AITES Project


Workforce Development – Educational Outreach -Economic Development

The loss of women from the IT pipeline is a national problem.

·         Since 1986, women in the IT workforce have dropped from 40% to 14%

·         As of 2007, women make up about 13% of the IT workforce

Occurring alongside these challenges is great opportunity. The Information Technology Association of America projected that the U.S. economy could capture up to $200 billion in additional revenue if technology use increased among women and minority-owned enterprises.  1 out of 3 new jobs are in the technology sector. Overall the technology sectors have maintained a 16% growth rate that is expected to increase over the next decade.


Locally, several of our Appalachian counties are economically and educationally challenged. Many entry-level IT jobs in these areas require post-high school or community college Associate-level IT certification. This convergence of needs and opportunity to promote economic development creates the ideal context to implement the Appalachia Information Technology Extension Service (AITES).

AITES Goal

The AITES goal is to promote underserved young women’s interest in jobs requiring information technology (IT) skills in selected Appalachian counties of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

How Will We Accomplish Our Goal?

AITES will build community capacity to enhance middle and high school girls’ knowledge and interest in jobs requiring IT skills by:

1.    Developing communities of practice by training and supporting Community Cohort Teams

2.    Providing consulting services

3.    Evaluating and disseminating information about outcomes

4.    Utilizing an interactive Internet portal


State Partners Boards

Each state will have a Partners Board made up of school officials, IT industry representatives, collaborating economic development partners, community college representatives, and community stakeholders committed to IT workforce development. They will meet annually to review and support plans for implementing the AITES project, participate in and review evaluation data, and provide recommendations about sustainability.


Members of the Community Cohort Teams (CCTs)

Middle and High School Counselors | Middle and High School Teachers |Extension and 4-H agents


The Roles of the Superintendents and Principals

·         Identify school counselors and teachers to participate in the project

·         Share information about the project with members of the community.

·         Support release time for the teachers and counselors to participate in the workshop

·         Support the activities of members of the CCTS

·         Interact with trainer/consultant to develop community capacity

 

The Roles of Community Cohort Team Members

·         Participate in the workshops and follow-up professional development activities

·         Prepare mini grant proposals

·         Interact with the trainer/consultant to develop outreach programs

·         Plan and deliver extension/outreach activities and programs that promote middle and high school girl’s interest in jobs requiring IT skills

·         Contribute to the development of community capacity in their communities

·         Develop a working knowledge and programming strengths in gender equity, parent education, counselor education, IT jobs and curriculum, and the LPM.

·         Assist with project evaluation

·         Monitor and report on the progress of their team outreach efforts

·         Provide input to the on-going refinement of project activities.

 

Goals of the AITES CCT Train-The-Trainer workshop

  1. Provide CCT members with the required knowledge and attitudes towards and skill to engage parents, school counselors and teachers, community members, and IT partners in building learning partnerships and community capacity.
  2. Introduce key players in the AITES grant
  3. Familiarize CCT members with the implementation and applicability of the LPM
  4. Inform CCT members about IT employment opportunities in the region.
  5. Familiarize CCT members with available resources in the AITES Resource Repository.
  6. Provide CCT members with the resources and skills to customize resources to meet specific local needs.
  7. Facilitate networks within and across counties that facilitate promote women’s interest in IT. 

Support Provided by AITES

·         $200.00 Honorarium for mini-grant work  

·         Support from the local trainer/consultant

·         A  peer-reviewed database of NSF resources to use in planned activities

·         Mini grants funds to support research-based activities