Gov. Wolf Visits Levittown School To Talk STEM

LEVITTOWN, PA — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday toured Brookwood Elementary School in Levittown to see a state initiative promoting science, technology and engineering skills in action.

The school, part of the Bristol Township School District, recently launched a Mobile Fab Lab bankrolled by the Wolf administration's PAsmart initiative. PAsmart is a workforce-development program investing in education and skills training.

"With PAsmart, we are partnering with educators and the private sector to strategically invest in science and technology education, so students are prepared for the high-growth jobs of today and the future," said Wolf said. "Elementary school students will experience tremendous technological advances in their lifetime and PAsmart will help them learn and gain knowledge to thrive."

The two-year, $70 million PAsmart initiative includes $40 million for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and $30 million for job training.

During his tour Thursday, the governor visited students using equipment from Bucks County Intermediate Unit's Mobile Fab Lab. Funded by a roughly $400,000 grant from PAsmart, the lab travels to Bucks County schools to teach students about coding and robotics, 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutters and more.

It is geared toward students in grades 5-8, with the goal of increasing enrollment at Bucks County career and technical schools.

"We are very honored to be a recipient of multiple PAsmart grants and the partnerships they allow us to build, including the opportunity to develop this Mobile Fab Lab," said Mark Hoffman, executive director of Bucks County IU. "By being able to bring STEAM education directly to our districts, schools, and students, we are providing innovative teaching and learning that prepares our young people today for the jobs of tomorrow."

The "A" in STEAM adds "art" into the mix.

Melanie Gehrens, superintendent of the Bristol Township School District, praised the mobile program.

This exciting new program directly aligns with our district goals to continue to expand and grow STEAM education opportunities for our students," she said.

In Bucks County, other money from the PAsmart initiative includes:

• $390,675 to create a program for students in grades 7-12 in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties to expand computer science and STEM learning.
• $500,000 to 10 intermediate units, including the Bucks County unit, for coding equipment for students in 154 school districts through the PA STEM Lending Library Coalition.

Wolf says PAsmart has been influential in making Pennsylvania a national leader in STEM and computer science education.