WEBVTT 00:00:12.530 --> 00:00:17.530 Exposure to positive role models can negate some of these negative stereotypes that girls have. 00:00:17.530 --> 00:00:19.800 I've seen it, and it's exciting. 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:24.840 When you give a girl an opportunity to learn about the fantastic women that are 00:00:24.840 --> 00:00:30.040 out there today, currently doing research-that are involved in so many wonderful fields 00:00:30.040 --> 00:00:32.570 in math and science-girls get excited. 00:00:32.570 --> 00:00:33.870 It sparks an interest. 00:00:33.870 --> 00:00:35.420 They want to learn more. 00:00:35.420 --> 00:00:39.980 As an elementary schoolteacher, I can expose them to biographies. 00:00:39.980 --> 00:00:44.600 I can give them opportunities to follow that trail of interest. 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:45.920 It motivates them. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:50.070 It encourages them to want to learn more, to do better in school. 00:00:50.070 --> 00:00:55.720 Another example would be I happen to serve on a panel here in the south Orange County area 00:00:55.720 --> 00:00:59.280 with the Dana Point Ocean Institute, and every year we put 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:02.090 on a Girls in Ocean Science Conference. 00:01:02.090 --> 00:01:08.660 The exciting thing is the conference is planned and run by middle school and high school girls. 00:01:08.660 --> 00:01:13.510 We as adult women sit back and watch them choose the women they want to come 00:01:13.510 --> 00:01:15.670 and be the speakers at the conference. 00:01:15.670 --> 00:01:21.290 They sit with spreadsheets, "This one I'm excited about," and we bring in core women 00:01:21.290 --> 00:01:25.980 in various fields-even from the chemistry of how make-up is put together, 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:30.880 to geologists that are studying phenomenon on the ocean floor, 00:01:30.880 --> 00:01:35.850 to marine biologists-and the girls spend a day interacting in small groups 00:01:35.850 --> 00:01:37.920 with these scientists in the field. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:42.110 And I know, I'm confident it encourages them to want 00:01:42.110 --> 00:01:44.980 to pursue these careers in math and science. 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:50.120 It's my job to set the table, and if a teacher does it well, the girls will come to the table, 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:52.260 they'll be fed, and they'll want those careers. 00:01:52.260 --> 00:01:55.870 When I watch this group of high school and middle school girls working 00:01:55.870 --> 00:02:00.770 with the veterinarian from Sea World-she shared with them the struggles she had in high school. 00:02:00.770 --> 00:02:03.700 She told them specific courses that she took 00:02:03.700 --> 00:02:07.680 that prepared her for her college entrance exams. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:12.370 She also explained to them different colleges that would provide the avenues for them 00:02:12.370 --> 00:02:17.620 to pursue this career, and it was just so nice to see her sit there and make herself 00:02:17.620 --> 00:02:20.710 so available to those students and be so real with them. 00:02:20.710 --> 00:02:23.980 Sometimes we get the idea that it's just all so easy for these women, 00:02:23.980 --> 00:02:29.030 and I think it's important-especially when there's these negative stereotypes 00:02:29.030 --> 00:02:33.770 that the boys are better than the girls-for them to see here's a woman who struggled, 00:02:33.770 --> 00:02:37.390 who worked hard, who succeeded and now who's met her dream 00:02:37.390 --> 00:02:39.120 and gets to be in the water with Shamu. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:43.350 As a panel member for the Girls in Ocean Science Conference, 00:02:43.350 --> 00:02:47.630 it's always a joy to watch these girls as they graduate from high school 00:02:47.630 --> 00:02:50.580 and then actually do pursue these careers in science. 00:02:50.580 --> 00:02:53.000 And then in the several cases I have seen 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:56.830 where these role models before-for instance the one we've been discussing 00:02:56.830 --> 00:03:00.280 from Sea World-has definitely influenced these girls. 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:02.060 They've stayed in contact. 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:03.910 They are at the university. 00:03:03.910 --> 00:03:06.590 They are pursuing marine biology careers. 00:03:06.590 --> 00:03:11.960 They're looking to be able to fulfill those dreams that started years before 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:15.040 because a role model made themselves available to them. 00:03:15.040 --> 00:03:18.910 Some of the different ways teachers can expose girls to role models in math 00:03:18.910 --> 00:03:21.770 and science begins by looking in the mirror. 00:03:21.770 --> 00:03:26.090 80 to 90 percent of the role models that young girls will see from the time they're 00:03:26.090 --> 00:03:28.490 in kindergarten through high school are women. 