Our Mission

The South Central Washington STEM Network is a region-wide network of cross-sector stakeholders that collaborates to ensure that ALL of the region's youth have access to a high quality STEM education and career connected learning opportunities, resulting in an interest-driven career path that leads to a family-wage job and economic vitality for the region

Our Commitment to Equity 

​The South Central Washington STEM Network believes that ALL students deserve a high-quality STEM education and access to a career pathway of their choosing that leads to a high-demand, family wage job. The Network is committed to ensuring that students are supported with the relationships, connections, and resources they need to thrive.

The current reality is that not all students have the same opportunities. Access to basic needs (housing, food, and transportation), technology, professional connections, paid work experience, and credential programs with labor-market value are all examples of the barriers our students face and ones that we must work to systematically address.

Our beginnings

​​The South Central Washington STEM Network at Educational Service District (ESD) 105 was developed in 2012 by regional business, education, and community leaders in order to create a coordinated system to change outcomes for young people and employers in South Central Washington.  The STEM Network convenes business, community, and education partners to identify opportunity gaps for students and businesses.  Network members collaborate to develop and implement regional solutions, and measure impact to inform the implementation and scale up of effective programs.

Part of a larger network

The South Central Washington STEM Network benefits from the learning community of STEM Networks across the state of Washington.  These 10 regional STEM Networks supported by Washington STEM advocate for high-quality STEM and Career Connected Learning programs for ALL the youth of Washington State, including those furthest from educational justice. 
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The STEM Networks: 

• Collaborate and have relationships, and the trust of local educators, business leaders, STEM professionals, and community leaders. These networks are committed to ensuring that students receive tailored career-connected STEM learning experiences and information about careers that are growing in their backyard and the knowledge, skills and credentials needed to thrive in those jobs. Along with a regional perspective, STEM Networks collaborate with other STEM Networks across the state to share and scale up what works. ​
  
• Create launch and sustain local STEM solutions that focus on increasing the number of students ready for post-secondary STEM coursework and STEM career pathways. 
  
• Connect students with employers in their community so all students at every level have multiple access points to career-connected learning opportunities like internships, youth apprenticeships and real-world, project-based learning.