Scientist? It’s Time to Change the Image!

§ August 1st, 2011 § 3 Comments- Add yours§ Filed under Females and Minorities in STEM § Tagged Albert Einstein, Engineering, females in math and science, Gene Wilder, Maryscott Glasgow, math, Mathematics, minorities in math and science, Sally Ride, Sally Ride Institute, Sally Ride Science, Science, Southern Poverty Law Center, STEM, Teaching Tolerance, Technology, Young Frankenstein

photography by JD Hancock

Play along with me just for a moment.  Be honest now.  When I say the word “scientist,” what is the first image that comes to mind?  Write down a few words that describe that image.  Are you finished?  When you are, read the following account of what happened at a recent school meeting.

Gearing up for the opening of the 2011-2012 school year, over 200 principals and assistant principals of a city school district recently attended a leadership institute with a particular emphasis on instructional leadership.  One of the sessions during the three-day meeting had participants draw the image that first came to mind when given the same word I gave you —scientist.  Before revealing the results, it is important to note that more than half of the people in the leadership positions were female and half were minorities. § Read the rest of this entry…