Meet Whitney Dudley, who married her high school sweetheart and is the devoted mother of three beautiful, busy and thriving daughters: Ollie, 15; Racine, 11; and Cori, 5.Whitney prides herself on always being present for her girls and has spent many years at their school(s) as a volunteer and/or ...

Meet Whitney Dudley, who married her high school sweetheart and is the devoted mother of three beautiful, busy and thriving daughters: Ollie, 15; Racine, 11; and Cori, 5.

Whitney prides herself on always being present for her girls and has spent many years at their school(s) as a volunteer and/or an employee. Whitney holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology as well as a certification in nonprofit leadership. She is ecstatic to be the new executive director of Growing the STEM, a local nonprofit organization that works in partnership with the Coeur d'Alene School District to offer afterschool STEM programs, free of cost, to all students.

1) What was your favorite subject in school and why?

My favorite subject in school was math. I loved knowing that there was a concrete, black-and-white answer at the end, yet there was also room for error and the ability to review and see where you went wrong to correct it and move forward.

2) What drew you to Growing the STEM and what is this group all about?

In all honesty, initially I stumbled upon Growing the STEM in the search of keeping a balance between being an active mom while also filling my cup and diving back into the workforce. GTS checked off all the boxes: It’s a local nonprofit organization, it's education based and it's flexible. GTS allowed me to be available in my children’s life yet still be a part of their educational journey. Here's the thing though — what started out as an intriguing part-time position has grown into so much more! I am honored to be the executive director of GTS! I feel so lucky to be a part of such an amazing, one-of-a-kind organization with an ambitious board, eager high school coaches, dedicated teachers and excited elementary students! A little more about GTS: Growing the STEM was founded in 2017 by two young, inspirational sisters who wanted to share their love for math with more students in our community. Flash forward to 2025 and their love of has spread throughout the Coeur d’Alene School District. It has also grown to include science (STEM), chess, art (STEAM) and even a book club. We are able to "pilot" new programs every year thanks to the support of local grants and generous donors. Our mission is to organize and support math and science programs for students in Coeur d’Alene public schools, with an emphasis on developing youth leaders and encouraging underrepresented groups to pursue STEM education and activities. GTS has programs at every elementary school in Coeur d’Alene as well as two of our local middle schools. We are currently the only organization that offers afterschool clubs free of charge in our area. We currently serve over 950 students! To support GTS and for more information about us, please check out our website: growingthestem.org

3) What are some of your favorite things about Growing the STEM?

Growing the STEM is unique because although our programs are hosted by teachers within their classrooms, our programs are actually led by high school student coaches. Our coaches, who we like to call our "secret sauce," are able to mentor and inspire young students while developing their own leadership skills and giving back to the community. I absolutely love witnessing the relationships that form between the younger and older students. These teenagers have no idea the impact that they have on these children. Yes, they are teaching math and science, but they are also showing them that learning is FUN, it’s cool to smart and it’s OK to ask questions! Our high school coaches are truly building confidence, curiosity and a love of STEM. It’s a special kind of mentorship that only Growing the STEM is providing.

4) What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I am a true Idaho "native." I grew up in Post Falls and am a Post Falls High School graduate. I attended North Idaho College as well as the University of Idaho. I moved around a bit but couldn’t find a better community than ours. We truly live in the most gorgeous area with the best people!

5) Why is it important that students explore science, tech, engineering and math activities — what are some benefits?

It’s no secret that we’re living in a fast-paced, technology driven world. STEM education is essential to thrive in this world. STEM helps students develop strong math confidence at an early age so they are best prepared to take advantage of opportunities and succeed in STEM fields. This is crucial when 16 of the 20 fastest-growing careers in Idaho require STEM skills. STEM focuses on critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, creativity and also encourages teamwork. Growing the STEM takes that one step further and make sure to incorporate our core values in each of our programs:

• Youth development — We value kids helping kids, therefore placing students in leadership roles to develop the next generation of leaders and teach young people that they can make a difference.

• Equality — Given the importance of STEM education and known barriers and inequalities in the STEM fields, we seek gender, socioeconomic and cultural parity among participants in STEM activities.

• Fun — We believe that to be successful in expanding student engagement in math and science education, activities must be fun, entertaining and hands-on.

• Hard Work — To make sustainable and impactful change in our community, we need to work diligently and push students to become their best.

• Confidence — We believe confidence is a critical component in nurturing students’ interest in and pursuit of math and science fields and work to foster this in our programs.