Published: September 3, 2008

Teaching Secrets: Bridging the Gender Gap

The long-term substitute teacher ushered the 22 rowdy 3rd graders into the computer lab. Barely taller than some of them, she raised her voice over the clamor saying, “Remember, I said sit boy-girl-boy-girl.”

I started a slow burn. I’ve been working on gender equity and equal technology access for over 14 years. I’ve published and presented on improving girls’ attitudes toward math, science, and technology, and I’ve founded after-school GEMS clubs to engage their interest with robotics, rocket launches, bridge-building, strategy games, and chromatography.

I’ve also been a new-teacher mentor, so I know not to publicly comment or criticize a novice’s decisions. But...