TV meteorologist educates Quakertown students about potential career

Channel 69 meteorologist Clayton Stiver speaks with fourth graders at Quakertown Elementary School.

About 40 Quakertown Elementary School fourth graders learned this week that if they love math and science, a career in meteorology could be for them. Clayton Stiver of channel 69 news spoke to the students of Christa Held and Steve Wysocki about why he loves his job, what it took to get it and how he develops the weather forecast. “I think whenever we connect learning to the real world for students, we win a small victory and perhaps inspire young people who will become involved in wide variety of careers as they reach adulthood,” Wysocki said. “One of the most important lessons our fourth-grade students learned today is to find what you are passionate about and do what it takes to achieve it and, as Clayton Stiver did, you might just turn it into a career you love.” Stiver told students that a meteorologist is an atmospheric scientist who studies the weather. He asked them if they like math and science. When nearly all hands went up, he said, “That’s good, because you have to take some really hard classes” in those subjects to become a meteorologist. He likes getting out of the office to explain his job to young people. “One of the best things I get to do is visit schools and speak to students,” he said. Held said the educational aspect of Stiver’s visit is important. In addition, however, “It gets the students thinking about their future,” she said.