Aviation, and US Aviation Group about their innovative partnership to cultivate a strong STEM workforce pipeline in Fort Worth and from TCC graduates now employed in the aerospace industry about how this partnership has prepared them for their current roles. Senator Cornyn will also hear from leaders at UNT Health Science Center and Fort Worth Independent School District about their joint initiative to expose students to STEM career paths and provide mentorship opportunities. Regionally-focused partnerships like these are what Sen. Cornyn’s newly enacted law, the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act, aims to cultivate.
The Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act, which was signed into law in December, directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide grants to technical schools, two-year colleges, and four-year universities for research on STEM education approaches and the STEM-related workforce. It authorizes $40 million so grant recipients may identify best practices for experiential learning opportunities – such as internships and apprenticeships – as well as online courses in STEM fields.
Following the roundtable, Sen. Cornyn will tour the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s STEM-inspired gallery, DinoLabs, and at the conclusion of the tour he will hold a joint press conference.
