Rocket Science Tutors Celebrates 10 Years of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Education

WESTMINSTER, Calif. - March 31, 2015 - PRLog -- Rocket Science Tutors (RST) announced it will celebrate 10 years of operation in Santa Ana middle schools in next month, with plans to roll out new programs this year. RST, a non-profit organization comprised of engineers and scientists dedicated to advancing STEM skills in schools, uses an internally developed curriculum that aligns with the needs of industry and educational requirements.

         Founded by Nino Polizzi in 2005, RST is unique in its approach to STEM education, working with mainly middle school and some high school students in a 24-week afterschool program taught by degreed engineers from industry and University California Irvine (UCI) graduate students where a 1-to-5 instructor to student ratio is maintained.

         “I founded Rocket Science Tutors based on personal experience in the aerospace industry where we faced a serious drop in young people in the U.S. pursuing degrees in engineering, math and the sciences, ultimately creating a void in available talent for the technical field,” said Nino Polizzi, Engineering Teacher at The Academy Charter High School in Santa Ana and veteran aerospace industry engineer.

         “The Santa Ana Unified School District’s focus is to ensure that all students are prepared for the college and/or career pathway of their choice. Our partnership with Rocket Science Tutors supports these efforts by providing students with innovative, hands-on, STEM-related  activities that support development of critical skills,” said David Haglund, Ed.D, Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services.

         To validate the program’s overall effectiveness, RST has gathered third party data including an assessment conducted by the After School Outcomes program at the University of California Irvine and student testimonials.

         Rocket Science Tutors, (http://www.rocketsciencetutors.com) located in Westminster, California, is a non- profit organization that brings science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to life by exciting middle and high school students with real-world,  hands-on labs and an inquiry-based curriculum in a project based ‘Design-Build-Test  learning environment. Students use the engineering design process, measure performance and results while experiencing the thrill of ‘making something.” The RST developed program works in conjunction with the Santa Ana Unified School District and uses an all-volunteer cadre of veteran engineers and engineering graduate students to deliver the program with an instructor/student ratio of 1-to-5.  Rocket Science Tutors is comprised of a board of directors and an advisory board that meets monthly and is funded by local and national organizations.