The West New York Board of Education hosted the Latinas In STEM Foundation’s “From the Earth to the Stars, Over the Moon With Barbie” event at the Middle School on Saturday. The public had the opportunity to see science, technology, engineering and mathematics projects developed by district students and the important role women are playing in STEM education and career paths.
Last September, Barbie chose the Latinas In STEM Foundation for its new initiative, highlighting the outstanding career of Latina astronaut Ellen Ochoa and the role Latinas play in STEM careers by creating an Ochoa Barbie doll. The mission is get young girls interested, at an early age, in the sciences through education, specifically STEM education, so one day they can have careers which previously were dominated by men.
Ochoa was the first Latina woman in space, logging nearly 1,000 hours in orbit over the course of four missions. She also became the first Latina Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
During Saturday’s free event, the public was able to see the progress th West New York school district has made through its STEM and STEAM initiatives by viewing many projects developed by the district’s students. There were Latina guest speakers from the business community telling their stories of success by having a STEM education.
West New York has graduated many female Latinas who have gone on to Ivy League colleges and ultimately STEM careers.
The goal is to grow the numbers so more and more girls, especially Latinas, find success in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and arts careers. It all begins at an early age. That’s something Superintendent of Schools Clara Brito Herrera stresses and takes pride in achieving.