|
Delegate Shelly Simonds (D-HD70) carved out some time to sit down and chat with the VABA this month. Serving Hampton Roads District 70 in the Virginia House of Delegates since January of 2020, Del. Simonds was recently elected chair of the Governor’s Aerospace Advisory Council (GAAC).
The GAAC advises Virginia’s Governor, key state leaders, and agencies on policies to advance aerospace economic development, workforce training, and educational programs. By fostering partnerships with industry, universities, and federal agencies, the Council aims to attract and grow aerospace companies and research initiatives in the Commonwealth. With 20 members from diverse sectors, the Council promotes Virginia’s position as a leader in the aerospace industry.
Del. Simonds’ early professional career laid the groundwork for her understanding of the complexities between a robust aerospace economy and the educational pipeline needed to sustain its growth.
As a former journalist and Spanish teacher, Del. Simonds began her career in elected office by serving on the Newport News School Board in 2012. In addition to her work on the GAAC, she serves as the current Vice Chair for the Education Committee and Chair of the Education K-12 Subcommittee.
Del. Simonds’ District is located within the northeastern portion of Newport News, serving over 86,000 residents and 61,000 voters. While Del. Simonds represents one of three districts in Newport News, the region collectively serves as a powerhouse of aerospace development and innovation. The Newport News Economic Development Authority estimates the region supports 74,000 aerospace related jobs and encompasses 15 military bases.
“Technology is incredibly important in my district and all over Virginia,” Simonds explains. The military bases and private companies surrounding the region have caused a rapid expansion in aerospace technology. “The [aviation] technology sector we have in Virginia rivals Silicone Valley,” she argues.
The extensive infrastructure that sustains Virginia’s vital aerospace assets requires a robust and developed pipeline of qualified talent, which Del. Simonds asserts – starts in the classroom.
“We’re constantly updating our education Standards of Learning,” Del. Simonds tells us. “We’ve improved how we teach literacy and reading in Commonwealth through the Virginia Literacy Act, which is critical for technical learning.” Hampton Roads is an incubator of aerospace student talent with a wide range of research opportunities at universities like Old Dominion University as well as at agencies like NASA Langley, the Jefferson Lab, as well as numerous aerospace companies in the region. High school students also have opportunities in aerospace at the Denbigh High School Aviation Academy, and at the coveted Governor’s School for Science and Technology in Hampton. While the Commonwealth has made great strides in developing an ecosystem of aerospace education and innovation, Del. Simonds stresses that Virginia still needs to focus on preparing students to be competitive candidates in those fields.
Del. Simonds’ enthusiasm for the intersection of aerospace development and education is infectious. She continued, “I would love to see a required computational thinking class in middle school. We need to expose our students to coding and computer science and begin connecting students with careers as early as possible.” Beyond educational instruction, Del. Simonds wants to improve the support educational infrastructure for students considering a career in the trades. Earlier this year, she proposed HB 582, requiring each school board to employ at least one career coach who could support students in their post-graduation planning.
Given Virginia’s is home to four of the five largest aerospace companies in the world, Del. Simonds sees the opportunity to connect these institutions with a young workforce. “We have a real opportunity to bring our students out of the classroom and into the real world of work through internships. It’s very important for any employer reading this to think about how they interact with our high school students and what career exposure they can provide in STEM.” She continues, “we need to take responsibility for bringing those opportunities to our schools.”
Inspiring young students to pursue a career in STEM was at the forefront of discussions this year with the GAAC and NASA. Meeting in May and October, “We talked about education initiatives and how we can support the aerospace industry. A lot of the conversation centered around how do we inspire the next generation of scientists,” Del. Simonds explains.
One way to connect STEM loving students and the rapidly expanding aerospace industry is through robotics competitions and teams. Del. Simonds suggests all technology and aerospace companies in the Commonwealth should consider sponsoring a robotics team. “Maybe it’ll take a few of your employees some time every month and cost your company a couple thousand dollars, but it’s a well-established way to connect students to STEM and coding,” she shares. “It’s about getting kids excited about careers in STEM.”
As the year winds down and the General Assembly gears up, Del. Simonds promises to stay committed to bridging the gap of knowledge, experience, and opportunities between the rapidly expanding aerospace industry in the Commonwealth and an increasingly interested young workforce. “We have incredible aerospace assets in Virginia, and we need to make sure the legislature and the governing structure is really leveraging and promoting and nurturing those assets in aerospace,” Del. Simonds concludes. An enthusiastic member of the Virginia General Assembly Aviation and Aerospace Caucus as well, opportunities abound to support programs, outreach, and recruitment to support eager students and the need for a qualified workforce.
| 
