The official “Day of the Girl” might not be until October, but Johnson Elementary’s Taya Trent has made sure girls feel celebrated every day.  In fact, after receiving a federal mini-grant, Trent created GIRLS (Genuine Innovative Resilient Leaders in Science) as a way of empowering girls in careers in math and science.  

 

Having served as an education specialist for the federal government and holding seven teaching credentials in West Virginia, Trent serves as the perfect role model for the girls in the after-school program.  

 

The GIRLS program is a group of fifth grade girls who meet after school to focus on science. Throughout the year, guests have worked with them to enhance their professional outlook for careers dealing with science and math.  

 

Janie Merendino spoke with the group about careers in math and two NASA Ambassdors worked with the girls programming robots.  This week, BHS Alumnus Rachel Fulks will be presenting to the girls about her feature in SMORE magazine, where she is showcased for her work with 3D scanning and printing of bones.

 

On March 14, members of the Bridgeport High School DECA volunteered to celebrate with the girls during a Tea and Talent event.  DECA students taught communication and presentation skills to the fifth graders and then practiced the skills with them while sharing tea and snacks.

 

“The girls were very professional and respectful of us,” said BHS DECA member Michaela Perri.  “We emphasized the importance of listening, speaking with confidence, how to make impressive presentations and ways to further develop these skills as they get older.  We were very impressed with each and every one of them.”

 

To finish out their very active year, GIRLS will be traveling to the WVU Crime Lab so the participants can work on crime scene processing and the sciences involved with that. Trent’s vision of immersing girls in all the possibilities of science has materialized through the after-school program and it will be interesting to see the impact GIRLS will have over the next few years.