Ellis Faculty Host International Women in STEM
The Ellis School welcomed eight international female STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) professionals in partnership with the Global Pittsburgh International Leaders Program. Global Pittsburgh contacted Ellis to host the cohort due to our robust reputation in the Pittsburgh area and excellent STEM programs across grade levels.
Ana Nakashidze, Director of Open Net, from Georgia; Elvira Ibrayeva, English Language Teacher at Buketov Karaganda State University, from Kazakhstan; Zana Tabaku, Founder and Operations Manager of Appdec, from Kosovo; Bani Giselle Carrasco Marquez, Marketing Coordinator at Sitek, from Mexico; Mariana Guadalupe Montalvo Martino, Co-Owner and Operations Manager, Galvanizadora Tijuana S.A. de C.V.; Imane Azzouzi, Senior Process Engineer, Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation, and Research, from Morocco; Muna Mohammed Musnad Farrah Ph.D., Chair of Water Resources at UNESCO, from Sudan; and Zaituna Dododzhanova, Executive Director, Association of Innovative and Technological Entrepreneurship, from Tajikistan brought their wide-ranging expertise and global perspective on STEM education to faculty as they learned about Ellis’ innovative programs in comparison to their own experiences around the world.
Director of Educational Technology, Tim Howard, led the group on a tour of campus before hosting three interactive, roundtable discussions with Ellis faculty members Liza Goldberg, Upper School Math Teacher; Samuel Rauhala, Upper School Science Teacher; and Michele Lombardi, Middle and Upper School Computer Science Teacher.
Mr. Rauhala showcased his Active Classroom, equipped with materials like 3D printers and touchscreen computers at each work station, which is designed to stimulate creativity and promote collaboration. The Active Classroom aligns with the Design Thinking approach and supports the development of new engineering design, physics, chemistry, and biology curriculums.
Faculty members also spoke on the importance of collaboration and innovation as they encourage students to be creative critical thinkers, problem solvers, and makers. They discussed how STEM education at Ellis is a constantly changing landscape, with faculty moving away from traditional lecture-style instruction, and moving into more modern methods like inquiry-based discussion and blended learning.
Blended learning at Ellis combines face-to-face classroom interaction with 21st century tools to enhance comprehension. This includes putting lectures online, creating digital discussions for students to exchange information, and using tools such as pencasts to help students review lessons and share notes.
Ms. Goldberg explained, “We don’t want to just lecture students from the front of the room. We want them to work through a problem, think through a solution, and wonder about the conclusion. By mixing the style up, students are more involved in class and see math as something that is fluid, creative, and accessible.”
During their visit to Ellis, the women were captivated by Ellis’ project-based, Design Thinking approach to preparing young women for STEAM careers of the future. They were also curious if the exposure to high-tech lab equipment, cutting-edge technology, and fabrication tools enhanced girls’ interest in STEM and influenced their future paths. According to a recent survey conducted by the School, 40% of Ellis students intend to major in a STEM field in college, as compared to 15% of women nationally.
In the rapidly-evolving landscape of today’s world, our expert Ellis faculty members focus on teaching innovative, new-age skills that ensure girls become creators of new technology and information rather than just consumers. By instilling confidence in the classroom through trial and error and thoughtful analysis, students deepen their interest in STEM fields rather than shy away from them. Through community partnerships like Global Pittsburgh and the International Visitor Leadership Program, Ellis faculty members further their professional development and see firsthand how best-in-class STEM education translates to real-world opportunities and potential.
“Our visitors were truly impressed with their experience at Ellis, because they saw the potential of students graduating from our school. Each of these women are highly successful leaders in their own respective STEM careers and could see how Ellis graduates are poised to become their career successors. We are incredibly grateful that they chose us as one of the schools they will visited to conduct research on behalf of the U.S. Department of State,” said Mr. Howard.
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