(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
1:33 PM: Shortly after announcing his budget proposal with a focus on school funding, Gov. Jay Inslee proceeded directly to a trailblazing school in West Seattle – K-5 STEM, at the Boren building on Delridge. He’s there now visiting with students (kindergarteners in our cameraphone photo) and staff, and we’ll have full coverage later.
ADDED 4:27 PM: No speeches – just the governor going room to room, talking to students, who were eager to capture the moment:
He took a turn launching a pulley-propelled rocket:
The governor is the son of a science teacher, he pointed out along the way, and grew up nearby – he talked about how his dad taught chemistry and biology at Chief Sealth and Garfield high schools.
A lesson in pollination, he observed, was comparable to what his dad had taught high-school kids, so STEM students are learning what wasn’t available till higher grades decades ago.
Enthusiasm abounded as the governor talked to students about their projects and asked if they were hoping to become scientists when they grow up:
He also spoke with STEM principal Dr. Shannon McKinney about her trailblazing new school, in its final months of its first year:
West Seattle’s school-board rep Marty McLaren – herself a former math teacher – joined the STEM tour too:
Just before heading to West Seattle, the governor had gone public with his budget blueprint, which you can see here. Note on page 11, one cornerstone directly relevant to his visit this afternoon:
Design statewide strategy to improve STEM education ($10.9M)*
P.S. More photos from the visit can be found on the K-5 STEM PTA’s website.
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