Classnotes Podcast (May 14, 2012) Does a teacher have to be a science whiz to be a leader in transforming a campus to be STEM focused? Apparently not. Meet Robert Dingenary, a ninth grade English teacher in a low-wealth, high minority school, who volunteered to lead a STEM club when no one else wanted to take it on. And with strong administrative support, his ninth-graders are building a model solar airplane. In this interview, Robert talks how he got this program started, the support he’s getting from the community and how his students have latched on. Robert is interviewed by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D. Show length: Send comments to [email protected]Sign up for Classnotes e-mail alerts.ResourcesThe Need for Minority High Schools with a STEM Focusby Nilka Avilés, Ed.D., IDRA Newsletterhttp://www.idra.org/resource-center/the-need-for-minority-high-schools-with-a-stem-focus/Diversifying the STEM Pool – Revisiting the Recruitment of Underrepresented Students in STEM Careersby Paula Martin Johnson, M.A., IDRA Newsletterhttp://www.idra.org/resource-center/diversifying-the-stem-pool/Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation – America ’s Science and Technology Talent at the CrossroadsNational Academy of Scienceshttps://grants.nih.gov/training/minority_participation.pdfEngage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED541511.pdfPrepare and Inspire: K-12 Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) for America ’s Future President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)https://nsf.gov/attachments/117803/public/2a–Prepare_and_Inspire–PCAST.pdfIDRA South Central Collaborative for Equity http://www.idra.org/South_Central_Collaborative_for_Equity/Your feedbackWe welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].Listen to every episode!To ensure you don’t miss a single episode of IDRA Classnotes, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, (download iTunes free if you don’t have it) or sign up to receive an e-mail alert as soon as a new show is published.The post Creating a STEM Focused School Part 2 – Podcast Episode 107 appeared first on IDRA.