Girls must learn how to take risks.
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Girls need inquiry-based and project-based learning.
Girls need to know why their work matters.
Girls must develop 3-D spatial skills.
Girls must be able to see themselves in STEM careers.
We are working to end the gender gap in STEM.
One girl at a time.
We know how girls learn best
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Taking Risks: Learning to fail and remembering #notperfect
Engaging in inquiry-based and project-based learning
Tying learning to a higher purpose: Invoking empathy
Building 3-D spatial skills
Connecting with role models: Girls must see themselves in STEM majors and careers
Vision and missioN
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The vision of the Center for STEM Education for Girls and the STEM Consortium is a world without a gender gap in STEM.
Harpeth Hall is proud to take the lead in STEM education for girls. Our approach is inquiry-focused, project-based and student-centered. Girls learn to take risks, engage with scientific thinking and the engineering design process, and build the confidence to apply their understanding to the world’s problems.
Working together toward a shared mission, we provide opportunities for girls to broaden and strengthen their STEM skills through participation in curricular opportunities, co-curricular teams, interdisciplinary programs and external partnerships, including summer camps, institutes and conferences.
The Center and the Consortium focus on creating best practices, programs, and curricula that support girls STEM education and sharing that teaching and learning with other schools for replication. By providing leadership, expertise, advocacy, and innovation, the Center and the Consortium equip schools to graduate the next generation of women in STEM.
origiN
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What is a Center at Harpeth Hall?
Each Harpeth Hall Center is a mission-driven area of concentration established to address priorities in girls' education with agility and creativity. Transcending the scope of a single discipline, these centers engage students and faculty in research, innovation, and collaboration as they seek solutions to the challenges facing our world.
What is the origin of the Center for STEM Education for Girls?
The Harpeth Hall Center for STEM Education for Girls was established in 2011 with a five-year grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation along with match funding from a broad group of generous donors committed to promoting STEM education for girls. Now in its 9th year, the Center is well-established and working to end the gender gap in STEM, one girl at a time.
The STEM Consortium is comprised of leaders and educators across the country who are collaboratively committed to furthering the mission of closing the STEM gender gap. The first annual STEM Consortium meeting was held in November 2011.
News
![Dr. Zina Jarrahi-Cinker]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1606242365/harpeth/yjd6ygxrkcvr9by9zkjd/ZinaSTEM.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1606242365/harpeth/yjd6ygxrkcvr9by9zkjd/ZinaSTEM.png","width":450}])
Dr. Zina Jarrahi-Cinker, a condensed matter physicist, speaks with Harpeth Hall students on September 19, 2020.
![Pooja Dutt]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1606242238/harpeth/txztcu2u3zy5v2dk0wkn/PoojaDutt.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1606242238/harpeth/txztcu2u3zy5v2dk0wkn/PoojaDutt.png","width":450}])
Pooja Dutt, computer scientist for Target, speaks with Harpeth Hall students on October 24, 2020.
![Dr. Catherine Armwood-Gordon]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1606241969/harpeth/s3ha9cdo2gwtqj0hkqkh/CatherineSTEM.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1606241969/harpeth/s3ha9cdo2gwtqj0hkqkh/CatherineSTEM.png","width":450}])
Dr. Catherine Armwood-Gordon, professor of civil and architectural engineering at Tennessee State University, speaks with Harpeth Hall students on November 21, 2020.
![Vanderbilt Universitys Profile on Dr. Barbara Bell]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1583443650/harpeth/d5rbk118ud652xqoza2g/BBellflightsuit.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1583443650/harpeth/d5rbk118ud652xqoza2g/BBellflightsuit.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1583443650/harpeth/d5rbk118ud652xqoza2g/BBellflightsuit.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1583443650/harpeth/d5rbk118ud652xqoza2g/BBellflightsuit.jpg","width":1006}])
Veteran Vision: Barbara Bell uses knowledge gained in a 28-year Navy career to help launch girls into STEM disciplines
![No Doubt About It, We Need More Women in STEM]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1583443490/harpeth/okxgopqr9toeorlrzz1z/article.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1583443490/harpeth/okxgopqr9toeorlrzz1z/article.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1583443490/harpeth/okxgopqr9toeorlrzz1z/article.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1583443490/harpeth/okxgopqr9toeorlrzz1z/article.jpg","width":962}])
The National Science Board reports the U.S. is a nation at risk if it does not develop more STEM talent. Where are we going to find that talent?
