Empowering Girls in STEM: Dr. Leslie Gruis’s NSA to Education Journey

Digital Learning Today

Welcome to Digital Learning Today. In this episode, Jeff Bradbury explores the strategic systems shaping education's future, focusing on Instructional Coaching, Artificial Intelligence, Professional Learning, and cutting-edge Educational Technology Trends. Dr. Leslie Gruis joins us for an engaging conversation, sharing her remarkable journey from a math-fascinated young girl to a distinguished figure in national security and education. Drawing on her 30-year NSA career, she discusses her passion for mentoring STEM students, particularly middle school girls. Dr. Gruis highlights privacy's fundamental role in democracy while examining both challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies like AI. Her educational insights emphasize the critical need for effective teaching methods that will inspire our next generation of mathematicians and scientists.

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• Effective Instructional Coaching:Master the art of coaching people rather than technology, building relationships that drive success, and measuring impact through student engagement rather than just technology usage.

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Key Takeaways:

• Dr. Gruis holds a PhD in applied math and engineering sciences.
• She champions mentoring middle school girls in STEM.
• The U.S. faces a critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals.
• Her NSA career spanned over 30 years with a focus on cryptology.
• The internet's emergence transformed both her work and the field of mathematics.
• Her book on privacy emphasizes its fundamental role in democracy.
• Dr. Gruis contends that technology hasn't solved core educational challenges.
• She strongly advocates for hands-on learning experiences.
• Middle school represents a critical juncture for girls' interest in math and science.
• Effective teaching hinges on understanding students' individual learning styles.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to STEM Education and Mentorship
• 01:48 The Importance of Middle School Girls in STEM
• 04:31 Personal Journey in Mathematics and NSA Career
• 09:01 The Evolution of Technology and Its Impact
• 14:10 Privacy and Cybersecurity Insights
• 17:13 AI in Education and Society
• 19:38 Mentoring Middle School Girls
• 22:38 Teaching Strategies for Engaging Students
• 27:10 Challenges in Education and the Future of STEM

About our Guest: Dr. Leslie Gruis

Born a patriot and raised on Capitol Hill, Dr. Leslie Gruis has dedicated her life to the intersection of mathematics, national service, privacy and civil liberties. She spent three decades as a senior intelligence officer at the National Security Agency, where she developed disruptive technologies to tackle complex security challenges and helped shape internal debates around surveillance and privacy. As the first president of the NSA’s Women in Mathematics Society, she championed inclusion in STEM early in her career. Dr. Gruis also held leadership roles at U.S. Cyber Command and the National Intelligence Council before retiring to focus on public education and advocacy. She is the author of Privacy: Past, Present, and Future;The Privacy Pirates, and a forthcoming third book Her texts are not only high-impact, but use language accessible and understandable by all-Americans.In addition to writing and speaking, Dr. Gruis mentors students in math, science, and history, especially middle school girls aspiring to careers in STEM. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Engineering Sciences from Northwestern University and remains an active member of professional societies including Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Association for Computing Machinery, Association for Women in Mathematics, and the Washington Academy of Sciences.

Links of Interest

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-gruis-b8060b141/

About Leslie’s Book: The Privacy Pirates

• Purchase on Amazon:https://amzn.to/3L0UP2Q

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