As framed by national education policy priorities, the dominant metaphor describing participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is a "pipeline." The STEM workforce requires a "pipeline" of future scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. This pipeline begins in childhood and carries students through high school, college, and master's degrees, ending with a doctorate and a career in a STEM discipline.

Today the focus in education is on enhanced student learning. Therefore all curriculum materials and teaching techniques are receiving careful review. Just as education begins to emphasize standards and achievement, an innovative method of teaching reading and writing is catching steam.

Blogger Andrew Miller suggests teaching strategies around graphic novels and comics, popular media that hold enormous educational potential.

According to 2011 findings by the Economics & Statistics Administration, less than 25% of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) jobs are held by women - even though they make up more than half the workforce and college degrees. An undeniable glass ceiling hovers over these industries, and women and men alike do their best to start lugging stones at it.

Programs at New Albany's high school and middle school are preparing young women to take advantage of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) opportunities. At the high school, technology teacher David Herman formed a club for female students interested in the STEM fields.