“The subtitle of this book says it all: “It Takes a Village to Raise a 21st Century Graduate.” I firmly believe that we are stronger together, and it is only by working together that we will accomplish our goals, both as educators and as a society. Just like we need more than one engineer and more than one scientist to provide the resources our society needs to grow and thrive, it takes more than one person to provide our students with the resources they need to grow holistically. It is also important to remember that, as educators, we set an example for our students. When they see us working together to achieve a common goal, they will grow up with both an understanding of the importance of teamwork and the skills necessary to work in a team environment, which will better equip them to thrive in both their personal and professional lives. Teamwork is important in many industries, but it is especially important in STEM industries. Many manufacturers and construction companies require professionals from two or more of the STEM fields to work together to complete a project and to keep everyone involved safe throughout the duration of the project.  When students are raised to work well with others, they grow up to be better equipped to work on a team. That, in turn, will lead to better outcomes for the projects they work on." - Dr. Johnnie Thomas, Rich Township School District 227

From The CISTEMIC Book Project