- 4Fairmont

Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
The Bridge
Connecting Fairmont’s Youth to Jobs of the Future
The Bridge Team
Chair
Co-Chair
Deana Dean, President
I-79 Development Council
Dr. Gina Fantasia, Associate Dean
FSU School of Business
Gary Price, Superintendent
Marion County Schools
Tony Michalski, Director
Marion County Parks & Rec
Dr. Sharon Smith
Professor of Education, FSU
Todd Ensign, Program Manager
NASA IV&V Educator Resource
Center
Introduction
We live in a world in which change comes at an ever-increasing pace.
One of the few certainties is that the job market of the future will look
very different than today’s. We know that our children, and their
children, will have to be prepared for jobs that don’t yet exist. The
Bridge Team will partner educators and volunteers from STEM
businesses and the community to turn the after-school hours into a
dynamic array of active and experiential programs that will prepare
our students to pursue the plentiful technology jobs and business
opportunities of the future.
We’ll make our schools a hub of community activity in the after-school
hours, providing an exciting web of educational enrichment
opportunities that will allow our youth to experience a variety of
hands-on STEM-related activities. By taking activities like coding,
robotics design, and real-world math, science and engineering
applications out of the abstract, students will build their base of
knowledge while building confidence to pursue those fields. Students
who lack the confidence to see themselves pursuing a STEM career
will go from the thinking these are jobs for “other people” to the
internalized belief that STEM jobs are viable opportunities for them.
Likewise, we’ll introduce students to business concepts, financial
literacy and project management early-on so students will develop an
entrepreneurial mindset and our community will develop a culture of
entrepreneurship.
Education is the most powerful weapon you can
use to change the world.
~ Nelson Mandela
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Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
Preparing the next generation
To prepare the next generation of employees and entrepreneurs in Fairmont, we will add an array of after-school
educational enrichment opportunities that will allow our youth to experience a variety of hands-on STEM Science
Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM)-related activities. These experiential opportunities will take activities
like coding; robotics design; and real-world math, science and engineering applications out of the abstract. By letting
students actually complete the activities, these programs will not only build the students’ base of knowledge but
also, more importantly, build their confidence in their own abilities. Students can go from the too common idea that
STEM jobs are good jobs but are for “other people,” to the internalized belief that STEM jobs are exciting and viable
opportunities for them. Similarly, introducing students to business concepts, financial literacy, and project
management early-on through programs like Junior Achievement will foster the development of an entrepreneurial
mindset and develop a culture of entrepreneurship.
The after-school enrichment activities will complement the good work already being done in our county schools to
improve students’ performance and increase college attendance/graduation rate. This will also bring other valuable
community benefits—like making schools once again the center of community activity and providing a range of safe
and affordable after-school educational activities for students. By implementing this plan, we will help to increase
the percentage of West Virginians obtaining at least a baccalaureate degree, while making it easier for parents to
participate in the workforce without worrying about what happens to their children in those hours between school’s
end and the end of the parents’ work day. A robust array of after-school enrichment activities will also make it
easier for businesses to attract talent to the area to fill current staffing needs.
We won’t reinvent the wheel…
We don’t plan to reinvent the wheel - just to re-engineer it to accomplish
our goals. Partnering, initially, with the Marion County Board of Education,
Marion County Parks and Recreation (MCPARC), Fairmont State University
(FSU) and Pierpont Community and Technical College will allow us to
utilize the facilities and expertise inherent in their operations.
We plan an initial pilot in one or two middle schools with a manageable
set of programs that operate from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. We will jump-start
our plan by beginning with effective programs that already exist, which
have established well-proven curricula for students from elementary
through high school:
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Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
In the
Beginning…
Program
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We will pilot small, but the plan is
eminently scalable. Like dropping a
pebble in a pond, the plan of programs we
develop can expand in an ever-growing
series of concentric circles until they are
rippling throughout the I-79 Corridor and
state of West Virginia.
