As another great summer of JROTC STEM Leadership Academies comes to an end, it’s time to look forward. Three new Academies will implement for the first time in 2027: the Gulf Coast Academy, Prince George County Public Schools, and Chicago Public Schools. Leadership teams from each of these academies attended our Planning Conference for new implementers on August 31.
In an age often limited to virtual instruction and interaction, we believe in the value of in-person connection. That’s why our training conference brings together new Academy staff members with experienced ones, along with our STEMWorks leadership team, for a full day of learning, collaborating and equipping each new site to implement a successful academy.
Immersion in Curriculum
The conference aims to deepen each team’s understanding of our unique model, which combines the traditional JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge with STEM learning and workforce experiences. Attendees were guided through each component of the model and shown how all three are vital to the central goal of the Academy, preparing cadets for STEM careers in their communities.
They reviewed each of our STEM curriculum focuses– STEM on the Ground, STEM in the Air, STEM on the Water, Rooted in STEM– and decided which best fits their academies. After the conference, 100% of attendees said they gained a reasonable understanding of their chosen curriculum.
Logistical Planning
Many of the challenges facing new academies involve logistics, from recruiting staff to determining budgets to booking industry site visits.
Luckily, new academy sites don’t have to figure this out alone. We addressed each of these concerns in detail for conference attendees during our sessions. Each academy site is also given dedicated time to plan amongst themselves, but with the added support of our team, who’s ready to answer any questions that may arise during the planning process.
One attendee found the conference especially helpful in clarifying each staff member’s roles and responsibilities. They said, “This conference exceeded my expectations. I wasn’t clear on what my role would be in support of our forthcoming camp. I am now very clear of not only my role but other key support roles as well.”
The logistical training and district planning time equips each new academy site with a clear roadmap to success.
Learning from Experience
One of the biggest advantages of in-person training is the opportunity for new academy teams to interact with seasoned ones. During our panel discussions, attendees heard advice from those who have implemented academies before. They went into detail about their roles at the academy and discussed what they wished they’d known before their first academy.
By uniting experienced and new academies, the training conference eases the planning process and provides each new academy with a strong foundation as they continue to work through the planning process.
We’re excited to watch each new site put the knowledge they gained here into practice during their 2027 academies.
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