AP motivates girls to pursue STEM careers
Monalisa Chadha, assistant principal at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School of Innovation, has a message for young women: “Girls, you’re engineers by nature. Don’t let anyone say otherwise.”
“My goal is to motivate girls to follow their passions and make a positive impact by providing them with the chances I didn’t have growing up,” Chadha said. “I think education changes lives and I want to be part of the change.”
Chadha said she grew up in a small town with limited opportunities, so she grabbed every chance she could to learn and discovered her love of teaching. As a woman in STEM fields, she wants to motivate more young women to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, and math.
One of the things that Chadha does to promote STEM fields among young women is a physics and coding camp for girls—something of which she is proud. The camp is offered through the Design Connect Create program, which immerses girls in science and engineering, teaching them at an early age some of the physics/engineering concepts they will face later, Chadha said.
“The girls come back with confidence in the material and a strong foundation that allows them to survive and succeed at these often demanding subjects,” Chadha said. “In addition, the program builds on a support system that would enable them to tread confidently as women and pursue different fields in STEM.”
Chadha, who has been with the district since 2008, started her career as a substitute teacher transitioning to a full-time teaching position at Emmett J. Conrad High School in 2010. In 2022, she became a Career and Technical Education coordinator at the high school, and in 2023, she took on the role of assistant principal at Roosevelt High School.
One of the messages that she’d like to share with her students and colleagues is that you can learn at any age. She knows this to be true because she recently received her second masters degree in urban education.
With every new opportunity, there are new challenges. When things get tough, Chadha said she uses the FAR approach to keep going. It stands for “focus, adapt, and reflect.” For focus, she keeps her eyes on the prize, and it keeps her motivated and driven, no matter what gets in the way. For adapt, she adapts to challenges and turns obstacles into opportunities for success by keeping an adaptable mindset. For reflect, she pauses to consider her progress and gives herself credit for achievements, whether major or minor.
Throughout her years with the district, Chadha has experienced many memorable moments. One of her favorite memories includes Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde, then chief of schools, visiting her school, where she presented her with a shawl during a multicultural program in 2010. Another moment includes the feeling of joy when the Conrad robotics team made it to the world competition.
“Seeing how excited and proud they were filled me with satisfaction,” she said.
Bringing technology into classrooms is one of the things that has impacted her the most during her tenure with the district. She described it as causing a revolution in teaching approaches, which boosted student participation and made it easier for everyone to access educational materials.
She has also appreciated the district’s efforts to provide equal access to a top notch education for students from all backgrounds and for creating a welcoming learning environment.
“These improvements have done more than just boost grades,” Chadha said. “They’ve fostered a sense of belonging and community among students and staff alike.”
As for young women who want to pursue STEM careers, she wants to encourage them to remember what it’s all about: “be you, be nice to yourself, and take on challenges.”
“You can do it! You can overcome any obstacle and reach your goals with hard work, creativity, and a few chuckles,” Chadha said.“Trust in yourself and chase your dreams without fear.”
