Press Release
September 24, 2003
TechREACH Seeks Mentors for Girls' Technology Program
BOTHELL, WA
Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (PSCTLT) is looking
for mentors for TechREACH, an after-school technology club for low-income,
at-risk girls. TechREACH is funded by a Gates Foundation grant and represents
a collaboration among PSCTLT, area schools, parents, communities, business,
and higher education.
"In general, girls lag behind boys in their skills in science, mathematics,
engineering and technology, " said Karen Peterson, Director of Diversity
in Technology at PSCTLT. "And while U.S. labor statistics indicate that
nearly 75 percent of tomorrow's jobs will require use of computers, fewer
than 33 percent of participants in computer-related courses and activities
are girls. TechREACH is designed to close this gender gap by offering middle-school
girls a hands-on quality curriculum, real-world projects, and mentoring
by skilled, caring role models."
In 2003 through 2004, TechREACH will serve approximately 120 middle-school
girls from Puget Sound area schools including Seattle, Edmonds, Everett,
Highline, Mukilteo, Renton and Fife. Program instructors will work with
the girls on-site at their schools. The role of mentors will be to communicate
and encourage students, primarily through weekly exchanges of e-mail. Mentors
also will be encouraged to participate in three or four TechREACH activities
such as field trips, job shadows and social events. The estimated time
commitment for each mentor is one to three hours per week from October
to June, and a four to eight-month commitment is requested.
"We are looking for female mentors who work in science, technology,
engineering or a math-related field," Peterson said. "We need
women who are good listeners and can help teach the girls about good communication
as they offer them encouragement and friendship."
Puget Sound Center is a private, non-profit information and communications
technology training organization located in the Canyon Park Business Center
in Bothell.