Dr. Rudolph Moseley Jr. listens as his elementary school students explain their work from their first "I am an engineer STEAM Racer" project.
Investing in kindergarten through primary school-aged students will yield the greatest results for a country in the future, according to Dr. Rudolph Moseley Jr., executive director at Time2 (Times squared) STEM Academy, the only kindergarten through Grade 12 STEM institution in Providence, Rhode Island.
"If a kid can read on grade level, and if a kid is on grade level for math, you can put them in whatever rigorous experience you want to put them in when they get to grades six and onto high school, but if they can't read and write then you're playing catch up for the entire time. You can put something rigorous in front of them and the teacher then has to modify, differentiate and do a whole lot of stuff just to get the kid to understand -- especially when it comes to science, because science is a combination of English and mathematics and understanding the world. So to me, the money needs to be invested in pre-K, kindergarten and right up to grade three," says Dr. Moseley.
Dr. Moseley, who has almost two decades of experience in education, is the son of Rudolph Sr., and Patricia Moseley of Marathon Estates. He was appointed executive director at Time2 STEM Academy in January, a K-12 charter public school committed to improving mathematics, engineering and science studies for urban youth in Providence, and to prepare America's next scientists, engineers and leaders by providing a rigorous academic program aligned with the state's requirements.
It is the only K-12 STEM institution in Rhode Island. The faculty and staff provide hands-on learning experiences with a strong academic emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) principles, augmented by an innovative in-field learning experience program that enables students to observe STEM-based endeavors in the real world.
In today's technological world, Dr. Moseley says there is not even enough labor force to even handle the demand that will be coming down the pipeline in the next 10 to 30 years, which is why STEM studies are important and should be introduced to children early.
"The fire starts when the kid is in elementary school. And how you get the fire started with kids is in kindergarten through sixth grade. The research states that math, writing, and reading are paramount and that children must learn to read by third grade -- that's when reading changes from learning to read to reading to learn, so that is fundamental. If you can't read and you can't do math, it's very difficult for you to access science. In terms of kids turning on the light of their curiosity... their interest, that's where enrichment opportunities come in -- afterschool programs in robotics, rocketry, in chess, in mathematics club, where kids have these opportunities to be exposed to different types of STEM-related activities where they may develop an interest."
The Bahamian educator heads up an institution that is a one-to-one school -- every student kindergarten through twelfth grade has their own computer. Children at the school start coding in kindergarten and their coding intensifies in fourth grade and beyond. Last year some of his middle school (equivalent to junior school) students took the Harvard Computer Science 50 course.
Getting children excited about STEM studies he said takes vision knowing that there are things coming down the pipeline that the curriculum to prepare the children for those opportunities hasn't even been prepared yet. But at the same time he said global expectation is at that point where everyone graduating high school is expected to have some level of computer science. And if children aren't introduced to computer science early he said they are being done a disservice and put at a disadvantage in terms of being able to compete in the global economy as the world continues to get smaller.
"Who will be the leader in the next economy are those that will make the investment in the next generation. That's where I will get the greatest bang for my buck by putting that money in my kindergarten through grade six and investing in that group," he said.
Dr. Moseley has served as a science teacher, science department head, assistant principal, principal, special programs coordinator, K-12 district supervisor of science of 26,000 students, and taught as an adjunct at the college level.
During his four-year tenure as principal, he led one of the lowest performing and failing schools in the state of Rhode Island to meet adequate yearly progress standard in accordance with the federal mandates of "No Child Left Behind."
In ensuring that STEM studies are an integral part of an institution, Dr. Moseley says there has to be alignment with a school's curriculum and alignment with professional development for teachers.
"You can have the curriculum, but if the teaching force hasn't had the professional development that they need in order to deploy the curriculum, that can be very difficult. You have to have STEM opportunities for students to explore and to experience for them also to create, collaborate and communicate."
He said that education has moved away from where students just regurgitate facts in science class. Actually he said students are able to get facts from Google.
"It's about how do I use this knowledge to create something new. And that's where in terms of science, technology, engineering and math where education needs to go... that's where it's going. You can have a person who can give you back the information that you gave them, but what we need to create is a generation of problem solvers that can analyze a problem, work as a group or a team, come up with a solution, test the solution, make modifications to that test, and then communicate that solution to others."
As Dr. Moseley ushers in an era of next generation educational initiatives that he hopes are poised to transform Times2 Academy into an academic leader and a beacon of opportunity for students in Providence, he wants to do his part to ensure that Bahamian students aren't left behind, and says he open to lending his expertise wherever he's asked to assist.
"One of the hopes I have is to lend my expertise to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to create a generation of Bahamian STEM achievers, problem solvers, success stories, and role models for future generations when we talk about STEM. The Bahamas is a leader in the Caribbean for a lot of different things, and now that the College of The Bahamas is going to university status (Charter Day is Thursday, November 10] this is the opportunity of a lifetime to create this STEM pipeline for students kindergarten through Grade 12 and beyond."
