SciTech Initiative

Building Community Bridges:
A Science, Technology, and Education Initiative

The Pasadena Educational Foundation is launching a Science and Technology Initiative, a district-wide effort connecting Pasadena Unified educators, city leaders, higher education, and our community’s science and technology industry experts. The primary aim of this initiative is to create a new initiative that ensures local students have equitable opportunities and access to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in future careers and contribute to technological advancements.

Community and school partnerships are crucial to aligning student learning experiences with the rapidly evolving needs of the workforce. By strengthening these valuable connections in an open dialogue model, we will enhance the existing creativity and resources within our public schools, bringing fresh perspectives to the design of educational opportunities for Pasadena Unified students.

Together we can:

• Anticipate and respond to the rapid pace of scientific and technological advancements.
• Evolve our educational processes to prepare students for a dynamic future.
• Enrich learning experiences aligned with industry trends.
• Create innovative opportunities for student growth and success

SciTech Roundtable Discussions

To collaboratively develop this new initiative, PEF will convene a group of science, technology, city, and education leaders from our community for a series of roundtable discussions. This collaborative dialogue will be the foundational step in understanding the diverse perspectives and needs of educators, the science and technology sector, and students.

During the roundtable discussions, we’ll exchange insights into emerging trends, workforce needs, and the future landscape of STEM education. We will work together to design a collaborative initiative that will help equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing technology-driven workforce.

The Science and Technology Initiative is part of PEF’s 5-year strategic goals to increase student opportunities and connections within our tech community and to build a network of community partners who are working on the “next big thing” to inform on a practical and visionary level .

For more on PEF’s Strategic Plan go here

About PEF

Supporting the public schools of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre.

At the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) we believe strong schools build strong communities and strong communities build strong schools. For more than 50 years, we have been committed to building dynamic community partnerships to support our public schools. Being a vital part of our community enables us to provide essential resources and enrichment opportunities to every public school student in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre.

The Pasadena Educational Foundation has a history of launching collaborative initiatives and incubating programs with PUSD. For example, a similar initiative of sharing perspectives between the District and our community’s world-renowned cultural institutions, including Norton Simon Museum and the Huntington Library and Art Collections, resulted in the identification of a shared goal –  to provide a high-quality arts education to every student in the PUSD. The culmination of those arts conversations is the nationally-recognized My Masterpieces Program, which integrates arts education into every aspect of PUSD’s elementary curriculum. It equips students with the tools to engage with art while furthering their critical thinking and analytical skills.

PEF has also incubated programs with PUSD including the App Academy, a 4-year computer science academy at Pasadena High School, the Math Academy designed to radically accelerate math instruction, district-wide middle school robotics, and 3D printers in every school.