00:03:28.490 --> 00:03:33.300 If an elementary, middle school and high school teacher's excited about the opportunity 00:03:33.300 --> 00:03:37.570 to teach math, to teach science, to expose them to engineering, 00:03:37.570 --> 00:03:40.530 that's the role model they're going to see in action. 00:03:40.530 --> 00:03:45.290 Obviously, another incredibly important role model is that of the parent. 00:03:45.290 --> 00:03:50.070 And I see the role of the teacher engaging with the parent, making sure the parent knows, 00:03:50.070 --> 00:03:54.030 "Your child is an excellent student and has the potential 00:03:54.030 --> 00:03:56.780 to pursue these careers in math and science." 00:03:56.780 --> 00:04:02.290 So when teachers work hand in hand with parents setting positive role models for the girls, 00:04:02.290 --> 00:04:08.100 the girls are going to be more aware that there are women out there in these fields. 00:04:08.100 --> 00:04:13.060 Now follow that with the biographies, the opportunities for distance learning today 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:16.420 on the computer-it's unbelievable the experiences 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:21.519 that children can have today dialoguing with researchers in the field. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:24.500 And many of those are female researchers. 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:29.980 For instance, my elementary class right now is working with a research scientist 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:32.460 down in Antarctica studying penguins. 00:04:32.460 --> 00:04:36.070 We can get online on the Internet and dialog with her, 00:04:36.070 --> 00:04:40.610 and every day she's sending back pictures of Adele penguins to my class. 00:04:40.610 --> 00:04:44.680 If you don't think that doesn't raise excitement in an elementary classroom 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:50.370 when you see a female role model in Antarctica studying Adele penguins. 00:04:50.370 --> 00:04:53.000 So, again, I cannot stress enough the role 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:59.460 that the teacher plays-the elementary teacher can play in-helping young women turn those 00:04:59.460 --> 00:05:04.530 misconceptions around and realize that they're capable of pursuing any career they want, 00:05:04.530 --> 00:05:09.200 and no doors are closed if you're willing to put the work at it and go beyond. 00:05:09.200 --> 00:05:13.240 And it's just so exciting as a teacher-both at the elementary campus 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:17.060 and the university campus-to be able to follow the lives of those students 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:19.370 and see those girls pursuing careers. 00:05:19.370 --> 00:05:24.860 There are many after school activities that can expose students to role models. 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:29.530 I think of Jane Goodall's wonderful program that's been established throughout the United 00:05:29.530 --> 00:05:32.580 States for a number of years now called Roots and Shoots, 00:05:32.580 --> 00:05:35.740 where it begins to get students involved being responsible, 00:05:35.740 --> 00:05:41.320 caring citizens within their community-helping to develop sustainable communities. 00:05:41.320 --> 00:05:44.900 And, again, these relate to the fields of math and science as well. 00:05:44.900 --> 00:05:50.860 There are other after school programs, for instance FSEA-Future Scientists and Engineers 00:05:50.860 --> 00:05:58.250 of America-where local engineers and scientists come to schools after school and run clubs. 00:05:58.250 --> 00:06:03.320 And it's so wonderful to see these men and women leave their offices early to come 00:06:03.320 --> 00:06:08.210 to the elementary school and design and build projects with the students. 00:06:08.210 --> 00:06:13.680 I recently heard that one-third to one-half of the jobs that girls will hold in the areas 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:17.280 of engineering haven't even been invented yet. 00:06:17.280 --> 00:06:22.920 When principals hear statistics like that, it has to encourage them to want to work 00:06:22.920 --> 00:06:29.780 with their staffs to provide opportunities for students to be exposed to positive role models. 00:06:29.780 --> 00:06:35.080 The fields of science and engineering and computer science are developing at rapid pace, 00:06:35.080 --> 00:06:39.070 and school districts and principals have to be aware of the need 00:06:39.070 --> 00:06:44.460 to provide the funding-to provide the resources for the classroom teachers to be able 00:06:44.460 --> 00:06:47.410 to expose students to these kinds of role models. 00:06:47.410 --> 00:06:52.320 And it's an exciting potential that lays ahead for these girls in the future. 00:06:52.320 --> 00:06:58.150 And teachers, never forget that the most positive role model these young women will see is you. 00:06:58.150 --> 00:07:02.930 Do your best and encourage them, and they will pursue these careers.