Cradle to Career: How Kent Valley’s Air and Space Workforce Begins in Middle School

The next generation of aerospace engineers, manufacturing technicians, and mission-critical innovators is already here—they’re just in 6th grade. Across Kent Valley, communities are investing early to ensure that students are not only exposed to the possibilities of air and space careers but are prepared to pursue them. At the heart of that effort is the Green River College Space Grant Teacher Training Program. This NASA-backed initiative provides Kent School District (KSD) science teachers with tools and training to develop and deliver an aerospace curriculum that resonates with students and sparks curiosity. 

This initiative goes beyond curriculum enrichment. It is a forward-looking investment in Kent Valley’s economic future. By providing middle schoolers with hands-on experience in the science and technologies that power aerospace and advanced manufacturing, the program helps build the next generation of Kent Valley’s workforce.

The Green River College Space Grant Teacher Training Program, funded through NASA and implemented in partnership with the University of Washington (UW), is designed to help middle school science teachers connect classroom learning with real-world aerospace applications. Through the program, teachers toured cutting-edge UW research labs, collaborated with PhD-level mentors, and co-developed new aerospace-themed curriculum units.

In its first year, the program reached 749 students across four KSD middle schools. Lessons included Arduino-powered sensors that mimic those used on Mars rovers, satellite mapping projects, and investigations of STEM careers using diverse role models. While the program’s content was built around space science and engineering, the skills it cultivates—coding, data analysis, and environmental sensing—are equally applicable in Kent Valley’s advanced manufacturing sector, particularly in areas such as robotics, automation, and precision fabrication.

National research consistently points to middle school as a make-or-break point for STEM identity and career interest. According to studies from the National Science Foundation, Vanderbilt University, and the Girl Scouts Research Institute, students begin solidifying their academic interests between the ages of 10 and 14. Without early, relevant exposure, many—especially girls and underrepresented minorities—fall out of the STEM pipeline before high school. The Green River College program meets this challenge head-on. By bringing aerospace relevance into the classroom through tactile, engaging learning experiences, it helps students build confidence and curiosity at a crucial time. 

This middle school engagement is not happening in isolation. It is part of a coordinated, cradle-to-career strategy being implemented across the Kent School District and the broader Kent Valley region. At the high school level, the district partners with the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) to offer youth apprenticeships in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

Through AJAC, students can earn while they learn by working part-time for employers like Hexcel, Hytek Finishes, and Blue Origin. Teachers and counselors are also brought into the loop through employer site visits and roundtable discussions, building alignment between classroom instruction and career pathways. Together, the Space Grant and AJAC programs represent a tightly linked approach: middle school builds awareness and interest, while high school delivers hands-on experience and technical preparation. 

Kent Valley has long been a national player in aerospace and manufacturing, with over 31,000 aerospace workers and $27 billion in economic output. However, maintaining that competitive edge requires more than just physical infrastructure; it requires a sustainable and diverse talent pipeline. The workforce initiatives unfolding in Kent Valley Middle schools serve this goal, as the Green River College’s Space Grant program supports teachers and students across the region, including schools located in Auburn, Kent, and Renton. 

These partnerships are reinforced by the Kent Valley Air and Space Manufacturing Roundtable, a cross-sector coalition aligning education, workforce, and industry strategies to support growth and innovation. In this context, early STEM engagement is not just educational best practice—it is a regional economic strategy.

The Green River College Space Grant Teacher Training Program has had a significant impact, reaching hundreds of students and equipping teachers with new tools to inspire curiosity and connect learning to real-world aerospace and manufacturing careers. Through hands-on activities, university collaboration, and teacher-led innovation, the program created lasting value across classrooms in Kent, Auburn, and Renton.

The program stands as a powerful example of what is possible when educational vision is paired with regional coordination. Its success reflects Kent Valley’s broader strategy: to invest in students early, align instruction with employer needs, and champion an inclusive pipeline into high-demand technical fields.

In Kent Valley, the belief in a cradle-to-career approach remains strong—embracing the reality that building a future-ready workforce doesn’t begin at high school graduation. Instead, the Valley is setting the trajectory much earlier, daring some of its youngest learners to build a launchpad for their dreams and reach the stars. The Space Grant program exemplified this commitment, reinforcing the region’s dedication to preparing talent for the air, space, and precision manufacturing sectors. 

Kent Valley offers a collaborative, future-focused approach to ensure a talented workforce is available to meet the needs of growing companies. To learn how to be part of this dynamic region, contact Kent Valley Economic Development.