Press Release: 10/19/2026
MEDIA ADVISORY: Healey-Driscoll Administration Kicks Off Massachusetts 2026 STEM Week, Oct. 19-23
STEM celebrations and announcements happening across the state all week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
10/16/2026
BOSTON — Next week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration will celebrate 2026 STEM Week with events and announcements across Massachusetts to lift up and highlight the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and careers. The theme for STEM Week is ‘STEM Starts Now’, reinforcing the message that STEM learning can start at any age and plays a crucial role in shaping the future workforce of the state.
Starting Monday, Oct. 19 and lasting throughout the week, Secretary Zrike will attend more than a dozen STEM Week events across Massachusetts, joined throughout by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez and Higher Education Interim Commissioner José Luis Santos.
2026 STEM Week Schedule
All events are open to press, please RSVP to Jason.Law@mass.gov
Monday, October 19:
What: 2026 STEM Week kickoff celebration and Engineering Design Challenge
Who: Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones, Higher Education Interim Commissioner José Luis Santos, Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, Museum of Science President Tim Ritchie
When: Monday, October 19, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Where: Museum of Science, 1 Science Pk, Boston, MA 02114
Event starts with a press conference followed by Engineering Design Challenge with students and an interactive STEM experience in the museum’s new Public Science Common
What: Horizons for Homeless Children’s STEM programming classroom visit
Who: Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw
When: Monday, October 19, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Horizons for Homeless Children, 1785 Columbus Ave, Roxbury, MA 02119
What: Training Resources and Internship Network (TRAIN) grant announcement
Who: Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Higher Education Interim Commissioner José Luis Santos, MassBay Community College President David Podell
When: Monday, October 19, 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Where: MassBay Community College, 490 Franklin St, Framingham, MA 01702
Tuesday, October 20:
What: Career Technical Education (CTE) expansion announcement
Who: Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia
When: Tuesday, October 20, 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Where: Montachusett Vocational Partnership (MVP) Center, 270 Westminster Street Fitchburg, MA 01420
What: Framingham Centre Nursery School program visit
Who: Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw
When: Tuesday, October 20, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Framingham Centre Nursery School, 24 Vernon Street, Framingham, MA 01701
What: Sky View Middle School OpenSciEd classroom visit
Who: Education Secretary Steve Zrike
When: Tuesday, October 20, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Sky View Middle School, 500 Kennedy Way, Leominster, MA 01453
What: Workforce Investment Trust Fund announcement
Who: Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones, Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley
When: Tuesday, October 20, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Middlesex Community College, Bedford Campus, 591 Springs Road, Building 8
Wednesday, October 21:
What: MassMakes Innovation Challenge with MassTech
Who: Education Secretary Steve Zrike
When: Wednesday, October 21, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Where: Basketball Hall of Fame, 1000 Hall of Fame Ave, Springfield, MA 01105
What: Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair State House Day
Who: Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez
When: Wednesday, October 21, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133
What: Greater Holyoke YMCA STEM Design Challenge grant announcement
Who: Education Secretary Steve Zrike
When: Wednesday, October 21, 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Where: Greater Holyoke YMCA, 171 Pine Street, Holyoke, MA 01040
Thursday, October 22:
What: Innovation Career Pathways announcement
Who: Education Secretary Steve Zrike
When: Thursday, October 22, 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Where: Norwood High School, 245 Nichols Street, Norwood, MA 02062
What: Career Technical Education and Skills Capital Grant classroom visit
Who: Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, Higher Education Interim Commissioner José Luis Santos, Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School Superintendent Roger Forget
When: Thursday, October 22, 11:45 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School, 220 Sandwich Road, Bourne, MA 02532
What: Massachusetts Maritime Academy classroom demo
Who: Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Higher Education Interim Commissioner José Luis Santos, President of Massachusetts Maritime Academy Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald,
When: Thursday, October 22, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 101 Academy Dr, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
Friday, October 23:
What: Visit and tour inside Harmonic Drive, a precision motion control products manufacturer
Who: Education Secretary Steve Zrike
When: Friday, October 23, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Harmonic Drive, 42 Dunham Ridge, Beverly, MA 01915
Note: photography and video recording are prohibited inside facility
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