OUR PHILOSOPHY
The Spy Girls program is structured as a sequence of "Spy Missions." The participants role play they are on a field ops team of a secret benevolent spy agency. Each mission gives the participants a specific goal to achieve that requires the use or understanding of a specific technology and/or math and science concepts. In the context of problem solving how to achieve the mission goal, the participants learn about how the technology works and about the math and science concepts behind the technology.
The spy girls program is built on the following beliefs:
A comfort level with technology at a young age will translate into higher math and science self esteem.
Imaginative role playing with technology will build girls' enthusiasm for STEM subjects.
A peer group of STEM-interested girls will help minimize feelings of isolation in STEM courses in later grades.
Most young girls have an innate interest in and sense of wonder about science and technology.
STEM education should begin in elementary school.
THE TEAM
Executive Director
Anna Hansen
Aerospace engineer, Entrepreneur, Operations executive
Academic director
Brenda Bilstad
Award winning teacher, Curriculum developer and Teacher trainer
Susan Domanico
Upper School Science Dept. Chair,
La Jolla Country Day School
Julianne Markow
Executive Director & CEO,
The New Children's Museum
Dana Marquardt
Lower School Science Teacher,
La Jolla Country Day School