Jeremy Bonneson, vice principal of Summit Technology Academy in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, asked curiousKC: “How do schools adapt to the ever-changing and disruptive nature of the workforce landscape for today’s digital economy?” 

The question was right in our wheelhouse because Kansas City PBS is examining local workforce development efforts through its participation in the national American Graduate project. It was also a big win for us because at curiousKC, we like to get the question asker involved in answering the inquiry, and Bonneson was on board with that. 

It all came together with a Facebook Live broadcast from Summit Tech., where Bonneson took part in a panel discussion with two other participants: Chayanne Sandoval-Williams is a Grandview High School senior, leader in her school’s robotics team, student at Summit Tech., and has plans to pursue a computer science degree. Amy Gum is a lead software engineer at Cerner Corp., and has mentored for FIRST Robotics, Girls in Tech and the Society of Women and Engineers. 

The panel’s discussion included how to create “two-way conversations” between high school students and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professionals and advice for students thinking about a career in STEM.