The Seattle Times – Staff Writer 
Jeff Charbonneau of Washington’s Zillah High School and the 2013 National Teacher of the Year, believes the key to success in nearly every field is having a solid understanding in the STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – fields. “Whether you’re interested in a career in computers, business, law, architecture, education, medicine, construction, or just about any other subject, being grounded in STEM is invaluable,” Charbonneau says. Charbonneau, a Central Washington University alumnus, who has taught physics, chemistry and engineering classes at Zillah for more than 15 years, says learning STEM subjects can provide a basic understanding of the principles behind other subjects which on the surface might not seem science related. “Understanding STEM can provide insights into the basics behind such areas of study as business or architecture or any number of other fields,” he says.(more)