FLY LIKE A GIRL EMPOWERS ASPIRATIONS TO TAKE aldwin-Whitehall BALDWIN-WHITEHALL SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Dr. Janeen Peretin, Assistant to the Superintendent at the Baldwin-Whitehall School District, has had a rich and successful career in technology and education— and experienced first hand the invigoration and satisfaction technical fields bring. Her career has enhanced education in her district, through implementation of a 1:1 technology initiative, responsive content management system, and introduction of an esports program. Yet, she knew her experience isn’ t typical. Women are underrepresented in STEM careers at an alarming rate, with only 37 % of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics degrees earned by women and only 28 % of professional STEM roles held by women.
Dr. Peretin wanted to give back and empower women to achieve in science and technology professions. As she considered the current technical landscape, she hatched an innovative approach: Drones are a burgeoning new industry, but women make up only 8 % of licensed drone pilots. Collaborating with Dr. Kristin Deichler, Assistant Superintendent for the South Fayette Township School District, and Emily Sanders, Deputy Superintendent of the Hempfield Area School District, Dr. Peretin created a program to train students to become drone pilots. Their idea was awarded two Moonshot grants from Remake Learning, enabling four cohorts of students to successfully complete the program so far, with the program launching additional cohorts that span even more districts.
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Fly Like A Girl( FLAG) empowers young women’ s aspirations to take flight through hands-on training in career-ready skills. The 9 week program puts students behind the controls to hone foundational drone piloting skills. It also introduces participants to real-world applications of drones, through guest lectures and field trips to local organizations, including the use of drone footage for sporting events, real estate, military, and law enforcement. The program culminates in the students taking the FAA test to become a certified drone pilot. The results are unequivocal: 100 % of FLAG students who have sat for the exam have passed.
The efficacy of the program lies not only in the advanced technical skills it conveys, but in the camaraderie it cultivates. Often young women interested in STEM can feel isolated. Dr. Peretin shares,“ Part of the goal of the program is to let girls know the world is actually much bigger than the community they have come from. No matter the size of their high school, even if they might think they are alone, we want them to see that there is a network of other students who they can know and rely on.” Over the years, FLAG brought together students from Ambridge Area, Baldwin, Beaver Area, Burrell, Elizabeth Forward, Hempfield Area, McKeesport, Penn Hills, South Fayette, and West Allegheny high schools. Students who have completed the program often come back and serve as informal mentors, furthering the impact.
Recruitment often happens from a grassroots level, since a personal invitation can empower young women to see their potential and build their