On this episode of The K-12 Change Equation, Dr. Mort Sherman and Dr. Leila Nuland sit down with Patrick Miller, Director of District Engagement for STEM East, to explore how one region is rethinking STEM education by connecting classrooms to real industry pathways.
From aviation and biopharma to smart agriculture and healthcare, Patrick shares how Eastern North Carolina is building a workforce pipeline by treating teachers as the region’s economic developers. He talks about what happens when educators see inside the industries around them, how inquiry-based learning transforms engagement, and why aligning strategic plans to workforce readiness is now non-negotiable.
Patrick reflects on the tension between test scores and life skills, the challenge of reversing brain drain, and the power of a five-year STEM plan that actually guides systems not just sits on a shelf.
It’s a conversation about relevance, regional opportunity, and what it takes to prepare students not just for graduation, but for the world waiting on the other side.
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