Message from the president

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Hello Educators, welcome to our website! Please check out the resource tab for design briefs and previous journals about children’s engineering.

The focus of VCEC is to provide STEM professional development for teachers in grades PreK-6 that enable them to help children:

• explore how people create, use, and control technology
• apply knowledge of mathematics, science, English, and history and social studies in solving
  problems associated with technology  
• use tools and materials to explore design, engineering and technology
• exhibit self-confidence through the use of technology 

I can appreciate any educator that wants to better themselves through STEM. I myself am a career changer that originally went to trade school for auto / diesel mechanics. How you go from being a mechanic to a teacher is another story for another time, but as a title I classroom teacher I learned quickly the importance of keeping the students busy. Integrating the subjects and allowing the students the freedom to build things with the engineering design process was what worked best for me and my students. My mechanical background has helped in more ways than I’d ever imagined with STEM concepts and application. I am happy to have found my niche and help others hone their craft of teaching STEM! Please let VCEC help you to sharpen your skills and abilities to deliver 21st century skills to your students. The VCEC Board is diligently planning and preparing to bring our meaningful professional developments back to better serve the Commonwealth. Be on the look out for upcoming events in 2024.

Joseph A Jackson

President, Virginia Children’s Engineering Council