Women in STEM: Discovery & Leadership
Investigate women’s contributions to scientific and technological advances; examine barriers to participation and communicate the story of an innovator through research.
ACADEMICS & PATHWAYS
Her interests.
Her leadership.
Her possibilities.
Two official pathways connect rigorous academic learning to the questions girls want to answer and the futures they want to build.
A foundation. A direction.
Leadership in STEM & Innovation and Leadership in Global Humanities connect learning across subjects through Exploratory Leadership™. Students investigate meaningful problems, work with others, create and revise projects, and explain their decisions. Both pathways develop research, communication, ethical reasoning, and leadership.
Pathways invite exploration rather than locking a girl into one career. Her interests can grow across science, the arts, public service, business, and technology.
The courses and college-alignment tracks below are illustrative possibilities, not a confirmed course catalog. Annual offerings, prerequisites, and any college-credit opportunities should be confirmed with the school.
OFFICIAL PATHWAY 01
Leadership in STEM & Innovation
Girls use scientific inquiry, mathematics, computing, and design to explore how things work and create solutions that serve people. A focus on women in STEM helps students examine whose questions are studied, whose needs are considered, and who gets to lead innovation.
Sample courses to explore
Coding, Robotics & Human-Centered Design
Develop programming and design skills by building and testing a prototype for a real user, with accessibility and representation in mind.
Women’s Health & Biomedical Inquiry
Explore biology, health research, and ethical questions about how evidence addresses women’s health needs.
Engineering for Sustainable Communities
Use mathematics and science to investigate energy, environmental quality, and community design; test a solution and evaluate tradeoffs.
Data Science, AI & Equity
Interpret data, investigate bias, and consider responsible uses of technology in decisions that affect people.
Innovation & Women’s Entrepreneurship
Develop an idea, research its audience, build a prototype, and present a plan that considers cost, impact, and ethical responsibility.
Possible college and career alignment
| Exploration track | College study examples | Career possibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Computing & digital innovation | Computer science, information systems, data science, cybersecurity | Software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, user-experience design |
| Engineering & sustainable design | Engineering, environmental science, architecture, industrial design | Engineering, environmental research, architecture, product design |
| Health & biomedical science | Biology, nursing, public health, biomedical engineering; pre-health preparation | Nursing, public health, biomedical research, medicine after further professional study |
| Innovation & enterprise | Business, entrepreneurship, technology management, design | Entrepreneurship, product development, business analysis, innovation management |
What might go in her portfolio?
A coded application, lab investigation, engineering prototype, data visualization, or research brief—paired with design notes, feedback, revisions, and an explanation of the problem it addresses. For example, she might investigate a community environmental concern and present evidence alongside a proposed solution.
OFFICIAL PATHWAY 02
Leadership in Global Humanities
Girls explore how history, culture, language, literature, and the arts shape communities. They consider different perspectives, evaluate sources, tell meaningful stories, and investigate how people influence change. Women’s voices and experiences are central to examining leadership, identity, and power.
Sample courses to explore
Women in World History & Social Change
Study women’s roles in civic movements and cultural change using primary sources and multiple perspectives.
Women’s Literature & Global Voices
Read and compare writing by women across cultures; explore identity, belonging, voice, and the relationship between stories and society.
Girls, Media & Representation
Analyze how girls and women are portrayed in media and create a researched campaign or original story.
Global Leadership, Policy & Diplomacy
Investigate international issues, practice negotiation, and develop a policy proposal that considers diverse communities.
Women, Law & Civic Action
Explore rights, civic participation, and ethical advocacy through research, discussion, and evidence-based arguments.
Creative Expression & Social Impact
Use performance, visual art, or digital storytelling to explore a community issue and communicate a purposeful message.
Possible college and career alignment
| Exploration track | College study examples | Career possibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Communication & storytelling | Communication, journalism, English, digital media, public relations | Journalism, public relations, writing, media production |
| Policy, law & global affairs | Political science, international relations, history, public policy | Policy analysis, public service, international affairs; law after professional study |
| Human development & community leadership | Education, psychology, sociology, social work | Teaching, community programming, social services; counseling with further qualifications |
| Arts, culture & social enterprise | Arts, humanities, cultural studies, nonprofit management, business | Arts administration, cultural programming, nonprofit leadership, entrepreneurship |
What might go in her portfolio?
A documentary, oral-history project, literary analysis, policy brief, performance, or community campaign—paired with source analysis, audience feedback, revisions, and reflection. For example, she might document the stories of women leading in Cleveland and use that research to propose a community initiative.
More than one route after high school.
Pathway exploration can inform a four-year college plan, an associate degree with transfer possibilities, a technical certificate, an apprenticeship, or another form of career preparation. Students can compare programs, admission requirements, costs, and the qualifications required for careers that interest them.
A college major is a starting point, not a guarantee of a job. Some careers require graduate or professional study, licensing, or additional training. These alignments are exploration guides; they do not imply partnerships, guaranteed admission, or college credit.
Explore career duties and education requirements in the Occupational Outlook HandbookSupport for her next step.
Contact our academic team about current coursework, pathway exploration, learning support, and services for students with disabilities.
Ms. B. Gilliam
Assistant Principal of Instruction & PBL Innovation