Cracking the Glass Ceiling, Israel

Vision

Our vision is of a society that has leveled the playing field so that girls and women from social and geographic peripheries – who suffer from double exclusion – will have a genuine and equal opportunity to achieve educational and economic success in STEM-related fields.

Activity

“Cracking the Glass Ceiling” is a unique program designed to promote STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – education for underprivileged girls.

Both in education and in the professional world, STEM fields remain dominated by men, excluding many talented women from the personal development and economic development opportunities offered by today’s thriving STEM-based industries. This is especially true for girls and women from socio-geographic peripheries, who often belong to traditional communities characterized by a patriarchal bent.

Since a career in a STEM field requires STEM education, the program’s focus is on school-age girls; its goal is empowerment and provision of tools, support and encouragement to choose and succeed in STEM studies. An emphasis is put on mathematics. The ultimate goal is to increase the number of girls who achieve a quality, STEM-enhanced matriculation (bagrut) – a prerequisite to quality higher education and career options in STEM fields.

The program’s impact has been validated through external evaluation research studies that showed a significant improvement in the girls’ math grades, selection of high-level math studies and science studies, and advanced math matriculation rates. In the school year 2016-2017, the program was implemented in 27 schools, for 1,700 participants.

www.kiah.org.il/en/areas-of-activity/educational-excellence/item/696-cracking-the-glass-ceiling-promoting-young-women-to-science-education

A ship in port is safe; but that is not what ships are built for. Sail out to sea and do new things

- Grace Hopper, Naval officer and renowned computer programmed

Hana Sempler

Hana Sempler is a dedicated educator, who touched on the lives of thousands as teacher, school vice-principal, school principal, program director and pedagogical expert. In 2005, she received an Excellence in Education award from the Ministry of Education.

Hana has a BA in Education and History, and an MA in Biblical and Talmudic Studies.

As an experienced principal working in a disadvantaged area, Hana was well aware of the waste of talent and ambition that happens to many girls due to lack of belief in themselves, in educational opportunities and in empowering role models. Her exposure to the “Cracking the Ceiling Glass” program persuaded her in its effectiveness and when she was offered the opportunity to serve as director she did not hesitate.

Hana lives in Giv’at Shmuel, where she has raised four children. She now particularly enjoys her role as grandmother to her nine year-old granddaughter.