The Healthy Project Podcast
  • Episode 139
  • 30 min

STEAM, Advocacy and the Aspirations of Schools with Lya Williams

A conversation with Lya Williams

Social Drivers of HealthCulture & Storytelling
Artwork for episode 139: STEAM, Advocacy and the Aspirations of Schools with Lya Williams
Listen or watch

About this episode

In this episode of the Healthy Project Podcast, we get into the world of education, representation, and the power of parental involvement with special guest, Johnston School Board candidate Lya Williams. Lya is an engineer turned stay-at-home mother with a passion for STEM and education. She currently serves on Johnston School's SIAC committee. We navigate through topics such as the changing dynamics of school demographics and the significance of STEM vs. STEAM, Lya sheds light on the importance of parents being actively present and involved in their children's education. With personal anecdotes and a dash of humor, this episode is both thought-provoking and heartwarming, highlighting the essential role parents play in shaping their children's academic journey.

Shownotes:

Chapter Markers

  1. Intro to the episode and introduction of guest, Lya.
  2. Lya shares her experience with changing school demographics.
  3. The importance of representation in PTO meetings and parental involvement.
  4. A personal touch: Lya discusses how her son, Amir, looks forward to her presence in school activities.
  5. The power of being an involved parent and its influence within the school.
  6. Lya talks about the importance of not judging by appearance and building connections within the school community.
  7. The ongoing debate: STEM vs. STEAM. What does the 'A' stand for, and does it belong?
  8. Lya's personal take on the arts in STEAM and its connection to fields like knitting.
  9. Diverse forms of creativity: Not everyone is a painter or a builder, but every child has a unique way of expressing creativity.
  10. Lya's anecdotes on teaching during COVID-19 and the challenges of remote learning.
  11. An artist's perspective about the inclusion of Arts in STEAM.
  12. Closing thoughts and where to connect with Lya on social media and her website.
  13. Outro and thanks to the audience for tuning in.

Sources & Further Reading

Share this episode

Found this conversation useful?

A rating takes about a minute and is the single biggest thing that helps new listeners find the show.

Rate on Apple Podcasts Other ways to rate

Keep listening

Related episodes

All episodes

Newsletter

Public health worth paying attention to.

One conversation. Key takeaways. Stories, research, and resources you can use.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.