Each National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office (WFO) is staffed with a Warning and Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) which is the major interface with the outside community. The WCM is charged with a number of different responsibilities. Among these is supervising contacts with K - 12 educational institutions. As a consequence, the WCM needs to have some insight into the needs of the educational community.
Each WCM attends the WCM Training Course which provides the basic training. In addition, various other techniques are being used. To date, very little training has been done to provide the WCM with knowledge to be able to interact effectively with the education community. While a few WCMs have experience in the K-12 classroom, most do not. Over half the NWS WFOs have staff who have participated as Operational Mentors in the DataStreme program. However, that participation may be the only way the WCM can ascertain the needs of teachers.
Plans are being made to revise the WCM training to provide information on the structure of the education system. The material being considered consists of information on the thrusts and changes in modern education, the role of State and District requirements in the structure of the classes, and the role of standardize testing in the academic community. This material will be incorporated in the WCM training course as well as distributed to WCMs who have been previously attended the WCM course.