The Suffolk Stem Project

Did you know that most children pursue careers they were exposed to BEFORE high school? They foreclose career options unless they receive intentional exposure. This means they simply do not consider paths they have never seen.

I am honored to share the story behind my Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) Community Impact project---a community driven investment in expanding opportunities for middle school students to explore high tech careers. Through a powerful collaboration with Suffolk Public Schools, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), and GO Virginia Economic Development, Kings Fork Middle School and John Yates Middle School piloted GO TEC® (Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers) classrooms 2 years ago. The curriculum will be offered Fall 2026 in all 5 Suffolk Public Middle Schools to 6th through 8th graders. Suffolk Public Schools----the first school division in the Commonwealth to offer it to all their students in its entirety.

This work is about ensuring every student has access to early exposure and confidence‑building experiences to technology careers that will shape the workforce of tomorrow.

When communities invest in their young people, the return is generational.

I am grateful to the forward‑thinking leaders at Suffolk Public Schools and to the team at IALR for their commitment to reimagining what is possible for students. Their willingness to innovate is an inspiration for rural Virginia.

Thank you to the Virginia Rural Center and VRLI for continuing to spotlight alumni who are advancing community‑driven solutions across the Commonwealth. I am proud to be part of this network of leaders working every day to strengthen our hometowns. And thank you to Intentional Charity for supporting my participation in VRLI and this project.