The Queen's College Class of 1991 graduate student recalls his interning at a doctor's office in high school as a part of his high school curriculum, and said developing those types of experiences for students is powerful, because a student may not even know what STEM actually means, or what careers are in science, technology, engineering, or related to mathematics.
"Sometimes when you talk to kids about science they may think that it's just a scientist in a lab and they may not even know about agricultural engineering where you study the soil and you study what types of crops, given our particular climate, we can create to become a global leader in terms of exporting. Those are things that can create major opportunities for children."
Dr. Moseley said there are a number of things that can be explored, but said the push as always has to start at the government level.
"It's one thing to have a dream, but the leaders have to support the dream by their finances," he said.
"I come home like four times a year, and am scheduled to meet with folks at the [COB] in December, so I am willing to meet with whomever to analyze what exactly is going on right now, and to lend my expertise and give advice as to how given the current status, resources, personnel, what types of activities or experiences can be created so that the maximum amount of students can be touched."
As he looks to give back, Dr. Moseley said education means opportunity and a leveling of the playing field wherever you go in the world.
"Education opens the door and gives you the right to sit at the table. When you open your mouth to speak that's when folks recognize you know what you're talking about."
Dr. Moseley holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University; a Masters in Education Administration from the University of Rhode Island; and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of Nebraska Lincoln.
He credits his parents with ensuring that he and his siblings received that all-important education.
"My parents did not go to college but they ensured that education was at the forefront, and education was the number one priority. They pushed the fact that education was one of the most important things that you need to have. His older sister Dr. Lovern Moseley-Belizaire holds a PhD in Psychology; his younger sister Christina Moseley-Rolle has a Masters in Education; his younger brothers Johnathan Ryan Moseley earned a Masters in Computer Science and his youngest brother Lorenzo Moseley recently graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Automotive Engineering.
"If my parents did not push [education] I don't know where I would be. Putting five kids through high school is a lot, and so I'm a Bahamian abroad proud to stand on the shoulders of my parents, and Bahamian Giants among them Sir Lynden Pindling [the country's first prime minister], Mr. Roberts, principal of my high school; my pastor Father Johnson at Holy Spirit Anglican Church; and Ms. Turnquest my favorite Sunday school teacher.
"Growing up in The Bahamas in terms of my self-confidence and my self-esteem, my pride -- when I came to this country [United States] with all the issues that are here, it didn't phase me one way or the other -- I knew who I was. I knew where I came from and I knew what I was able to do. And it really didn't matter about other people's opinions or what they had to say or what they thought, because of where I grew up. And I really attribute it to where I grew up and how I grew up."
With that background Dr. Moseley said he's able to sit down with students whose parents immigrated from countries like Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, or Liberia, and tell them to not waste the opportunity given to them because their parents moved to the U.S. to give
them a better opportunity, and that they should in turn help others. Dr. Moseley said he has the responsibility to do that.
Like most people in their early years he admits to having strayed from the straight and narrow path, and not always living up to the potential that was in him, but he said his parents never let up on him.
"My parents were the ones to say you're not going to squander and waste your potential until it kicked in for me later on in life. I still did what I needed to do to get the grades that I needed to get, but I did not live up to my potential, and I really needed those role models in my life -- my father in particular. I thank him with my life and I always hug him and say I'm so thankful he was so hard on me, because if he hadn't been I wouldn't be the man that I am right now -- no way shape or form; my mother as well."
Dr. Moseley likes telling the parents of his students of the investment his parents made in him that he benefitted from, but which he said was really for their grandchildren.
"If my parents did not do what they did for me, I would not be able to provide the life I'm able to provide for my own kids. They would have gotten shortchanged for my foolishness. I'm thankful to God and my parents that they would not give up. They would not allow us to be mediocre. They would not allow us to settle. They expected more from us."
He even recalls his dad breaking having to go into the bush to break off a switch for him.
"I went to St. Anne's until seventh grade, and I remember coming 24th in math and there were only 26 kids in the class. We got into the car and my older sister who was always the honor roll kid said, 'Dad look at my report card.'
"I was sitting in the back seat behind the driver's side because I really didn't want to sit on the other side, and said Dad this is my report card. We were driving from Fox Hill and he stopped the car, and went into the bush and broke of a branch, put it into the car, when we got home he put the branch right by the kitchen. For me to go to my room I had to pass the kitchen, and he said I'm waiting until next term."
The next term young Rudy was first in math.
"He didn't hit me with the branch, but what that showed me was I'm not going to allow you to fail, or allow you to mess up your potential because I know what you're capable of and for that I'm eternally grateful."
And he is now in a position where he can give back and wants to. Dr. Moseley said home is where his heart is, he recognizes he has something to offer and wants to help with the effort.
"I really do feel that a part of my assignment is not only to impact the school where I'm impacting right now, or this region, or this country. I have a responsibility to my brothers and sisters in The Bahamas in particular as well. The Bahamian educator said he wants to do his part to assist the government and the education ministry in helping to create a generation of Bahamian STEM achievers, problem solvers, success stories and role models for future generations.
Shavaughn Moss, Guardian Lifestyles Editor
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