AITES CCT Member Connie Tackett Wins Award!

After participating with AITES as a Community Cohort Team Member, Connie Tackett from Pike County Schools in Kentucky noticed that only a small number of young girls were entering traditionally male-dominated fields in the State Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) competitions.

In an effort to increase the number of girls in this competition, Ms. Tackett used AITES grant funds to organize a full-day professional development opportunity with every STLP coach from the 23 Pike County centers. Each center covered an STLP category and how to teach and encourage students to compete in those events. Learning centers included Racing Technology, Gaming Technology and Design, Aviation/ Flight Simulation, Programming, Networking, Robotics, and Engineering. Ms. Tackett stressed to the STLP Coaches that you do not need to know everything about these areas to encourage girls to pursue them. Every coach left with information, contacts, products, and lesson plans ready for immediate use.

Left to Right, Front Row:  Suzanne Preece, Sandy Brown, Connie Tackett, Angie Banks, Sherry Wright Left to Right, Back Row:  Amy Kincheloe, Misty Reed, Kristin Napier, Erica Johnson, Melissa Webb, Amanda Robinson, Christy McCoy, Johna Wright, Tammy Ratliff, Jeanne Caudill, Gina Wright, Leigh Ann Francis, Patty Johnson, Beth Dotson, and Janet Potter

Category                                Girls 2010                             Girls 2011                     % Increase