STEM Innovator Award
The Ohio STEM Innovator Award recognizes an Ohioan who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the support of STEM education and outreach within his or her region. This awardee is a leader that identifies, supports, and promotes innovative practices that address important challenges in expanding access to quality STEM education.
Carla Chapman is the Director for Community Relations, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Akron Public Schools.
Chapman led a team of staff during the initial outbreak of the coronavirus. This team created and managed the “Connectors” program. The team consisted of Yvonne Culver and Desiree Bolden of Akron Public Schools, Andrew Ziccardi of Akron’s I Promise School and April Porter of the United Way of Summit and Medina Counties.
The Connectors program ran throughout 52 days of remote learning, after Akron schools closed under the outbreak of coronavirus. Through the program, 254 non-instructional staff were recruited to call Akron students. After a training, these staff conducted check-ins on students. Connectors helped students and families navigate use of Chromebooks, Google Classroom, or community resources for food, healthcare, and childcare.
In total, Connectors logged more than 10,000 interactions with Akron students, helping families persist through the pandemic.
See Press Release