Selah Bah From P-TECH's STEM Pathways To IBM

All parents and or caretakers want their child or children to be successful. As the?founding principal of P-TECH, Pathways in Technology Early College High School, a grades 9-14 model that allows students to experience high school, the first two years of college and industry preparation, we have offered a streamlined definition of success. Our definition of success is for students to leave with both his and her high school diploma and free 2-year degree from our college partner, the City University of New York’s (CUNY), New York City College of Technology (City Tech). The students who earn both credentials have first in line job opportunities with our industry partner, IBM. Selah Bah is one of P-TECH students who finished high school and graduated from City Tech with the free two-year degree in 2020 during the pandemic, covid19. Since, she has earned her bachelor's degree from Baruch while having IBM externship and co-op opportunities. Today, Selah is a full-time hire at IBM. A Facebook memory from 4 years ago popped up on my feed wherein I was congratulating Selah for completing the requirements for City Tech's two-year degree before receiving her high school diploma. In 2020, the pandemic caused the City Tech commencement exercises to be virtual and so she did not have the experience that peers in 2019 had by participating in City Tech's commencement at the Barclays Center.

Earning a two-year STEM degree three years after finishing 9th grade is a significant accomplishment under any circumstances but doing so during the disruptions caused by the covid-19 pandemic is truly impressive. The challenges presented by the pandemic, such as remote learning, limited access to resources, and social distancing measured, have made it difficult for many students to stay on track with their academic goals. Yet Selah since Spring 2020 has earned both a 2 and 4-year degree and paid externship opportunities with our industry partner IBM. Selah was excited about attending Baruch College but the challenges of covid19 posed many uncertainties. Selah persisted at Baruch, interned at IBM as both a dual enrolled high school student and college student before becoming a full-time IBM hire. Selah and the many other P-TECH students who earned 2 and/or 4- year degrees are teaching us more than we ever knew about public/private partnerships since we opened in 2011.

Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC), a non-profit, non-partisan education and social policy research organization, conducted studies on the effectiveness of small new schools, career and technical education, and the innovative P-TECH program in New York City. The success of P-TECH has been recently highlighted in MDRC's October 2023 release of P-TECH 9-14 evaluation. The evaluation looked at seven P-TECHs in New York City Department of Education. The following are three important findings:

New findings in this report indicate that the P-TECH model increased students' postsecondary degree completion, particularly for male students, and boosted internship and dual enrollment rates, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By the end of the first year of postsecondary education, 2.6 percent of female and 1.8 percent of male P-TECH 9-14 students had earned degrees, compared with virtually no students from the comparison group, of either gender. These impacts for both genders are statistically significant.

Selah like many other Black girls have historically been underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, facing barriers such as lack of access to resources and opportunities, discrimination, and stereotypes. However, there is a growing movement to encourage and support black girls in pursuing STEM pathways. P-TECH's replication in 15 states in the United States and 28 countries around the world is important in this movement to encourage underrepresented students in pursuing STEM pathways.

One key aspect of this movement is providing mentorship and role models for black girls in STEM. Seeing successful Black women in STEM fields can inspire and motivate young girls to pursue their interests in these areas. Organizations like Black Girls Code and Girls Who Code provide coding and technology education for girls of color, helping to bridge the gender and racial gap in STEM fields. The current CEO of Girls Who Code, Dr. Tarika Barrett, I knew when she was a principal with the NYC Department of Education . This week New York Governor Hochul announced Dr. Barrett and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna as co-chairs of the Emerging Technology Advisory Board. I am thrilled at the possibilities for what may come from these two co-chairs. Where there was only one P-TECH in 2011, this fall 2024, there will be 60 P-TECH programs across New York State and that is thanks to Governor Hochul's 2023 announcement about the sixth New York State P-TECH replication.

Additionally, Selah Bah is one of the many P-TECH examples that show by exposing Black girls to STEM at an early age through hands-on activities, workshops, and programs can help spark their interest and confidence in these fields. By providing equitable access to STEM education and resources, we can help Black girls realize their full potential and contribute to the diversity and innovation of the STEM workforce. Overall, supporting Black girls in STEM pathways is crucial for increasing diversity and representation in these fields, as well as empowering young girls to pursue their passions and achieve their goals. By breaking down barriers and providing opportunities for Black girls to thrive in STEM, we can create a more inclusive and equitable future for all.