Activities will be delivered
primarily by STEM-businesses
and community volunteers. Not
only do these volunteers have
the technical expertise, but they
will also be role-models and can
serve as mentors to the
students. To ensure good
oversight, smooth operations,
and continuity, current and
retired teachers will help to
coordinate and assist with the
activities. ABC funds will be
used to pay stipends to the
teachers and to education and
science and technology students
who will assist with the
programs. ABC funds will also
be used for purchase of start-up
materials for activities.
FSU’s School of Education will
develop specific assessment
criteria for the program, so we
can continuously assess and
improve its impact on the
students. The interaction of
economic, political, and social
factors at play is complex; but,
overtime, we expect to see an
increase in students
attending and graduating from
college, more students pursuing
STEM education and careers,
and an increase in workforce
participation, especially among
women.
Our vision is to have after-school
enrichment programs in every
school in Marion County. As we
build the scope of the program,
we will take advantage of the
resources of many additional
partners like West Virginia
University, the state’s land grant
university. We will work to
enrich both brain hemispheres
by adding programs from FSU’s
Academy for the Arts. We will
develop activities that combine
STEM and athletic activities in
workshops like “physics and
football” and “the geometry of
golf”. As we expand our
programs, we'll develop a series
of activities showing students
how STEM skills are essential in
the skilled trades. The range of
activities and topics is nearly
limitless. By letting the students
actually do the activities, they
not only build their base of
knowledge; but, more
importantly, they will build the
confidence that they can do it.
Students can go from the too
common idea that STEM jobs
are good jobs but are for “other
people,” to the internalized
belief that STEM jobs are
exciting and viable opportunities
for them. Similarly, introducing
students to business concepts,
financial literacy and project
management early-on will foster
the development of an
entrepreneurial mindset and
develop a culture of
entrepreneurship.
First Lego League,
NASA IV&V
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Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
Community Engagement: Showing that STEM is for everyone!
A pivotal part of The Bridge Team’s mission is to expand the
community’s understanding and awareness of the STEM jobs
available in the I-79 Corridor. Many of our youth recognize the value
of STEM careers, but some of them lack the confidence to picture
themselves in those jobs. The experiential nature of the after-school
enrichment activities will let those students bloom with the knowledge
that those great STEM jobs are, indeed, within their reach.
Some students, and many of their parents, are simply not aware of
the many opportunities for exciting, satisfying high tech careers that
exist right here in Fairmont and North Central West Virginia. Just as
importantly, some don’t yet understand how critical it is to have the
kind of education that prepares them for the jobs we can’t yet
describe, because the technology that will drive them does not yet
exist. The STEM professionals and entrepreneurs volunteering in our
speaker’s series will excite the community about the work that
already goes on in our region, and also educate parents and students
alike about what’s necessary to be ready for the
opportunities yet to come.
These experiential activities will help us to draw-in those students
who may not think college is a realistic possibility for them. They'll
learn STEM skills that are essential for a host of skilled trade and
technician positions. If we engage them early, we may set some of
them on a the path toward college--if not, they will still learn critical
skills and gain the confidence to pursue STEM-based courses and
training that will better prepare them for future workforce
opportunities.
Ways to Pop-Up in
Fairmont’s
Neighborhoods
COMMUNITY CENTER
SERVICE DELIVERY
SHARED-VALUE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS
CIVIC EDUCATION AND
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
CAREER FAIRS IN
COMMUNITY PARKS AND
OTHER FACILITIES WHERE
PARENTS AND YOUTH CAN BE
INVOLVED
The Bridge team will engage with the newly re-launched community
action group, the 4Fairmont Room, to jump-start the conversation
about educational and job market shifts with the greater community.
In collaboration with the Marion County Board of Education, Marion
County Parks and Recreation, the NASA IV&V Educator Resource
Center, and Fairmont State University, the Bridge Team will educate
the community about the opportunities for highly skilled, high-paying
jobs available now, and what skills are needed to secure the jobs of
the future. We’ll work in tandem with the 4Fairmont Team to develop
coordinated communication, social media, and marketing plans to
showcase the world-class opportunities that are on our doorstep.
We’ll use the after-school enrichment programs to make sure our
students are prepared to open the door.
