Education Initiatives

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Education Initiatives

Students and educators strengthen communities. NCEast Alliance connects education to industries in our region, surfacing amazing career opportunities, contextualizing classroom learning, and supporting students in becoming successful, skillful participants in our region’s economic development.


Education initiative goals:

Excited students, supported teachers, thriving workforce 

Though our education initiatives we aim to:

  • Align K-12 and community college curricula with local industry needs
  • Equip teachers with the tools and resources they need to deliver STEM-focused, real-world education
  • Inspire students with hands-on learning experiences and career exploration opportunities
  • Build a future-ready workforce that meets the demands of regional employers and our changing world
  • Foster collaboration between schools, businesses, and communities to create lasting impact

STEM East Industry in Schools: 


“We have a great opportunity to help bridge the gap between our schools and our industries. Not just industries anywhere, but local industries. We can get our students involved and give them an idea of what the world is going to be like in the future.”

– Blair Daniels, Pitt County Schools

Community College Members

School District Members


What we do:

Driving action alongside our region’s educators, schools, and employers

We deliver on our education goals through targeted actions, including:

  • STEM Schools of Distinction:
    Helping schools organize around STEM education with a clear, actionable framework for success
  • Industry-Supported Design/Training Labs:
    Creating hands-on, industry-specific training environments in schools to prepare students for real-world careers
  • Career Centers:
    Partnering with community colleges to provide region-wide access to career planning and job opportunities
  • Micro-Credentialing:
    Developing industry-specific certifications in collaboration with businesses to give students a competitive edge
  • Industry Cluster Focus Weeks:
    Engaging students and educators through immersive career exploration events, such as the NC Blue Economy Week

Our Education Initiative Partners

STEM East

Smithsonian Science
Education Center

Golden Leaf
Foundation

Duke Energy

Kenan Fellows
Program


NC Inquiry


SMT

See all our education initiative partners


Let’s work together to make Eastern North Carolina an amazing place to learn and work.