As education faces new challenges from technology and an ever-changing labor market, the need for public-private partnership in education is as important as ever. Local governments and business organizations everywhere are realizing this need, and building partnerships and advocacy groups to help make these necessary connections.

The state of Michigan has long relied on public-private partnerships to prepare students for jobs of the future, and it has adjusted its work to include STEM, STEAM, and workforce development. One such example is its STEAM Ahead program launched in 2021. Spearheaded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), STEAM Ahead creates hands-on career experiences for students interested in STEAM-related positions. More than 150 companies are participating organizations and include companies of all sizes from Magna to Nexteer to Collins Engineers. Since launching in 2021, the program has placed 1,700 interns, and has a focus on key economic drivers for Michigan through the next decade, including EV & mobility, semiconductors, life sciences and devices, clean energy, defense & aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

Spencer Lucker, Director of Strategic Talent Initiatives at the MEDC, shares how this partnership is identifying and fulfilling job needs before they are realized, and amplifying success stories of school-business partnerships.

One such example is the EV/Mobility Digital Curriculum that is bringing industry, higher ed and PK12 partners together to identify curricular gaps and create content that supports career pathways connections at Elementary and Middle School levels (cdc.engin.umich.edu/electric-vehicle-mobility-curriculum-description/)

Connect with Spencer & the MEDC:

• MEDC Website: michiganbusiness.org
• MEDC's STEAM Ahead Program: michiganbusiness.org/steam-ahead/
• MEDC's PK-12 STEM Grants: michiganbusiness.org/talent-action-team/pk12-stem-grants/
• Michigan's MiSTEM Network: michigan.gov/leo/boards-comms-councils/mistem
• Spencer's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/spencerflucker/

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

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Born a patriot, Dr. Leslie Gruis spent 30 years as a mathematician and intelligence officer at the National Security Agency, where she helped develop technology solutions that balanced national security with civil rights. She later served at U.S. Cyber Command and the National Intelligence Council. Now retired, she writes and speaks on privacy, surveillance, and democracy—making complex topics accessible for everyday Americans. Dr. Gruis is the author of Privacy: Past, Present, and Future, The Privacy Pirates, and a forthcoming third book. She also mentors K–12 STEM students, with a special focus on middle school girls.

Dr Gruis on math: "In my experience, students rarely struggle with content alone. What they often lack is confidence and context. Many bright students are afraid to try, afraid to fail, or unsure how what they’re learning fits into the real world. The most impactful thing educators can do is show them that problem-solving isn’t about perfection—it’s about curiosity."

Dr Gruis on privacy: "One crucial point is that privacy is not just a personal preference—it’s a civic right. When we give up privacy, even in small ways, we weaken our ability to think, speak, and dissent freely. It’s not just about protecting data; it’s about protecting civil rights. Devices like Ring doorbells, fitness trackers, and smartphones collect massive amounts of data, often without people fully realizing the long-term social impacts. This normalization of surveillance makes it even more urgent that we think critically about the trade-offs."

Connect with Dr Gruis:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leslie-gruis-b8060b141/
• Get a copy of The Privacy Pirates
• Learn more about Cyber Corps sfs.opm.gov

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show

Elliot Lichtman started teaching online classes in computer science when he was a freshman in high school. Small classes quickly grew into a series of larger and longer offerings, and from those, his book The Computer Always Wins was born. Elliot is currently a sophomore at Yale University.

In The Computer Always Wins, Elliot Lichtman teaches some of computer science’s most powerful concepts in a refreshingly accessible way: exploring them through word games, board games, and strategy games everyone already knows. This book will provide not only a deeper understanding of foundational programming techniques but also a new appreciation for the amazing feats that can be accomplished using simple, readable code.

Connect with Elliot:

• Website: thecomputeralwayswins.com
• Instagram: @thecomputeralwayswins
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elliot-lichtman-728004279/

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show