How Lauren Miller partners with schools and businesses to promote Lancaster County careers
Lauren Miller has this message for Lancaster County high school students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics: Don’t leave town after graduation. Local technology companies have cool jobs and training opportunities that high school students can start learning about now.
“The challenge that we still see is that students aren’t aware of all the career options in Lancaster,” Miller says. “So often we build our talent here, but then they leave because they think there’s better opportunities elsewhere. I think a challenge that continues is just making sure that our learning is relevant.”
Miller seems to occupy a unique position to make that happen.
First, she works as associate director for educational partnerships for Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13.
“The work I do in curriculum and instruction at IU13 is rooted in how do we leverage community partners? How do we make it relevant?” Miller asks.
The 44-year-old also serves as executive director of the Lancaster County STEM Alliance, a nonprofit that promotes interest in science, technology, engineering and math education and jobs. A contract between IU13 and the Steinman Foundation, another nonprofit, allows Miller to travel between two Lancaster offices with the same mission.
“I’m really working to connect and leverage community resources to make our education system better,” she explains.
Miller gets to work early — probably between 7:30 and 8 a.m., depending on whether she goes to the STEM Alliance office on King Street or to her IU13 office about 2.5 miles away on New Holland Avenue.
“My work at the STEM Alliance and my work at IU13 really dovetails nicely,” she says.
“I would say like a typical day in my life is I’m out working with community partners, helping them see how they can work together,” Miller says.
For example, she might meet with a company looking to adopt a Manheim Township middle school so workers can visit and explain what they do, or talk to Garden Spot High School administrators about allowing teachers to follow technology workers at a local business for a few days so educators can better prepare lessons.
In addition, she might help schedule a student field trip to a printing plant so pupils can use real-life math skills to figure out how many supplies to order.
“Getting students in high school out into careers is life-changing,” Miller notes. “And it not only builds their skills, but it keeps them in Lancaster because they have awareness of companies.”
Teachers also benefit, Miller says.
“Through the STEM Alliance, we immerse teachers in these career experiences, but then with my IU hat, I bring the teachers back together and we write lessons and we build curriculum based on that experience,” Miller says. “The two worlds really blend well.”
Miller also focuses on networking, attending as many business gatherings as she can.
“I feel like that’s my value and what the (alliance) does is help take really cool ideas that solve a challenge in our community and find the right partners and resources to make it happen,” she says.
Ask Miller to talk about her accomplishments, though, and she tries to change the subject to highlight what others have done.
She mentions guidance from The Steinman Foundation, a local, independent family foundation funded by the companies that make up Steinman Communications. LNP | LancasterOnline, once part of Steinman Communications, is now owned by the nonprofit LNP Media Group.
The Steinman Foundation “has been the sole financial backer of this STEM ecosystem for the last 10 years,” Miller says, explaining that the term ecosystem encompasses nonprofits, schools, community partners and businesses who have joined to increase STEM awareness.
“The sign of a good leader is someone who goes out of their way to recognize their team,” says Shane Zimmerman, who chairs the alliance’s advisory board and serves as CEO of the Steinman Foundation.
“She really likes to shine her light on people and collaborators and not shine the light on herself,” Zimmerman says after praising Miller’s ability to connect with business leaders and educators.
John Bridgen, president of Lititz-based Precision Cobotics, would agree.
“I get the credit she probably deserves,” Bridgen says.
For instance, Miller helped Bridgen create and secure funding for Robotic WorX, a partnership between students from Lancaster County high schools and Millersville University who work on real-life manufacturing problems instead of cases covered in textbooks.
Precision Cobotics solves automation problems for clients, and Robotic WorX participants proved to one global automaker that a robotic arm would work in one phase of manufacturing after the company didn’t think it could use automation in that instance, Bridgen says, noting he can’t reveal the name of the car company.
“Lauren is amazing,” says Jill Hackman, who coordinates career pathways for Garden Spot High School. “She wants to make a positive difference in STEM education.”
Through Miller, Hackman accompanies teachers on what she calls “externships,” allowing educators to see what happens in a technology company.
“This allows educators to learn about different industries and careers we’re not familiar with,” she says.
Students also take field trips to technology firms. For instance, Hackman cites an example of a student who once wanted to work in construction but changed his mind. During a field trip, that student realized he didn’t want to wear a helmet, goggles, closed-toe shoes and heavy clothing required for that job and instead pursued another profession that allowed him to work with his hands.
“I’ve become a strong believer that we can’t (practice) good education without having community partners at the table,” Miller says. “Every organization in Lancaster has something to teach.”
