Page 1 - TTWISept2022

Celebrating 25 Years

fall 2022, Volume 1
TEACHING anufacturing

TODAY WI ™ TODAY Wi tM

WiSConSin’S 4K–12 eDuCation ConneCtion SinCe 1997 ConneCting & exploring ManufaCturing in WiSConSin

grow-Your-own educator 21 Wisconsin School Districts

internship takes flight awarded fab lab grants

certified employability skills certificate and the 21 school districts through-
state-certified leadership skills certificate. It’s out the state have been awarded
a paid internship. Students get credit for their a total of more than $508,000 in
work, and interns receive a letter of intent from grants from the state to establish
Racine’s human resources department that or expand local fabrication lab-
promises a job upon successful completion of oratory (fab lab) facilities.
a bachelor’s degree program in education. “Fab labs provide students
“The pay attracted me at first,” says throughout Wisconsin with
Milena Gutierrez, a senior in the education access to the hands-on experi-
pathway, who dropped one of her two jobs to ence and training necessary to
take the internship. prepare them for the jobs of
“Then my teachers started telling me, tomorrow and beyond,” said
‘You can go far with this. They’ll hold a place Wisconsin’s Governor. “We’re
for you.’” That’s when her passion kicked in. glad to be awarding these funds
Milena has two sisters with special needs. to 21 school districts today sin employers, who will be able to find workers
so they can establish or expand their fab lab with the right skills to allow their companies to
programs, which continue to benefit entire grow and thrive.”
communities across our state by fostering col- The following school districts were
“[t]here are so many things going laboration, bolstering access to technology, awarded Fab Lab Grants:
Milton Lewis working with a student through their little heads, you really encouraging innovation, and inspiring the next
generation of leaders.”
have to get to know them before you School District of Belleville – $15,000
“Representation Matters” is a phrase The fab lab is a high-technology workshop This is their 2nd Fab
seen frequently in the arts and entertainment know what’s going on with them. . . . equipped with computer-controlled manufac- Lab Award in two years!
industry, and it applies to education, too. “Stu- i’ve been placed in a resource room turing components such as 3D printers, laser In the same week as
dents who have teachers who look like them so i get to work with kids who have engravers, computer numerical control routers receiving its second Fab
are much more successful,” says Alexander and plasma cutters. Through its Fab Lab Grant Lab award, Belleville also
DeBaker, Executive Director of Academies a variety of disabilities, . . . i get to Program, WEDC is supporting the purchase of received the news that it
and Transformation for Racine Academies. see how teachers are planning.” fab lab equipment for instructional and educa- was selected as a PLTW
Now, Racine is making a bid to capitalize on tional purposes by elementary, middle, junior Distinguished District for the 2021-22 aca-
this by initiating a Grow-Your-Own Educa- high or high school students. demic year — one of only 13 Districts across
tor Internship for its students in the education “WEDC has invested more than $3.9 the nation (and 2 in Wisconsin) to receive such
pathway. They can’t walk or talk, and they commu- million over the past seven years to provide recognition. “As a district, we believe that we
Education pathway students already have nicate with noise. “If ever I was a teacher, it 106 schools across the state with the equipment are preparing students for careers in the 21st
access to an Educators Rising chapter and dual would be in special needs because of them,” necessary to help students learn high-demand century and building strong partnerships with
enrollment courses through three area col- she says. “That’s why I wanted to continue in skills, including technology, manufacturing and local businesses and manufacturers.” — Nate
leges. this pathway.” engineering,” according to the secretary and Perry, District Administrator for the School
The internship program, which started Milena is interning in a middle school CEO of WEDC. “Fab labs benefit not only the District of Belleville
last year with nine students, is tied to the state- students themselves with important technology
Continued on page 10 and career skills, but they also benefit Wiscon- Continued on page 26

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