Elementary school teachers instill much more than math facts and reading skills into the minds of their students; they can also help students develop lasting interests and passions, including interests that could later become careers for these students. Acting on a passion for science and math that she developed in elementary school from her teachers, junior Sydney Padgett took initiative by creating a club related to a growing career field.

Padgett started the Girls STEM Club at Bath Elementary School. At the club Padgett leads the fourth and fifth grade female students in activities relating to STEM: science, technology, engineering, and math. Last year Padgett approached Bath Principal Dan Fry with the idea to start the club. The club held its first meetings on Thursday, October 12 and Thursday, November 16. It plans to continue holding monthly meetings, the next scheduled for Thursday, December 14.

Padgett said that she thought of the idea to start the club when her younger sister attended Bath Elementary and that she felt surprised that the school did not already have a club like this one. She described her inspiration in starting the club.

“I just really love science and math, so I wanted to share that with kids who also do,” Padgett said.

Padgett provided another reason for initiating the Girls STEM Club, noting how she developed her interest in science and math at a young age.

“[I developed this interest] early on from a lot of my elementary school teachers; that’s kind of why I also wanted to start the club,” Padgett said.

Padgett predicted that many girls at Bath would share her interest in STEM. When eighty students signed up for the club and a raffle was required to determine twenty-five participants for the club, her prediction proved true.

Fry described his initial reaction to Padgett’s idea. He complimented how Padgett went about the proposal and said he “was on board from the start” with the idea.

“Her proposal was so well thought out and professionally planned . . . . I also knew that Sydney would be an incredible role model for our Bath girls,” Fry said.

Fry also explained the importance of this STEM Club specifically targeting female elementary students. He noted the changes occurring in the field and the need to introduce girls to STEM early in their education.

“For many years, it was not considered cool for girls to even think about having STEM careers . . . . That is all changing now. We are actively encouraging our girls to embrace math and technology at a young age . . . . We want our girls to be inspired, interested, and ready to be successful in STEM fields,” Fry said.

Eight other Revere students also showed interest in the Girls STEM club and decided to help Padgett with the club. These students included seniors Abby Ray and Makena Ray, juniors Julia Effinger, Meha Elango, Jess Vari, Natalie Cutler and Jillian DiCresce and sophomore Keri Tomechko. Tomechko, who found out about the club from science teacher Eugene Sawan, explained why she decided to help with the club.

“I like science a lot, and I thought it’d be fun to work with the Bath kids and help them develop their passion for science and math,” Tomechko said.

Tomechko also provided her thoughts on women and girls entering the STEM field.

“I think that it’s definitely a growing field for them to go into, and I think there’s a lot of opportunities for girls to go into STEM and science and math careers right now,” Tomechko said.

A Bath staff member will attend each meeting of the club. Fifth grade science and math teacher Sandy Kahoe supervised the club’s first meeting. Kahoe, who had Padgett as a student, described how Padgett led the club.

“It felt like Sydney was a teacher in there . . . . I definitely think the girls will look up to that,” Kahoe said.

Kahoe also explained her admiration for how Padgett took initiative to start the club. Kahoe said that Padgett’s plan to start the club utilized the type of mindset required for STEM.

“It’s about passion and coming up with an idea and the plan to put it into motion. I admire that, and that’s a mindset of what a lot of STEM is: the plan, wanting to do something, and finding a way to get it done,” Kahoe said.

Sydney Padgett plans to go into a career in the STEM field. Her interest in science and math began early on in her education and came from her elementary school teachers, people who shared their interests with her. Padgett in turn hopes to pass this interest on to girls at Bath Elementary.