The initiative is now led by a nonprofit, also called 100Kin10, that was cofounded in 2011 by former Corporation program officer Talia Milgrom-Elcott and under the leadership of former Vice President for National Program, Michele Cahill. Milgrom-Elcott and her team have built an extensive network of more than 200 partners including education nonprofits, foundations, museums, school districts, companies, universities, teacher associations and government agencies on all levels. The goal is to circulate ideas and resources that will help partner organizations “train and retain 100,000 excellent STEM teachers to educate the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.” More than a dozen funders pledge millions of dollars annually to help meet this commitment.

Working together to address the challenges facing STEM teachers is fundamental to the 100Kin10 coalition. In the spring of 2015, for example, 100Kin10 held its annual partner summit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. They brainstormed new ways to collaborate, get funding, and recruit thousands of talented and diverse new teachers. Participants agreed that schools must do more to expose students to STEM and that they all must do more to enhance the image of teaching as a desirable career option for STEM college graduates.

The 100Kin10 network continues to grow and is currently on track to surpass its goal by the 2021 deadline. As schools, nonprofits, and other organizations raise the bar on teaching the fundamentals of STEM, they will raise the level of teaching overall.

The Opportunity Equation