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Fairmont, West Virginia
The Technology
Industry Drives the
Economy
The technology industry in
North Central West Virginia
pumped about $1.6 billion
into the region’s economy
and $1.7 billion into the
state’s economy, according
to a study by FSU economist
Amy Godfrey. The high-tech
sector accounted for 5
percent of total
employment in the region
and 7 percent of total
employment in the state,
the study found.
America’s Best Communities
Positioned for progress.
Fairmont lies at the heart of the I-79 Technology Corridor. Aligned
along that corridor, in Fairmont or within 15 miles of it, are the
NASA Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) facility, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Environmental
Security Computing Center (NESCC), the FBI’s Criminal Justice
Information System (CJIS) Division and the newly-opened Biometric
Technology Center, which houses the FBI's Biometric Services
Section and the Department of Defense's Forensics and Biometrics
Agency. The presence of these federal technology-driven facilities
have attracted operational locations of large companies like
Northrup Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Bombardier, Pratt Whitney,
EWA and ManTech to our community.
The combination of these federal facilities and the large contractors
that serve them has encouraged many smaller firms such as TMC2
Technologies, Lakota Software Solutions, Information Research
Corporation, and KeyLogic to spring-up and prosper. This array of
high technology entities in our backyard is the catalyst for our
economic future. To maintain this synergy and capitalize on it, we
must provide the well-educated, entrepreneurial talent to allow the
federal programs and the businesses to grow.
Our mission is to partner educators and volunteers from STEM
businesses and the community to create a vibrant educational
climate that prepares our youth to educate themselves for the
plentiful technology jobs and business opportunities of the future.
The Partners
Marion County Board of Education
Members of the Marion County BOE strive to offer high quality education
to the youth in our county. They assume a progressive attitude with a
focus on education and using technology to enhance that focus.
Marion County Parks & Recreation
MCPARC is committed to the purpose of providing youth with quality park
and recreation areas for all your leisure activities.
Fairmont State University, School of Business
“This is why it’s
incumbent on the
state’s political
leaders to put more
of an emphasis on
the high-tech sector”
~Jim Estep
The School of Business is committed to delivering a quality business
education through effective teaching in a caring learning environment
that is responsive to the shared needs of students, employers, and the
community.
NASA IV&V Educator Resource Center
The purpose of the NASA Educator Resource Center is to help
teachers learn about and use NASA's educational resources.
Pierpont Community & Technical College
Pierpont specializes in educating for practical, hands-on careers in
business, aviation, technology, health careers, human services,
and applied sciences.
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Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
Fairmont’s Hidden Gem:
The I-79 Technology Park
“The I-79 Technology Park, as far as I know, is
the only tangible effort under way in the state
to actually establish the kind of jobs that are
supposed to make up the future economy of
this country. We have built the I-79 Technology
Park to use it as a tool to attract both federal
and private anchors to our community that
would provide an abundance of contract
opportunities for technology companies. In
doing so, that helps drive the growth of a
technology sector in our region.”
—Jim Estep, President and Chief Executive Officer, West
Virginia High Technology Foundation
The I-79 Technology Park, located off Exit 132 in Fairmont, is home to various companies and federal
agencies developing new technologies for the defense, space, and telecommunication industries. The
West Virginia High Technology Foundation is the owner and developer of the 375-acre park.
Federal anchors behind the high-tech growth in North Central West Virginia include the FBI’s Criminal
Justice Information Services Division and the U.S. Army’s Biometrics Identity Management Activity in
Clarksburg and the National Energy Technology Laboratory and National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health in Morgantown. The Tech Park—situated between those two cities—houses two federal
agencies: NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation Facility and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These federal anchors attract companies such as Northrop Grumman
and Lockheed Martin to the area to do contracting work.
Also found in the park are the Alan B. Mollohan Innovation Center, an FBI unit, defense contractors and
Mon Power. An Advanced Technology Center that will house Pierpont Community & Technical College
programs is currently under construction. The Foundation is testing microwave technology and is in talks
with the West Virginia State Police to move one of its operations to the Tech Park.
About 1,250 people work at the high-tech park, which is still in the first phase of development, with one
building pad left. The Foundation has an annual budget of $25 million and can use 5 percent of that for
development of the park. The latest upgrades were in ramping up the park’s electrical and
telecommunications capacity. This work attracted NOAA’s supercomputing center and satellite ground
stations for weather forecasting and climate research.
Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
GOAL 1: INCREASE K-12 STUDENTS’ PREPARATION FOR STEM/HIGH TECH CAREERS, AND
THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF
ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
S TRATE GY 1 : R ECRU IT AN D HIR E A TEACHER , OR RET IRED TEACHER , TO S ERVE AS P ILOT PROGR AM COOR DI NATOR
AND R ECRUI T MEN TOR S FROM STEM /H IGH T ECH BUS INE SS ES IN TH E AREA TO D ELIV ER THE AFTER - S CH OOL
P ROGR AMS .
The Bridge Team Co-Chairs, Gina Fantasia and Deana Keener will collaborate with The Bridge Partners to develop
the initial program for the pilot initiative and to develop the network of volunteers who will make the program a
success.
Activities:
1. Collaborate with Marion County Board of Education to select the middle school in which to pilot the program.
2. Develop and post a job description for the program coordinator position, recruit candidates and select a pilot
coordinator.
3. Select interns from the FSU School of Education, FSU School of Business and FSU College of Science and
Technology to provide assistance to business and industry mentors who will deliver the after-school
programs.
4. Recruit individuals from area companies and the community to participate as coaches, mentors, and teamleaders delivering the after-school programs.
S TRATE GY 2 : U S E CU RRICULA FROM EX IS TIN G STEM AND E NTR EP REN EURS HIP EN RICHME NT PR OGRAMS FO R
D ELIVE RY TO ST UD EN TS P AR TICIP AT ING IN THE P ILOT MID DLE SCHO OL P ROGR AM .
Rather than reinventing the wheel, The Bridge will pilot with established K-12 curricula, already proven to develop
STEM and entrepreneurship skill in students. These activities will build the skills and the confidence students need
to turn STEM opportunities into realties for their futures.
Activities:
1. Connect the middle school and coordinator and industry mentors with the following programs:
a. FIRST Lego League and the WV Robotics Alliance:
FIRST® LEGO® League introduces young people, ages 9 to 14 to the fun and excitement of
science and technology. Each year, FIRST LEGO League releases a Challenge based on a realworld scientific topic. Each Challenge has three parts: the Robot Game, the Project, and the FLL
Core Values. Teams of up to ten children, with at least one adult coach, participate in the
Challenge by programming an autonomous robot to score points on a themed playing field
(Robot Game), developing a solution to a problem they have identified (Project), all guided by the
FLL Core Values. FIRST LEGO League exposes participants to potential career paths within a
chosen Challenge topic, in addition to solidifying the STEM principles that naturally come from
participating in the program. Team members also learn valuable life and employment skill,
which will benefit them no matter which career path they choose.
b. NASA IV&V Educator Resource Center:
Through a partnership with Fairmont State University, the NASA IV&V Educator Resource Center
(ERC) provides resources and training opportunities to prepare thousands of excellent new K-12
teachers, and support the existing teacher workforce. The ERC offers workshops on a variety of
topics designed to supplement the school curriculum and help meet national and state
educational standards. Topics include Aeronautics, Astronomy, Engineering Design Challenges,
Mars, Moon Rocks and Meteorites, Planetary Geology, Podcasting, Rocketry, Robotics, or any
NASA educational product. (cont.) 7
Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
GOAL 1, CONT.
(cont.) The ERC is also the WV Partner for the GLOBE Program and provides teacher certification
workshops in the areas of Hydrology, Soils, Atmosphere, Land Cover, and Seasons, as well as
training in Global Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing, and the latest Geographic
Information System (GIS) tools. Once an educator has completed training, they are certified to
borrow one of 50+ classroom kits including portable planetariums, GPS units, robots,
engineering challenges, and much more to increase the number of youth who have an authentic
educational experiences.
c. FSU Science-After-School programs:
FSU’s Science-After-School program is designed to offer students an opportunity to learn science
through direct hands-on experience. The theme changes from semester to semester; so,
students get the excitement of exploration and discovery across a range of topics. The program
also serves the dual purpose of developing effective instructional skills in pre-service teachers.
d. Junior Achievement:
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students in grades
K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy through experiential, handson programs. It has curricula created to help students explore their potential and engage them
in discovering and developing their talents and interests.
e. Project Management Institutes – PM4Kids.