![Robotics Team]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1539100237/harpeth/d30wls6wusjqwloxy8my/USRoboticsTeam.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1539100237/harpeth/d30wls6wusjqwloxy8my/USRoboticsTeam.jpg","width":450}])
The Harpeth Hall Robotics Team is not a competitive team as much as it is a friendly collaboration. We hope to empower girls who are interested in pursuing STEM careers
![Lego League Robotics]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1576507671/harpeth/a2dcpwq4t3fybuo7y7sv/CodingBearsandRobotics2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1576507671/harpeth/a2dcpwq4t3fybuo7y7sv/CodingBearsandRobotics2.jpg","width":320}])
The Harpeth Hall Coding Bears and Harpeth Hall Robotics teams had a fun and exciting day at the Music City Lego League Qualifier.
![Harpeth Hall's Center for STEM Education]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1583443688/harpeth/ien521s7ytgewfmrwcyg/tennesseanlogosquare.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1583443688/harpeth/ien521s7ytgewfmrwcyg/tennesseanlogosquare.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1583443688/harpeth/ien521s7ytgewfmrwcyg/tennesseanlogosquare.jpg","width":520}])
Harpeth Hall graduates are prepared to lead in career fields historically populated by males.
![EngineerGirl 2019 Essay Contest]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1583511662/harpeth/sbypenajfco6a8ap8ezy/engineergirl_square.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1583511662/harpeth/sbypenajfco6a8ap8ezy/engineergirl_square.png","width":400}])
Harpeth Hall Middle School students continue to contribute to and excell in the annual EngineerGirl essay contest.
![Play Like a Girl]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1583508920/harpeth/dsygljzcoe3wllxaz6wd/PlayLikeGirlpurple.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1583508920/harpeth/dsygljzcoe3wllxaz6wd/PlayLikeGirlpurple.jpg","width":399}])
Dr. Kimberly Clay's organization, Play Like a Girl, focuses on STEM+. Look for the next hacking challenge at STEM+ Leadership Day, March 7, 2019.
![Harpeth Hall Welcomes Dr. Barbara Bell]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1583508138/harpeth/nlfaxypvrjwaxvx0jynp/BarbBell.jpg","width":256}])
Dr. Barbara Bell assumes her position as Director of the Harpeth Hall Center for STEM Education for Girls effective Aug. 1, 2018.
![Our Girls Code]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1539787980/harpeth/mqr2zfal6llivlo3eqlz/OurGirlsCode.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1539787980/harpeth/mqr2zfal6llivlo3eqlz/OurGirlsCode.jpg","width":450}])
Our Girls CODE: Empowering Harpeth Hall students with skills for the future is the feature article for Hallways Spring 2017 issue. As an all-girls school, Harpeth Hall is uniquely positioned to liberate students from a computer science genderization that might otherwise limit them.
![First Lego League Robotics Club]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1539812287/harpeth/ak8bpgil4keukmsplefo/Robot.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1539812287/harpeth/ak8bpgil4keukmsplefo/Robot.jpg","width":450}])
Lego League robotics focuses on applying coding, engineering, and teamwork to accomplish missions using the Lego Mindstorm robots. Teams also identify and solve a problem concerning the Lego League theme for the year. Previous themes have included how to be an animal ally, solving the world's trash problems and human exploration of space. Harpeth Hall has stood out at both the regional and state level, earning awards each time we have competed demonstrating the power of girls in coding and engineering design.
![Engineer Girls Essay Contest]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1538517168/harpeth/nycivx4wgedxb6arcxmq/EngineerGirl.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1538517168/harpeth/nycivx4wgedxb6arcxmq/EngineerGirl.jpg","width":450}])
The EngineerGirl program is designed to bring national attention to the exciting opportunities that engineering represents for girls and women. This program and its website is a service of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and grew out of the work of the NAE Committee on the Diversity of the Engineering Workforce.
![Science Quiz Bowl]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1539714590/harpeth/ssv9tblox78aq05gjul2/NSBQuizBowllogo.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1539714590/harpeth/ssv9tblox78aq05gjul2/NSBQuizBowllogo.jpg","width":450}])
Science Bowl is a nationwide academic competition that tests students’ knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. Organized by the Department of Energy, the competitions consist of fast-paced question-and-answer contests between two teams of high school students, with topics on a wide range of topics, including biology, math, chemistry, physics, energy, astronomy, and earth science.