JASON Learning’s Design Thinking Ambassador Program Launches; District Leaders to Collaborate With Stakeholders

Disponible en: Español

The program seeks to connect educators with industry to develop STEM opportunities for students.

JASON Learning (JASON) launched its Design Thinking Ambassador Program in Aldine ISD. The program will support schools and educators in developing STEM-literate students who can effectively influence decision-makers and advocate for their communities. The 2020 Resilient Houston report was the inspiration for the focus of the Ambassador Program. It was used as a resource to identify goals and challenge areas for the Greater Houston area.

“There is a need for educators to become nonlinear design processors who think outside of the box to solve or offer prototypes that will impact the resilience of future challenge solutions,” stated Xandra Williams-Earlie, Aldine ISD Program Director of High School Science.

JASON Learning Design Thinking Ambassadors collaborated with local STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) role models, community stakeholders, JASON staff, and one another to create a Design Thinking Challenge for their students that will increase community resilience, provide opportunities for students to engage with diverse community role models, earn professional development credit, and develop the knowledge and skills needed to become visionary leaders and agents of change in their community as they build and advocate for STEM literacy.

“STEM educators are in a unique position to influence resilience in their students’ communities. By providing students with learning experiences that allow students to solve authentic neighborhood-based challenges, educators are leading the charge to build a better world,” said Debra Hill, Regional Director at JASON Learning.

JASON Learning connected the Aldine ISD Design Thinking Ambassadors to community stakeholders during synchronous and asynchronous meetings. Guest speakers included Marissa Aho, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Houston; Kyle Shelton, Deputy Director at Kinder Institute for Urban Research; Grace Rodriguez, CEO of Impact Hub Houston; and a panel of speakers from Harris County Public Health.

Community engagement is crucial to elevate schools to be a place that all 21st-century learners can succeed. The Design Thinking Ambassador Program prepares educators to become STEM leaders and role models. It introduces educators to talented STEM professionals in their community to collaborate on future projects and Design Thinking Challenges. During Design Thinking Challenges, community members work as the subject matter experts that help students solve problems in the community and change the way students learn.

By building a cadre of Design Thinking Ambassadors with local connections and business leaders, youth will be able to solve problems that build a better and resilient Houston community. The goal is to continue collaborating with districts for the next cadre of JASON Learning Design Thinking Ambassadors in the fall.

Aldine ISD JASON Learning Design Thinking Ambassadors Spring 2021

John Armstrong, Eisenhower Ninth Grade School
Alaye Cotterell, Nimitz High School
Sean Doyle, MacArthur High School
Debra Dunham, Stovall Middle School
Saaher Kazmi, Nimitz High School
Sheena Nichols, Aldine Ninth Grade School
Casey O’Hare, Lewis Middle School

JASON Learning representatives stated that they appreciate the collaborative and innovative spirit of Aldine ISD leaders Xandra Williams-Earlie, program director of secondary science; Dr. Dametra Skinner, program director of middle school mathematics; and Dr. Willette Trotty-Aubrey, program director of middle school science.

Contact Debra Hill, regional director with JASON Learning at [email protected], or visit the JASON Learning website at www.jason.org for additional information.