This is a rough time for me, but in a way that means something. This is the time where I confront my anxieties in order to do what’s right, and stand strong against attempts to pillory and make an example of me. This is the time where I ignore extensive gossip, referenda on my personality, and hypercritical airing of any little thing I’ve done that annoyed someone. The people doing these things don’t matter. Only my friends and other marginalized people I’m trying to help mean something. I don’t have time for crippling self-loathing if it gets in the way of doing the right thing.
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A Roadmap to True Equity for STEM Education
We talk a lot about the “STEM gap.” We look at the data—the underrepresentation of women, racial and ethnic minorities, and students from low-income backgrounds—and we ask, “How do we get more students interested?”
But here is the hard truth: It’s usually not an interest problem. It’s an access problem. And more specifically, it’s a systemic problem.
“Equality” is giving every student an iPad. “Equity” is redesigning the school culture so that every student—regardless of their background—believes they belong in the room where the coding happens.
Today, I want to move beyond the buzzwords. I’m breaking down two powerful, research-backed frameworks that give us a literal roadmap to move from “access” to true “empowerment.”
1. The “Tree” Model: Fixing the Roots First
Created by the Institute of Education Sciences, The Framework for Equitable Opportunities to Learn in STEMuses a brilliant metaphor: The Tree.
Too often in education, we focus on the “fruit” (test scores, graduation rates) or the “trunk” (curriculum, tools). But if the roots are unhealthy, the tree won’t grow. This framework argues that we cannot have high-quality learning without a foundation of equity.
The Roots (The Foundation)
Before we even touch the curriculum, we must establish these four conditions:
- Shift the Power: Who holds the power in your classroom? We need to elevate student voices and treat parents as true partners, not just spectators.
- Affirm Identities: Do your students see their cultures and lived experiences reflected in the math problems you solve? When we validate their identities, they feel capable.
- Remove Barriers: We have to actively dismantle the “negative beliefs” (biases) about who is “good at math” and fix policies that gatekeep access to advanced courses.
- Broaden Participation: It’s not enough to open the door; we have to actively invite underrepresented groups in.
The Trunk (The Learning)
Once the roots are established, the “trunk” represents high-quality teaching:
- Hands-on, active learning.
- Solving complex problems.
- Student-centered collaboration.
2. The Cycle of Empowerment
The second framework, The Equity-Oriented Conceptual Framework for K-12 STEM Literacy, published in the International Journal of STEM Education, takes it a step further. It asks: What is the ultimate goal of STEM education? It’s to become a Societal Change Agent.
This framework outlines a cyclical relationship between four key dimensions:
1. Opportunity & Access
This is the baseline. All students need high-quality, integrated STEM experiences—not just in period 3 chemistry, but in after-school clubs, museums, and camps. Note: This also means addressing funding inequities that disproportionately hurt minoritized students.
2. Affirming Identity & Belonging
We must actively disrupt the stereotype of what a scientist “looks like.” When we value a student’s linguistic and cultural background, we help them build a “STEM Identity.” They stop saying, “I’m not a math person,” and start saying, “I belong here.”
3. Disrupting Systems of Oppression
This is where it gets real. We have to acknowledge that racism, sexism, and ableism exist in our institutions. An equity-oriented framework doesn’t ignore these; it equips students to identify and challenge them.
4. Empowerment
This is the peak. When students have access, identity, and critical awareness, they are empowered. They use their STEM skills not just to pass a test, but to solve real problems in their communities.
The Bottom Line
We need to stop looking at students as “leaky pipes” that need to be patched up. Instead, we need to look at the system. By using these frameworks, we can stop asking students to fit into a broken system and start building a new one—one where every student creates, innovates, and leads.
Are you ready to be a change agent in your school?
Check out my book and resources at lpbeta.org to dive deeper.
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பெண்-Woman
I dedicate this post to the women I’ve seen in my life.
And to all the strong women out there who dream,fight,fall,rise and keep shining ;)
Happy Women’s day!!
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Shot on: canonEOS1300d 📸
@canonindia_official
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Why AI startups are selling the same equity at two different prices
As competition among AI startups heats up, founders and VCs are turning to novel valuation mechanisms to manufacture a perception of market dominance.
Until recently, the most sought-after companies raised multiple rounds of funding in quick succession at escalating valuations. However, because constant fundraising distracts founders from building their products, lead VCs have devised a new…
Why AI startups are selling the same equity at two different prices
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Address the cause or causes of inequity by researching and removing the system that’s currently in place & causing the barrier.
Link
How a family fought Title IX inequity in wrestling, and created change
How a family fought Title IX inequity in wrestling, and created change
www.usatoday.com
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Equity vs. Debt - Which One Should Your Business Go For?
This is one of those questions every business owner hits at some point. You need money to grow. But how you bring that money in - that decision matters more than most people think.
Let’s break it down simply.
Debt means you borrow money.
You take a loan, and you pay it back - with interest. The lender doesn’t own any part of your business. You stay in full control. But every month, that repayment is sitting there whether your business is doing well or not. That pressure is real, especially for early-stage businesses with unpredictable cash flow.
