A Call for Visionary Leaders: Developing Globally Competitive U.S. STEM Schools

A major focus of U.S. education today is STEM, a meta-discipline integrating the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This focus developed in response to the growing concern that the U.S. educational system is failing to prepare individuals to compete with their international counterparts in a global market where STEM knowledge is increasingly more important (President’s Council, 2010, 2012). In an effort to ensure all individuals are STEM literate and ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century, the U.S. has set goals for STEM education at the national level. These goals are to “prepare and inspire” all students, including the underrepresented populations, to attain a proficient level of STEM subject knowledge and attract many to pursue STEM careers (President’s Council, 2010, p. viii).