After a year off, Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers (GYSTC) a program dedicated to promoting student’s interest and achievement in science and mathematics, has returned to Gordon State College.
Gordon State College’s GYSTC will be in full force for the program’s 30th Anniversary. GYSTC focuses on four main goals aimed at enhancing teaching and learning at the kindergarten through eighth-grade levels. Promoting interest and enthusiasm for Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) projects; encouraging students to enter STEM fields; improving the teaching-learning process by enhancing teaching methods and content knowledge; and providing more and better-qualified employees for state industries.
Gordon State College Regional Coordinator, Aubrey Crook, Ed.S. says, “GYSTC is committed to empowering students for careers in STEM. The Gordon Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center is located at Gordon State College. The center will offer students in the local and surrounding communities and school districts opportunities to receive resources, training, support, and exposure to innovative development programs. The center’s goal is to promote interest and enthusiasm for STEM subjects, encourage students to enter STEM fields and improve the teaching and learning process.”
GYSTC serves the GSC 14-county service region. This year, Lamar County Schools, Thomaston-Upson Schools, Dublin City Schools and Houston County Schools will participate in the program. Since 1989, GYSTC has provided supplemental STEM training to nearly two-million K-8 teachers and students. GYSTC provides these services through a network of eight regional centers across Georgia and two programs located throughout the state in many of the highest need areas.
Science Program Manager for Georgia’s Department of Education Amanda Buice says, “I loved that creating enthusiasm for science was GYSTC’s Mission. As a society we must cultivate curiosity and enthusiasm to discover and progress, so it spoke to be directly as a worthy human endeavor.”
GSC will serve the school districts that participate by providing professional development for the teachers, lesson plans, field trips and activities for students.
GYSTC invites your support and involvement in their mission to provide cutting edge science education for Georgia teachers and students. For more information on ways you can help, contact GYSTC State Office at (470) 578-7592, or Aubrey Crook at aubreyc [at] gordonstate.edu.