“I used to take my toys apart. While I did put the pieces back together…it still freaked my parents out,” she said.

Behind this innocent destruction was destiny. With each doll, truck, and train    Dominque disassembled, she built something else…her engineering skills.

“I’m fascinated by this profession,” she said. “At a young age, I decided I wanted to learn about engineering and nothing was going to stop me.”

In high school, Dominique joined the Arizona Chief Science Officer (CSO) Program. The organization, supported by State Farm, gets students involved in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities, while teaching them about careers in these fields.

“STEM is all around us,” said State Farm Senior IT Architect Ines Halloran. “Our mission is to engage with universities and high schools to build a pipeline of future IT talent.”

So, how does peanut butter and jelly fit in?

During a CSO institute, State Farm volunteers used a childhood favorite – the PB&J, to demonstrate the importance of algorithms.

“It’s a step by step process,” said Dominique. “This was an awesome way to explain programming basics. It made us think about a simple process in a thorough, innovative way.”

Students plotted the steps needed to build the perfect PB&J, then shared their algorithms with volunteers – who played the role of a computer. If the algorithm made sense, then the computer (a.k.a., the volunteers), would be able to create this end result:

Students like Clay Hauser and Calvin Rowell say the peanut butter and jelly challenge proves STEM is rooted in everyday life, no matter who you are or where you work.

“It’s not just for scientists with doctorate degrees or highly trained medical professionals,” said Calvin. “Sometimes the most influential workers are those with technical degrees, teaching degrees, musicians, actors. If you want to make something even better, STEM can help.”

From Peanut Butter to Brain Power

The CSO program spans beyond peanut butter and jelly – from classroom to community success. Its unique learning opportunities  inspired CSO students to start after-school STEM clubs, take part in  science festivals, host innovative workshops, and network with State Farm IT employees.

This work has been recognized throughout the country, including the nation’s capital.

By exposing students to new ways of thinking, the CSO program hopes   to develop a diverse talent pool of future STEM leaders.

“I have worked with hundreds, maybe thousands of IT professionals over my 26 year career, and the differentiator is passion and determination to succeed.” said Halloran.

And as for Dominique? The CSO program has inspired her to pursue her passion of becoming a mechanical engineer.

“Right now, it’s a male dominated field, but this program proves gender doesn’t matter when it comes to success,” she said. “If your heart wants to experiment with science, robots or video games – do it. The CSO program taught me anything is possible when you put your mind to it.”

Just like learning to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich...it’s a   simple lesson, with a satisfying result.

Shari inspires students to develop critical thinking skills through art. She is one of six Studio Artists, who provide art instruction to third through fifth grade students in the Tempe Elementary School District in AZ.

“When kids solve an artistic problem, they think about how to do something and then they try it out to see if it works. This is actually the scientific process”, says Shari.

It’s true, some people are born with artistic talent, but many more learn creativity by being in the process.

Young students are great examples of how easy it is to learn to be creative. Most don’t have a fear of art assignments, because they don’t know if “it’s the right way to do it”. They just jump right in, which develops the building blocks to critical thinking.

“There is a part of my brain that shines when I do art,” says Alex Rojas, student.

Studies show art in schools strengthen student achievement in all academic areas. The U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts followed academic achievement at public schools for 10 years. They found math, reading, science, communication and critical thinking skills increased after students received art instruction.

The Studio Artists Program provides intense three-to-four-hour art workshops for every third, fourth and fifth grade student in the Tempe Elementary School District.

Fortunately, this year, State Farm, the City of Tempe and the Tempe Elementary School District joined forces to provide arts programs in the district, helping all students learn through this successful art program that connects working artists with elementary students.

The art projects and encouragement are doing more than building confidence—they are helping to close the achievement gap.

Curry Elementary and Curry Cougar - George Heslop, Studio Artist. Photo by Amy Garza, TESD Photographer

Designing a Curry Cougar label with George Heslop, Studio Artist. Curry Elementary School. Photo by Amy Garza, TESD Photographer

Street Art Fonts taught by Such Styles, Studio Artist at Aguilar Elementary. Photo by Pat Burdette, TESD Fine Arts Coordinator.

Texture Wall at Frank Elementary. Taught by Sue Norton-Scott, Studio Artist and photographer.

*videographer credit: Tempe Elementary School District