Building Students’ STEM Identity & Leadership
IDRA Youth TechXperts is equipping middle school students with cutting-edge STEM skills while also fostering leadership, inclusivity and real-world experience.
Despite increased investments in technology initiatives for youth, participation rates in IT fields for students of color, girls, and emergent bilingual students remain alarmingly low. IDRA Youth TechXperts is our answer to this challenge, built on a solid foundation of research that shows students thrive when they can perform, be recognized and cultivate a deep interest in computer science.
Today’s fastest-growing careers are tech-driven, from healthcare to telecommunications to aerospace. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 67% of all new jobs in STEM are in computing and projects that computer science research jobs alone will increase 19% by 2026. In Brownsville areas, adult employment trends in computer-related fields fall well below the national average of 7%. In Brownsville, fewer than 1% of adults work in computer-related fields.
“We’re excited to partner with the Brownsville school district and industry leaders to prepare middle schoolers for today’s fastest-growing careers. These Youth TechXperts will have a transformative experience that changes how they see themselves and their futures in technology and leadership.” – IDRA Chief Technology Strategist Michelle Vega
After the planning year in 2024-25, the class will launch for middle school students who are in at-risk situations in Brownsville ISD in 2025-26, where they will become the next generation of technology leaders.
IDRA Youth TechXperts builds students’ STEM identity in the computer science field through a combination of four strategies:
- recruiting incoming eighth-grade students as technical support specialists on campus to build students’ computer science knowledge and STEM identity;
- providing dynamic, hands-on, and student-led project-based learning (PBL) modules and year-long technology support experiences in collaboration with the participating districts’ information technology (IT) departments;
- engaging students in mentoring relationships with local STEM professionals; and
- facilitating workforce development-related paid summer internships.
“This is not just an elective course. It’s a launchpad into the future of technology and leadership for our youth, especially those from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds.” – IDRA Chief Technology Strategist Michelle Vega
What Youth TechXperts Students Learn
The curriculum includes:
- Tier 1 Tech Support IT Skills
- Customer Service Skills
- Personal Branding
- Digital Citizenship
- Cyber Security
- Digital Inclusion 101
- Job Shadowing
- Paid Experiential Learning Internships and Apprenticeships
Where to Find Youth TechXperts
- Brownsville ISD: After the planning year in 2024-25, the class will launch for students in 2025-26. The project in this district is made possible by the generous support of Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation.
- Potentially in your school district: IDRA is available to partner with other school districts interested in sponsoring the program in their schools. If you are interested in bringing TechXperts to your school, contact michelle.vega@idra.org.
