397: How to Break Into STEAM Education w/ Dr. Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio, The Buckley School [Espresso Shots]

Dr. Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio, Science Co-Chair (6th-12th) and STEAM Director (K-12th) at The Buckley School, earned her B.S. in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and her Doctorate in Genetics from California Institute of Technology. A serious accident in her life inspired Aidyl to pivot to mentoring and teaching students as a science teacher and a Robotic coach while maintaining her research ties with Caltech. Aidyl also helps students with learning disabilities or learning differences through a non-profit organization she co-founded and co-directs called Gift over Learning Differences Initiative (GoLD Initiative). The GoLD Initiative provides after school STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) enrichment programs for youth in the Los Angeles area. Aidyl was born and raised in the South Bronx, New York and is a wife, a mother, amateur magician and astronaut in training.  WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE:  Which types of entry-level jobs are available for young people in the STEAM education field Why a willingness to “get dirty” and showing your flaws to your students is important as an educator What the difference is between STEAM and STEM, and how the Arts are essential to Science Why connecting and building relationships with your students can be impactful, even life-saving How you can create your own career path and learn from all your life experiences What is the biggest challenge an educator faces in this field and how to overcome it How “Becoming” by Michelle Obama, “The Gene: An Intimate History” by Siddhartha Mukherjee, and Scott Kelly’s “Endurance: My Year in Space, A Lifetime  embody Aidyl’s two professions as an educator and scientist If you want to learn more about what Aidyl does as a STEAM Director (K-12) and how she built her career please check out T4C episode #250