Moore County Schools Graduate Shows Leadership in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Becoming the First Recipient of the Edward Frick Technology Award.

Mayra Pulido, a North Moore High School 2021-22 graduate, is the first recipient of the Edward Frick Technology Achievement Award. Over the next ten years, the award will fund one Moore County graduating senior with a $1,250 scholarship to pursue post-secondary education in STEM-related career paths. The funds are made possible by Edward R. and Sally Frick in partnership with the Public Education Foundation of Moore County.

Mr. Frick is a retired IBM executive who designed and installed the company’s first online banking system and its first banking computer network. As a person in the technology field, Mr. Frick believes the award can help build a student’s path to a STEM-related career. Mr. Frick has seen the initiative that Moore County Schools are doing in STEM and hopes the annual scholarship will motivate students to pursue a career in the field. He believes awarding the scholarship to graduating seniors will help younger students envision themselves following the same educational path.

The award was presented to Mayra by Mr. Frick this past spring at the 5th annual Building Engineers K-5 Classrooms Conference robotics showcase held at Pinecrest High School, co-sponsored by the Region 6 Comprehensive Center (RC6) at the SERVE Center, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), and Moore County Schools. The showcase featured 86 teams from all 13 elementary schools in Moore County.

Mayra described what it meant for her to win the award. “It’s an honor to receive the award.” She believes winning comes with a responsibility for her to be a leader for younger people in STEM programs. She would like other students to know they can pursue a career in the STEM field. “I want other students like me to know they can continue their education and do this.”

Mayra’s initial interest in STEM started with a broken cell phone. “When I was in the 6th grade, I dropped my iPhone on the floor, and the screen was completely shattered.” Mayra believed she could fix the phone because she was already taking robotics classes. “Unfortunately, I failed.” Mayra told her mother, “I will fix the cell phone screen one day.” Mayra knew back then that succeeding in STEM would take failing and restarting. Her determination is what sparked her interest in STEM.

In a previous interview, Steve Johnson, the STEM Specialist at the Serve Center, said, “STEM tasks are set up to be very failure driven.” He explained that the failure students experience helps develop their problem-solving and leadership skills.

Since the 6th grade, Mayra has competed in at least ten robotics competitions at the district and state levels. She has been a key contributor to many robotics teams like the North Moore High School All-Girls Cyber Patriot team, which reached the silver status each year and finished in the top three in the last two years. Mayra was also a key contributor to the Girls Go Cyber Start Team from North Moore High School. The team was one of nine from North Carolina to qualify for the National Round in the 2019-2020 school year.

Mayra knows that she could not have accomplished the academic success she has thus far without the support of her family and teachers. She credits her interest in a career in STEM to her robotics coach, Tyler Callahan, the Digital Integration Facilitator for Moore County Schools. “He is my role model; someone I look up to.” Mayra watched Callahan work with Technology almost daily, inspiring her to pursue a STEM career. “It made me believe I could be like him and maneuver through engineering and technology.”

When Callahan learned that Mayra mentioned him as a role model, he said, “I was humbled and honored,” adding, “It’s extra special coming from Mayra.” He described the overall motivation Mayra has and her potential as “unmatched.” He said, “Mayra is not only a great student but a true leader. Callahan is confident Mayra will be a role model for many people throughout her life. “I know that is going to happen.”

Mayra embodies problem-solving and leadership skills. Over the years, “I saw her becoming someone other students would reach out to when they had questions,” said Callahan. “I think STEM has played no small part in that it is definitely something that made a good foundation for her leadership skills.”

Mayra wants to maintain the role of a leader. She believes a leader must put in the effort they want to see in the world. “I believe as a leader if you want to change, you must be a part of that change.” Mayra also believes a good leader knows how to work as a team. The difference Mayra aspires to see in the world is to use what she has learned in STEM to help change pollution. “It is a big issue in today’s world. I hope someday I can help solve this problem.”

Mayra advises other students interested in STEM, “If you know that you are interested in a STEM subject, choose that path and stick to it.” She encourages students interested in a STEM career to focus on school and take suitable classes to help them prepare for a future in a STEM-related field.

Mayra plans to start college this fall at Sandhills Community College in Moore County, pursuing an associate degree with a pre-engineering track. While in college, Mayra expressed her interest in expanding her knowledge in STEM, and with that knowledge, she would like to start a career in STEM.” Mayra would like to complete her four-year degree at UNC Charlotte.

Story: Sana Silvera-Roy, Communications Specialist, SERVE
Photo: Curtis Burgins, Communications Specialist, SERVE

Moore County is leading the way for North Carolina students by implementing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs in various lesson plans. STEM programs are being integrated into the school curriculum thanks to STEM lessons that introduce students to innovative ways of solving problems. Traditional education uses testing methods to measure students’ grade performance. Adding STEM lessons complements the school’s curriculum by helping students sharpen their problem-solving skills, which are helpful to students in the classroom and beyond.

On April 19th and 20th, The Region 6 Comprehensive Center (RC6) at the SERVE Center co-sponsored the 5th annual Building Engineers K-5 Classrooms Conference. On the second day of the Conference, a robotics showcase at Pinecrest High School featured 86 teams from all 13 elementary schools in Moore County.

