Hundreds of students got a special visit today from Detroit Public Schools Community District Interim Superintendent Alicia Meriweather.
Once a month Dixon Learning Academy holds a program called STEM Day, introducing kids to science, technology, engineering and math.
This STEM program has a twist, it all begins with a book.
STEM Day inside Dixon Educational Learning Academy means students in every grade level are exposed to a different type of learning.
"It's to prepare the students fro the global society so that they'll be prepared for science, technology, engineering and mathematics," says Instructional Specialist Choya Stovall.
It's put on by the organization Athletes for Charity. Volunteers come to the school every month to teach and connect with the kids.
Today's special guest was Alicia Meriweather, the Interim Superintendent for Detroit Public Schools Community District.
"Anytime a caring adult makes a connection with a child there's a lasting impact," she says.
Meriweather says the jobs in science, technology, engineering and math are on the rise, but there is a lag in the amount of skilled workers to fill those jobs.
"We often talk about you don't know, what you don't know,” Meriweather says. “So the more you can expose kids to opportunities and information then they are able to make a better informed decision. So I think the younger you can expose kids to information and opportunity the better."
Kids at Dixon may one day be filling those STEM job openings, all thanks to the Athletes for Charity program.
Every student who comes through today, pre-k through 8th grade will get a book to take home.
