Mount Pleasant Magazine 6.4

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that they will be more invested and more likely to un-
derstand the concepts that they learn, which is going to
impact them in their daily lives. So I think that’s essential
and it brings engagement,” Whitehair commented.
STEM Education is not just useful for teaching infor-
mation but also to impart important lessons to students
about communication, teamwork and other “soft skills.”
These are inherently taught through the hands-on activities
that the students participate in. Another way Laing is dif-
ferent is that students don’t have individual desks. Instead,
they work at community tables where they are expected
to collaborate and learn as a community, rather than in
isolation. This method of learning mirrors the real world
and demonstrates the necessity for a basic understanding
of interpersonal skills.
STEM Education not only helps prepare students for
the outside world but also exposes them to a myriad of
careers and possible opportunities they otherwise would
not be exposed to. STEM Education is not targeted to a
specific group of people, but, as of right now, professional
fields that depend on science, technology, engineering and
mathematics are severely lacking in minorities and women.
Whitehair said Laing acknowledges the problem and is
working hard to ensure that the school helps create a new
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generation of STEM learners that includes and welcomes
women and minorities.
“There are some stereotypes about the STEM field that
we are really looking to break down,” Whitehair said.
Laing is participating in a Charleston Metro Chamber of
Commerce pilot program that is introducing career academies
in middle schools to catch kids early and help them discover
their passions and interests. Innovations like these are signs
that the program is constantly evolving and changing.
The skills that the students learn translate to success at
the middle school level and beyond.
“My hope is that it allows them to be engaged in the
learning process and prepares them for high school and
beyond and makes them college and career ready. I just
want to provide that foundation,” Whitehair said.
Three main pillars form the foundation of STEM Education at Laing:
engineering, technology and technical literacy.
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