Adam is inspiring future STEM leaders with hands-on learning.

“My parents taught me the most important lesson of my life: knowledge is mobility, and education is the vehicle.”

Adam Mesewicz is an educator making an impact on his students’ pursuit of STEM careers with the help of Deloitte’s Smart Factory Believers program.

As a former engineering teacher and current Director of Career Connected Learning Programs, Adam Mesewicz built his career on education and credits his family as the catalyst for his zest in learning and discovery. Early on, he was encouraged to explore his interests, participating in various science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities and a class in the fifth grade where he built and launched his first rocket. Adam went on to study math in college and was inspired by a professor to use his role as a teacher to create more opportunities for those in under-resourced communities.

"Her teachings on the pervasive impact of education and the challenges to think critically about societal issues pushed me to consider a career where I could make a meaningful difference."

While in college, Adam began to further understand opportunity gaps due to disparities in resources. This realization shaped his perspective and motivated him to dedicate his career to bridging those gaps, specifically in the STEM field.

As such, Adam began his career teaching Algebra and AP Statistics in an under-resourced school in Ohio. He then became an engineering teacher and STEM coordinator at Cristo Rey High School in Philadelphia. There, the school's president—a former Deloitte leader—introduced Adam to Deloitte’s Smart Factory Believers program. He believed the program would be an excellent opportunity to enhance the school's STEM offerings and introduce students to careers they might not have been exposed to otherwise.

"Without initiatives like Smart Factory Believers, schools in under-resourced communities struggle to afford the type of cutting-edge technology the program provides. A student's access to transformative STEM educational tools—and their preparation for entering the workforce of the future—should not be limited by the ZIP code in which they live."

Adam was able to integrate the Believers’ program Smart Rovers, a robotics educational kit provided by Deloitte and its collaborators, into both his classroom and the mentorship STEAM Club that he advised. In his engineering class, Adam used Snap Circuits™ and the Smart Rovers to teach students about circuits, electricity, computer science, and robotics in a hands-on and engaging way. In an after-school program, he used the Smart Rovers to spark enthusiasm for robotics among high school students, which ultimately led to the formation of a For Inspiration Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics team at the school.

Adam witnessed remarkable changes in students who were involved with the Believers program. Using Smart Rovers in the classroom can spark a curiosity that quickly expands beyond the school day, inspiring students to complete every Smart Rover project available and tackle more complex challenges.

An example is José, a student of Adam’s who participated in one of the school’s first robotics workshops when he was in the eighth grade. During that workshop, Adam witnessed a pivotal moment with the student—he saw the proverbial “light bulb” go off when he successfully ran his first program. Now, as a sophomore at Cristo Rey, that spark has grown into a bright and steady flame. José’s experience with the Smart Rovers and Believers program ignited a passion for software engineering, inspiring him to delve deeper into the field. Today, he is interning with a software development team at a broadcasting and cable television company and serves as the lead for the software group on the school’s robotics team.

"José's incredible journey from a curious eighth grader to a thriving 10th-grade leader is a testament to what a motivated student can achieve when given the right tools and opportunities to explore their potential."

After his time at Cristo Rey, Adam decided to make a change in his career. Now, he is the director of Career Connected Learning Programs for the TGR Foundation. Adam continues to use the Smart Rovers and the Believers program to introduce middle and high school students to STEM careers such as hardware and software engineering. Rather than simply telling students about these careers or hosting career panels, the Smart Rovers give students real-world experience. They build circuits with real resistors, LEDs, and motor controllers and write and execute programs on the Smart Rover, bringing these careers to life in an authentic and hands-on way.

"Bringing this part of the Believers program to my new organization felt essential because of its transformative potential. The program aligns with the TGR Foundation’s mission to inspire students to pursue their passions and helps close opportunity gaps by introducing them to high-paying STEM careers of the future in an accessible and impactful way."

When Adam first started his career as a math teacher, he often fielded the classic question, “When am I ever going to use this?” He knew math was valuable for developing basic skills but also knew that he could go much further with how he used his passion to impact others. Now, Adam is using his math skills in ways beyond what he could’ve imagined by inspiring future STEM leaders in the engineering and manufacturing workforce, no matter their economic background.

"I BELIEVE that the work I do in underserved communities is critical for creating access to the exciting and high-paying jobs of the future. By providing students with the resources and support they need, we can help them pursue fulfilling careers and make meaningful contributions to the world. Everyone deserves the chance to succeed, and I’m committed to making that a reality."