Equity means you give up a piece.
Someone puts money into your business and in return, they own a percentage of it. No monthly payments. No interest. But now they have a say - or at least a stake - in what happens next. This is how most startup funding works. It’s also how FDI in India flows in - foreign investors buying equity stakes in Indian businesses across different sectors.
So which one is better?
Honestly, it depends on where your business actually is right now.
If you have stable revenue and can comfortably handle repayments, debt can work well. You keep ownership, and once the loan is paid, that chapter is closed. Many small and mid-size businesses in India go this route through banks or NBFCs.
But if you’re still building, still figuring out revenue, and you need more than just money - like networks, mentorship, market access - equity makes more sense. A good equity investor brings more than capital. That’s part of why FDI in India has grown steadily, because foreign investors often bring global connections along with their money.
One more thing to think about.
Mixing both is also common. Many businesses use debt for specific needs - buying equipment, managing working capital - while using equity for bigger growth bets. There’s no rule that says you have to pick just one.
The real question is this.
Can your business afford fixed repayments right now? If yes, debt is worth considering. If not, equity might give you more breathing room.
Neither option is free. Debt costs interest. Equity costs ownership. You’re paying either way - just in different forms.
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Hegseth’s AI Disruptors: Silicon Valley and Wall Street Enter the Pentagon
Greetings and a cordial reception to Regulator, a periodical tailored for Verge subscribers, which delves into the activities of broligarchs, prominent figures, and the (potentially sentient) artificial intelligence systems contending for influence in Washington. Should you not yet be a subscriber, affirm your human essence in defiance of mechanical intentions by enrolling here.
Crucial…
Hegseth’s AI Disruptors: Silicon Valley and Wall Street Enter the Pentagon
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Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon AI bro squad includes a former Uber executive and a private equity billionaire
Hello and welcome to Regulator, a newsletter for Verge subscribers covering the broligarchs, the influencers, and the (potentially conscious) artificial intelligence models scrambling for power in Washington. If you’re not a subscriber yet, assert your humanity against the will of the machines by signing up here.
Very important news: Do you want to tell me stuff and see it printed in Regulator?…
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Breitling’s Valuation Crash-Lands: Private Equity Forces Devaluation
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The equity firm proprietors of Breitling have drastically reduced the Swiss watchmaker’s appraisal to potentially half its 2023 worth, as its results have deteriorated under the shared stewardship of CVC and Partners Group.
According to three individuals cognizant…
Breitling’s Valuation Crash-Lands: Private Equity Forces Devaluation
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A Compilation of Rebuttals
Recently, as I’ve encountered people who are in favour of removing supports from some disabled kids because ‘they aren’t disabled enough,’ or questions about what these proposed changes will look like in reality, or statements that maybe need a little bit of fact checking, or deflections from the issues at hand because other governing parties would have been worse, etc, I’ve written various…
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ALT🇺🇸US equities: same earnings, 40% pricier. Turns out the real American exceptionalism is the P/E multiple.
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Seattle is expanding gifted education to Alki Elementary and Rainier View Elementary 🏫✨ A big shift toward equity for south and southwest families—but key questions about the program’s future remain. Dive into what’s changing and why: https://hyperlocalnews.website/seaen/seattle-expands-access-to-programs-for-gifted.html
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Crumbling Empires
Herod doesn’t winNor does CaesarThe Empire will crumbleGod is with the marginalizethe poorthe imprisonedthe oppressedthe abused the tortured
Jesus walks with the different the disabled the forgotten the misgendered the repressed the voicelessthe hurt
Our Divine is all about housingeveryonefeeding the hungry clothing the nakedand meting out equity and justiceand true liberation
It is writtenIt…
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Gladys West: Pioneering Equity in GPS Technology
The Resilient Philosopher | D. L. Dantes
Gladys West
Some people change the world with a microphone. Others change it with a calculation so precise that the rest of us never notice the scaffolding. That is the kind of contribution Dr. Gladys West made. Her work in satellite geodesy helped refine the mathematical models of Earth that modern GPS depends on for accuracy, and the world now moves…
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Gladys West: Pioneering Equity in GPS Technology
The Resilient Philosopher | D. L. Dantes
Gladys West
Some people change the world with a microphone. Others change it with a calculation so precise that the rest of us never notice the scaffolding. That is the kind of contribution Dr. Gladys West made. Her work in satellite geodesy helped refine the mathematical models of Earth that modern GPS depends on for accuracy, and the world now moves…
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3 Golden Rules Every Unlisted Share Investor Needs to Follow
Investing in unlisted companies requires a different mindset than the public market. In this short video, we discuss three critical rules: defining your investment objective, avoiding FOMO-driven decisions, and the importance of checking fundamentals and liquidity. Don’t invest until you’ve seen these!
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Should I start posting my work on here?🤔 Hopefully it reaches people who actually want to learn! Also if you want to reach out to me on Instagram instead, it gives you the opportunity to do so☺️
We talk about diversity, inclusion, equity, belonging and justice! Also, throw in some football and formula 1 too because we can’t help ourselves lol