Clifton Park, New York - Today, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Chief Executive Officer John Lock released a statement about the launch of Change the Equation (CTEq), a new organization dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. CTEq was founded by Craig Barrett (former CEO, Intel), Glenn Britt (CEO, Time Warner Cable), Ursula Burns (CEO, Xerox), Antonio Perez (CEO, Kodak), Sally Ride (CEO, Sally Ride Science), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Lock stated, "Project Lead The Way commends the launch of Change the Equation. For 12 years, PLTW has seen first-hand how a hands-on, project based curriculum led by passionate teachers engages students in STEM related fields. The support of the business community is one of the reasons why PLTW has been able to impact hundreds of thousands of students. We've been able to grow thanks to generous gifts from corporate partners but, equally as important, our students benefit from industry employees who visit our classrooms, provide internships and act as mentors for students - showing them the relevance of what they are learning in the real world."
"The President set the tone by making STEM a top education priority and we are encouraged that the leaders of Change the Equation are bringing together corporate America to do the same. We believe every student deserves the opportunity to develop the problem-solving and critical thinking skills they need to be successful in the 21st Century and with the support of the business community, it will only happen faster. We applaud and congratulate CTEq for launching this effort to further engage businesses in creating the next generation of Innovators in America."