School Administrators' Perceptions of STEM Awareness and Resources

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: Exploring the Many Facets of Instructional Leadership

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to assess the perceptions of K-12 school administrators regarding school and community STEM awareness and to elicit their suggestions for promoting STEM awareness among schools and communities. A purposeful sample of 175 Texas administrators provided responses to the STEM Awareness Community Survey (SACS) assessing their perceptions of their overall STEM awareness of the districts and schools they served. Findings indicated a 77% disconnect between school principals’ and superintendents’ perceptions regarding STEM awareness/resources of their districts, schools, parents and communities, with superintendents consistently reporting more positive perceptions of the STEM awareness and resources of their districts in comparison to school principals.

Authors

• Sandy White Watson, University of Louisiana at Monroe

• Thomas Lynn Cothern, University of Houston - Clear Lake

• Michelle L. Peters, University of Houston - Clear Lake