Wyoming is one of the states featured in the Linking Leaders Community for Change Book. Click the image to go to the Linking Leaders book main page and learn more about Wyoming's Linking Leaders program activities.

WMSEC is participating in the Linking Leaders program of the National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions. Over the next two years, it will engage state leaders from business, education, and policy in designing and implementing a broad plan to improve Wyoming’s system of mathematics, science, and technology education.

Linking Leaders: Fifty Representatives from business, education and public policy met in Casper, WY on April 9 to assess the status of math, science and technology education in Wyoming. The group included 9 business leaders, 9 policymakers, 2 community leaders, and 20 educators. Business representation at the meeting included: Qwest Corporation, Questar Gas, Casper Employment Resource Ctr., State Farm Mutual Auto. Ins. Co., Westech/WOTCO, Casper, the Wyoming Business Council, Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion and Wells Fargo Bank. Policy makers attending the in-state meeting included four state legislators, the Chair and the Director of the Professional Teaching Standards Board, the governor's Press Secretary and Governor Geringer himself who addressed the group in session.

Members of the Wyoming education community included representatives of higher education, the state department of education, mathematics and science professional organizations, school boards and local superintendents. Of the 9 guests, 7 were from NASA. Participants assessed and discussed five components of Wyoming's system of mathematics and science education, suggested routes to improvement, and identified leaders who might assist in that work. A participant who is both a businessman and a member of the Wyoming legislature subsequently contacted workshop organizers to volunteer his services in taking next steps and, specifically, in working with Wyoming's business community and legislative leadership.

As a direct result of Linking Leaders, the AESP representative to Wyoming conducted two workshops at a statewide Global Warming Conference designed for secondary school teachers of mathematics, science, and geography. Wyoming held its Linking Leaders Workshop in Cheyenne in October of 2001. The coalition is continuing to work on its action plan and will be applying to NASSMC for an Implementation Grant.