An initiative of the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF), PM4Kids
teaches students the theory, concepts, practices, and techniques of project management. Local
project management professionals volunteer to facilitate PM4Kids workshops. The objective of
the workshops is to help young people understand and use the concepts of project management
to organize and deliver their schoolwork assignments and projects. Students learn how they can
apply these concepts and techniques to increase their organizational skills; develop
communication skills; learn teamwork skills; learn the importance of on time completion of tasks
and assignments; learn responsibility and accountability; develop coordination skills; and learns
how to manage supporting resources.
2. Develop specific assessment criteria through the FSU School of Education to allow continuous assessment and maximized student impact. 8
Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
GOAL 2: AMPLIFY BUSINESS/INDUSTRY COLLABORATION WITH EDUCATION AND THE
COMMUNITY.
S TRATE GY 1 : B UI LD A NE TWOR K O F BUS INES S LEAD ERS COMM ITT ED TO ASS IS TING T HE B RID GE WIT H D EV ELOP ING A
P IPE LI NE OF MOTI VATED AND WELL - TRAIN ED T ALEN T .
The businesses in the I-79 Corridor know their organizations cannot grow without a pipeline of properly trained
talent to fill staffing needs. The Bridge Team and Partners, Marion County Board of Education, Fairmont State
University, Marion County Parks and Recreation, and NASA IV&V Educator Resource Center will collaborate with the
4Fairmont Team to forge an interactive network to provide the experts and role models to ensure our students are
ready to take advantage of STEM career opportunities in the I-79 Corridor and in the world.
Activities:
1. Recruit business/industry leaders to work with education leaders in conjunction with The Bridge team to
spearhead this effort.
2. Connect this effort to the PTO from the middle school selected for the pilot program.
3. Work with the 4Fairmont team to share this information through a publication, media relations and digital
media assets.
4. Identify a group of business and industry professional, and community members to deliver the content of the
programs and mentor the students.
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Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
GOAL 3: INCREASE STUDENTS’ AND PARENTS’ AWARENESS OF STEM CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES AND THE ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO STEP INTO
THOSE CAREERS.
STRA TEGY 1 : C REA TE A SPE AKE RS SE RIES WITH B USINE SS IN D USTRY AN D CO MM UN ITY EX PE RTS
TO ED UCA TE B OTH STUD EN TS A ND THEIR PAR EN TS.
Activities:
1. Create an inventory of key companies, organizations, and STEM education outreach programs impacting
Fairmont.
2. Invite representatives of these groups to participate in the series.
3. Coordinate the scheduling of series events with the Marion County Board of Education.
4. Work with the 4Fairmont team to promote the series events.
STRA TEGY 2 : W ORK W ITH TH E 4 FA IRM ONT TEA M TO CRE ATE A MA RKETIN G COM MUN ICA TION
CA MP AIGN TA RGE TING SCHO OL S, TEA CHE RS, A ND P ARE NTS TO PR OMO TE A VA IL AB LE
ED UC ATIO NA L OPPO RTUN ITIES AN D THE AFTE R-SCH OOL PI LO T.
The Bridge Team will collaborate with the 4Fairmont Team to ensure all target markets are aware of the pilot
program and know how to access the opportunities.
Activities:
1. Meet with 4Fairmont team to set campaign goals and work with them to help complete the following
deliverables:
a. 1-3 minute video
b. Publication (fact sheet, brochure or postcard)
c. Blog entry
d. E-mail blast template and monthly distribution schedule.
2. Help create an e-mail database of volunteers.
3. Create an inventory of classes/curriculum/learning opportunities available to pilot school students that can
be shared through the 4Fairmont web site.
4. Host a media opportunity open house event in collaboration with the Marion County Board of Education.
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Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
PHASE ONE DELIVERA BLES
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Fairmont, West Virginia
America’s Best Communities
PHASE ONE DELIVERA BLES, CONT .
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