Kansas City is in first group for national STEM initiative

Kansas City is one of 27 cities chosen for a White House workshop as part of a national STEM Ecosystems Initiative.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. It has become a focus of many educational efforts in the Kansas City area, which is one reason this area was selected for the initiative, said Martha McCabe of the KC STEM Alliance.

Under the new initiative, area STEM efforts will collaborate as “ecosySTEM KC” led by the KC STEM Alliance working with Science Pioneers, the Mid-America Regional Council and the Kansas Enrichment Network.

McCabe said the local collaboration will include assistance from Cindi Jolly, who has more than 30 years of experience in education, business and nonprofit sectors, particularly in North Carolina.

Five delegates from the Kansas City area will attend the White House workshop on Nov. 11-12 for collaboration with those from the 26 other cities selected.

They are McCabe and Laura Loyacono, who is executive director of the KC STEM Alliance; Cynthia Lane, superintendent of Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools; LeAnn Smith, executive director of Science Pioneers; and Karen Daniel, chief financial officer of Black & Veatch and vice chairwoman of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

Additional cities will join the STEM Ecosystems Initiative, which will grow to reach 100 markets.

This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 2:00 AM with the headline "Kansas City is in first group for national STEM initiative."