Steve Johnson, SERVE’s STEM Specialist since 2021, led the event. Steve’s passion for growing high-quality STEM programs is evident in his work within schools, particularly with the work he does leading the annual Building Engineers in K-5 Classroom Conferences. Before joining SERVE, Steve was the Assistant Director of Technology for Moore County Schools. 

Steve praises the teachers, Digital Integration Facilitators, and other support staff in Moore County Schools for pulling off such a fantastic event. “One of the greatest rewards of inviting educators from across the state to the event is how much love and applause they shower upon Moore County Schools’ elementary engineers,” said Steve.

It has been two years since the Conference was an in-person event, and you could feel the energy and the excitement in the building. “It’s incredible to come back and to be able to do this in person after over a two-year hiatus,” said Tim Locklair, Interim Superintendent of Moore County Schools. The event has been held virtually for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

STEM helps students gain essential problem-solving and critical thinking skills in all subjects. With the increasing developments in technology, “STEM prepares the student for what is coming next for them,” said Dante Poole, Principal at Aberdeen Elementary. He added, “STEM helps students gain the ability to think deeply about a problem and come up with a solution.”

STEM also homes in on the fact that it is okay to fail, using what was referred to at the Conference as the four Cs, which stands for creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. 

A seven-year STEM teacher at Aberdeen Elementary, Beth Alderson, explained how the four Cs translate into all subject areas, “You do not have to be good at math to be good at STEM. It is a coping skill and a living skill.” She added that STEM helps students with much-needed life skills.

Will Herring, Assistant Director of Technology, said the event started seven years ago with six or seven teams. He noted, “What started as a club spilled into classrooms and ultimately created the robotics event that allows students to get hands-on experience. He called it “Hard Fun,” precisely what it was.

Another first happened during the Robotics Showcase. Edward Frick presented the first Frick Technology Achievement Award, made possible with funding from Edward R. and Sally Frick in partnership with the Public Education Foundation of Moore County. Frick is a retired IBM executive who designed and installed the company’s first online banking system and its first banking computer network.

Each year, one graduating senior will receive a $1,250 award for post-secondary education. The award supports graduating seniors from Moore County Schools who plan to pursue a career in a STEM-related field. A committee consisting of high school counselors, Career Technical Education staff, and Digital Integration Facilitators selects the student. This year’s award recipient is Mayra Pulido from North Moore High School.

According to her college advisor, Mayra is very passionate about her involvement in STEM and Engineering Clubs, and she exemplifies leadership in everything that she does.

Mayra will attend Sandhills Community College to pursue an associate degree with a pre-engineering track. She completed the Sandhills Promise, a dual enrollment program, which will pay for two years of free community college tuition. She plans on completing her four-year degree at UNC Charlotte.

Story: Sana Silvera-Roy, Communications Specialist, SERVE
Photos: Curtis Burgins, Communications Specialist, SERVE

April 19th – 20th – Sandhills Community College, Moore County, NC

Elementary educators, learn how to utilize high-quality STEM practices in your classrooms and watch K-5 students put their programming and engineering skills to the test in real-time challenges at the Building Engineers in K-5 Classrooms Conference, April 19-20. Join fellow elementary educators from across the state at Sandhills Community College for more than 40 hands-on concurrent sessions. More conference info is available at k5engineers.org/conference. Registration is limited. Sign up NOW here.

This standalone Executive Summary of the Georgia Pilot Program Implementation Analysis Brief: 2019-2020 provides an overview of key characteristics of the Georgia Dyslexia Pilot Program planning year including implementation approaches, monitoring, and lessons learned.
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In July 2014, the U.S. Department of Education launched the Excellent Educators for All Initiative to address the struggles low-performing schools often experience with both teacher and principal hiring issues. The initiative was intended to encourage states and districts to develop and implement plans to increase access to excellent educators. In 2016, the North Carolina State Board of Education (NCSBE) developed the Teacher Compensation Models and Advanced Teaching Roles (ATR) pilot program. Initially, a three-year pilot, the program was revised in 2018 to become an eight-year pilot through the 2024-2025 school year. This document provides insights into some of the early lessons learned in implementing the program. Download the brief.

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This is where the LAUNCH!™ Training, provided by RC6 partner, The Institute for Performance Improvement (TIFPI), fills a gap.

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• Visit the Comprehensive Center Network COVID-19 Education Resource website for a curated list of resources to assist educators.
• Georgia Department of Education – COVID-19 web page. Use the “buttons” at the bottom of the page to navigate up-to-date information by specific topics.
• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction – COVID-19 Response & Resources web page. Access remote learning and information resources.
• South Carolina Department of Education – COVID-19 web page. Access interactive maps for food services and hotspots across the state as well as links specific to resources for Students with Disabilities.
• Summary of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) – Section 18003 – the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund

Summary of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) – Section 18003 – the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund
Rapid Response – March 2020 – PDF

The CARES Act (H.R. 748) was signed into law on Friday, March 27, 2020, providing economic relief to U.S. citizens and public systems affected by the recent COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The total funding level for the Act is greater than $30B, with a stated purpose to prevent, prepare and respond to the coronavirus, domestically or internationally. The funds will be available through September 30, 2021. While the Education Stabilization Fund as a whole includes four sections, the summary below reflects Section 18003, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund, with an estimated funding level of $13B.