other growing industries, including advanced manufacturing. “We try to match students to local industry needs,” Dr. Rendell says, adding that when new industries emerge, the district partners with local organizations to understand those workforce demands. Lockheed Martin’s supplier network demonstrates the scale of opportunity, with more than one hundred suppliers in Brevard County alone. Baluta believes the industry’s impact is transformative, saying,“It can change lives and family trees.” WRITTEN IN THE STARS Looking ahead, the district aims to make its pathways even more transparent and more accessible. Dr. Rendell hopes that “when rockets launch here at the Cape, our students watch that rocket and see themselves as a part of it.” For Harris, adaptability is the skill that will define student success. “It is evolving so rapidly that we have to teach students that you learn things, you unlearn things, and then you relearn,” she says, adding that industry partnerships ensure classroom STEM lessons remain relevant. Baluta agrees that the future of exploration will require tapping into local talent. “Space is for everybody,” he says. “If we are going to have a sustained presence on the moon and go to Mars and beyond, we cannot leave talent lying dormant.” In Brevard, that talent may begin with a child staring up at a rocket — and a school district ready to show them the way forward. 207 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12 BREVARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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