(San Antonio * January 19, 2021) – Local students will expand their exploration of STEM careers by tapping San Antonio’s rich aviation and aerospace industry through resources provided by the Dee Howard Foundation in partnership with the IDRA Texas Chief Science Officer program. The international CSO program empowers middle and school high school students to deepen their schools’ STEM culture and career awareness through youth-led on-campus projects and interaction with STEM professionals.

“The partnership with the Dee Howard Foundation will foster students’ discovery of STEM pathways and exposure to aviation and aerospace careers,” said IDRA President & CEO Celina Moreno. “It is particularly powerful during the pandemic when CSO students are executing their action plans with adjustments for new health precautions.”

The Dee Howard Foundation provides virtual tours focused on aviation and aerospace career pathways for CSO students, who also will interact virtually with STEM professionals. In addition, the foundation provides its popular aerospace-focused curriculum to CSO teachers and advisors to use in their classrooms.

“The Dee Howard Foundation is honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with IDRA and include the IDRA Texas Chief Science Officer program as part of the DHF Pre-K thru 16+ Aeronautical STEM Pathway Initiative,” said Wayne I. Fagan, chair, The Dee Howard Foundation. “We see great synergism between the two programs for the benefit of the youth of our community.”

This new partnership is initially focused on students in the San Antonio area and will be expanded over time to Houston, Galveston and other cities in Texas to help more CSO youth STEM ambassadors foster their peers’ discovery of STEM pathways.

In the CSO program, each participating school selects at least two students to serve as their Chief Science Officers for the school year. IDRA provides leadership training and mentoring for students as they develop and carry out action plans to encourage STEM at their school. Action plans can include things like coordinating field trips, hosting science nights, starting STEM-related clubs, initiating student-led civic action projects, or bringing speakers from local industries to engage students in conversations about the STEM workforce. IDRA manages the Texas expansion of this international program, particularly in historically under-resourced schools and to serve students of color, girls and students in families with low incomes.

For more information on the IDRA Texas Chief Science Officer program, contact Dr. Stephanie Garcia, Texas CSO project director and IDRA’s STEM and gender equity education specialist at [email protected].

IDRA media contact: Christie L. Goodman, APR, IDRA Director of Communications, [email protected], 210-444-1710

Leadership Training that teaches networking, leadership development, verbal and written communication, and team building.

VIrtual Cabinet Meetings and Community Events that guide collaboration with business and civic leaders to address community challenges, improve communication and confidence, and share common experiences.

Mentorship training opportunities with STEM professionals – vetted regional leaders who help CSOs implement their ideas on campus and express their voice in the community.

87% of CSOs reported progress in inspiring their peers with STEM.

95% of CSOs expressed increased interest in a STEM career.

72% of adults intend to share the program with their associates after meeting a CSO student.

90% of CSOs expressed increased connection with the STEM community.

“We are going to open up new opportunities for new kids… We are going to show them: ‘You are somebody, and you will make a great impact on our future.’”

The Intercultural Development Research Association is an independent, non-profit organization, led by Celina Moreno, J.D. Our mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity for every child through strong public schools that prepare all students to access and succeed in college. IDRA strengthens and transforms public education by providing dynamic training; useful research, evaluation, and frameworks for action; timely policy analyses; and innovative materials and programs.

The Dee Howard Foundation (DHF) is a 501c(3) non-profit established in 2013 by Dee Howard’s friends and family to carry on Dee’s legacy of innovative leadership and to preserve the history of civil and military aviation of the San Antonio Region. DHF fulfills its mission through the establishment of the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame Annual Awards Dinner, the DHF Pre-K thru 16+ Aeronautical STEM Pathway Initiative primarily focused on underserved students, and its support of aerospace engineering programs at UTSA and other local colleges and universities. DHF is managed by a board of directors composed of leaders of industry, academics, retired military, NGOs, and other civic and community representatives. Wayne Fagan, currently serves as chair of the board of directors with other officers and an executive committee of the board.