“I have worked at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for over twenty five years working in technical research groups and on the operations side as well. Because of my experiences at PNNL, my main interest in Communities in Schools of Benton-Franklin is exposing kids, parents, and teachers to the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, art, business, and communications. I want to expose the breadth of careers opportunities in these fields to students at all ages. By introducing these types of careers early on, it can spark the creativity in the kids’ minds of what their future can potentially hold. I would like to be involved in the classrooms through demos or “meet the scientist” conversations. Additionally, I’d like to share with the students different clubs, camps, tutors, or groups to spark the student’s interests in careers as well (Science fairs, Math is Cool, Robotics clubs, First Lego League, Science Bowl, etc.) Beyond STEM related topics, I would also like to offer professional development kinds of assistance: resume writing workshops, storytelling workshops, awareness and appreciation of different social styles, and how to navigate crucial conversations. I believe soft skills are equally as important as technical skills in the work force. I’m very passionate about the future of our students both inside and outside the classroom. As a parent of two children I want to set them up with all the right tools in their tool box to succeed.”-Carolyn Cramer