WSMR held a teacher orientation tour to showcase career opportunities for local students

By ANNE MARIE CHADIMAJuly 25, 2022

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (July 25, 2022) Led by Debra Clark, head of White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) Leadership and Professional Development, the range hosted two local teachers, Mr. Adrian Gaytan from Zia Middle School, and Mr. Benito Dutcher from Organ Mountain High School.

The intent of the orientation tour was for the teachers to have a better understanding of our mission, what a typical day of work looks like for our team members, and the wide breadth of career opportunities on post available to students.

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Gaytan oversees a career track exploration program called Project Lead the Way (PTLW) at Zia Middle School. PLTW provides studies for opportunities in bio medical, pre-engineering, computer science and environmental. Dutcher oversees the Transition Program which focuses on at risk students at Organ Mountain High School.

Gaytan and Dutcher visited several tenant organizations on WSMR that showcased unique equipment used daily to conduct testing by the teams. The tenants also illustrated how they analyze the data collected to inform key decision making for the Army and Joint Leaders. The teachers also learned how these tenants use the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholar program and Advanced Degree programs to recruit and hire students from local universities.

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Orientation tours like this one provide teachers with an understanding of the opportunities available to students and how they can start to prepare their students for a STEM career. Teachers can then write curriculum to inspire interest in WSMR and share valuable insight into the Department of Defense and how the range is integral to national safety.