On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) hosted the Berks STEM Connection Ecosystem Panel event at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, located at 201 Washington Street, Reading. The event, held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., brought together educators with Berks County business representatives to discuss the skills and qualities local industries seek in their future workforce.
The panel featured a diverse group of business representatives who shared insights on workforce skills including soft skills, mathematical proficiency, communication abilities, and other critical competencies. Educators had the opportunity to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what attributes local employers need and value in high school graduates entering the workforce.
Jillian Darlington, Assistant Program Administrator for the BCIU Office of Professional Learning, emphasized the event’s significance, stating, “This event offered a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between education and industry. By fostering these connections, we are strengthening the pipeline from our Berks County high schools to the local workforce. We were pleased to welcome STEM educators, internship coordinators, local business leaders, high school principals, technical education and engineering teachers, and transition coordinators to this vital discussion.”
This panel event is part of the Global STEM Ecosystems Initiative, a worldwide movement that connects education, business, government, and community organizations to create robust STEM learning opportunities, preparing students to become future-ready learners while supporting local workforce development.
The Berks STEM Connection Ecosystem, Berks County’s branch, collaborates with K-12 schools through the Career Ready Berks initiative, connecting educators and students with local businesses and organizations to foster innovative STEM programs and prepare students for successful careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
