STEM Networking

Networking is extremely important to growing, developing,  and maintaining a viable STEM program. Networking provides you the opportunity to have stakeholders to provide you with additional information of how what your school is doing impacts the workforce or provide additional resources.  These individuals may come and go due to the fact that people change jobs, but try to have multiple contacts within an organization for this reason. Additionally,  you may need a contact that their job is specifically that for another organization.  This individual can assist you with connecting to others in an effect to improve and build your STEM program.  Never close doors, make sure that even if you can't utilize the resources of a stakeholder now that they are still a willing supporter when an opportunity presents itself. This is a good example: My building had a parent that was a plumber.  This parent highly involved in all our STEM activities.  I made sure to keep him informed along with our other Stakeholders.  As our program grew, we decided to move into doing SeaPerch and Aquaponics.  Well, this parent was now able to provide resources to support our efforts. Additionally,  make sure that you leader understands the importance of every stakeholder and how these stakeholders are beneficial to the forward process of your STEM program. Also, for sustainability keep a list of your involved stakeholders for those that come behind you.