Empowering Educators: A Collaborative Event by LBCC and PLTW

Long Beach City College (LBCC) and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) recently came together to host an innovative professional development event. The focus was on empowering PLTW educators through meaningful discussions and community partnerships, all while emphasizing their crucial role in shaping the workforce of tomorrow.

Alumni Perspectives

The event featured an engaging industry panel discussion, where LBCC and PLTW alumni—now employed by diverse industry partners—shared valuable insights. These professionals shed light on the ever-evolving needs of the STEM workforce. Their firsthand experiences provided educators with guidance on how to better prepare students for future career pathways.

Fostering Community Partnerships

Attendees had the opportunity to participate in insightful breakout sessions centered around community partnerships. These sessions explored the importance of collaboration between K-12 education, higher education, and industry/community partners. From forging connections to leveraging resources, educators gained practical strategies for building robust STEM pathways.

Networking was a key highlight of the event. Attendees connected with like-minded professionals exchanged ideas, explored potential avenues for collaboration and laid the groundwork for future partnerships.

Thoughts shared by attendees:

• "The event brought my attention to many aspects of the PLTW curriculum implementation. The time spent was very valuable especially the discussion panel and the questions and answers.”
• “I found this super helpful because I was able to talk with the PLTW coordinators directly and other teachers.”
• “This was an amazing opportunity for us to connect with neighboring members, to collaborate and build relationships.”

This collaborative event hosted by LBCC and PLTW underscored the power of educational partnerships. By creating connections between educators, higher education institutions, and industry/community partners, we can create a more holistic and impactful learning environment for students, equipping them with the skills and experiences they need to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of the workforce.