ABC-7.com WZVN News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral
A new school is opening up in Lehigh Acres this month. Part of the Lee County Public Schools system, Tortuga Preserve Elementary will be considered a "STEM" school with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Even more exciting: My student's daughter was interviewed in this video from ABC-7.
Starting the emphasis on STEM education at this early age will hopefully be the first step in accomplishing a number of goals. Children lose interest in those subjects at an early age, oftentimes due to lack of exposure. Not only is there a significant gender and minority gap in these fields, but studies have shown that children do not pursue a future in engineering unless they have experience with a close family member who is an engineer.
I look forward to seeing this school and more initiatives like this start to change that trend.
For more information about Tortuga Preserve, visit: http://tpe.leeschools.net/index.htm
