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SC STEM Hub
Collier-Scripps Hall
Office #214
2702 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50031
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STEM BEST Helps School-Community Innovation | |
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BEST Overview
The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council has awarded 118 STEM BEST® Programs since 2014 with an opportunity to grow a series of community collaborations involving school+business partnerships. Working side-by-side, teachers and industry professionals will craft curriculum and projects that prepare students for developing the skill sets for success in STEM pathways.
1. Award amounts up to $40,000.
2. The timeframe for expenditure is 17 months – February 2024 to June 2025.
3. Cost-share requirement is 2:1 match required, or $40,000 state to $20,000 awardee.
BEST Design Day Help Sessions
Iowa STEM is partnering with Iowa Area Education Agency (AEA) Online to provide STEM BEST Design Days.
These six 30-minute mini-sessions run September through October with a one-day session in early November. The purpose of all the sessions is to share information and provide STEM BEST Program design support. It's offered to any school district interested in applying for BEST funding.
Click on each date to register.
Applicants must be from an established public or private school of Iowa and can apply for up to $40,000 to bring authentic learning opportunities to students through businesses and education partnerships.
The application opens on October 2, 2023. More Information is available at iowastem.org/stembest.
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BEST (Ever) Program Coordinator | |
Pella's Teri Vos Talks STEM BEST | | |
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Tanya Hunt, Iowa STEM BEST Program Coordinator, asked Teri Vos (pictured) to talk about how her community utilized BEST resources. Voss is the Director of Work Based Learning in Pella and has experience on both the side of the employer and now as a bridge to the schools.
Check out Vos' advice to new or returning applicants.
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Q: How has STEM BEST impacted students?
A: STEM BEST funding has been key to developing our PEERS and LifeSkills programs, which bring local employer representatives into the classroom. They provide career awareness and exploration to students in grades K-12, and build relationships between students and employers in our area. The students are learning employability skills, discovering jobs that are available in our region, and meeting future mentors, coworkers and friends.
STEM BEST funding made this possible, building programs that help provide a bridge for students to progress from engaged education opportunities to successful employment.
Q: What opportunities have been presented to you or your students as a result of receiving STEM BEST?
A: Area schools and employers have been incredibly receptive to this new programming, allowing local employers to connect with 800 K-9 students in classrooms via PEERS, as well as 2,121 7th-12th graders via LifeSkills programming, in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Q: What are the benefits of building school + business partnerships?
A: For us, it creates an on-ramp to students finding successful employment in our region. The purpose of all our work is for area students to thrive in local careers, and it's working. Any employer who understands this partnership provides a talent pipeline into their business, is immediately invested.
Q: What tips would you pass along to someone thinking about applying for STEM BEST?
A: Have a conversation with a few local employers and/or your local chamber to identify the most in-demand career needs in your area. Identify whatever resources you already have to potentially address any of their suggestions and/or needs, and then pursue STEM BEST funding to fill the gaps.
The team that manages and facilitates the STEM BEST grant are incredibly helpful and great to work with, so reach out to them and proceed with confidence that this will make a difference to the students and community you serve!
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Vos is a longtime advocate for Iowa’s workforce. Her focus has turned to motivating students toward Iowa’s workforce with the development of Iowa’s High School Registered Apprenticeship Playbook in 2018. WorkSMART Connector is the “umbrella term” for the program she helped develop, recognized by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council as a STEM BEST model. For contact info, please visit Pella Community School's website.
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Sept. 30: Wayne County STEM Fest | |
The Wayne County STEM Festival was a cornucopia of hands-on activities and demos that brought together 223 exhibitors and attendees at the first annual event. Here are the numbers: | |
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--61 exhibitors, creating
- 41 hands-on exhibits
- 9 vehicles on display
- 1 make-n-take workshop
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--21 sponsors
--12+ event volunteers
--152 attendees
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"Having the whole community getting involved, by either being an exhibitor, volunteer, or sponsor, made my vision come true," said Connie Mehrhoff, event founder and organizer. "We are already looking forward to doing this event again next year, with more exhibitors already contacting me. I can’t thank everyone enough."
Highlights included a row of vehicles that students could climb in and on. A 30-minute slime workshop taught the chemistry of how it works and sent students home with their very own. A walking taco dinner made from Wayne County-raised Wagyu beef--plus cookies, apples, Doritos for all, and much more!
"Every community brings unique applications of STEM, and Wayne County was exemplary," said Dr. Sarah Derry, SC STEM Hub Manager and festival organizer. "The planning committee did an outstanding job recruiting and preparing the presenters. The STEM professionals did an amazing job of connecting their work to the participants lives. The kids asked incredible questions. You could really tell they were interested. I bet I’ve been at over 100 STEM festivals in my career, and I learn something new at every one of them."
If you'd like to help plan, exhibit or attend next year's event, click on the name and send Connie a note. We'll get you on an email list for the most up-to-date info.
"I wish everyone had the opportunity to attend STEM festivals in and outside of their own communities--the Hub is working on it!," added Derry. "I’m already looking forward to the next one."
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Nominate a Great STEM Teacher Today | |
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Administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, students and other STEM advocates are invited to nominate an inspirational science, technology, engineering or mathematics teacher for the 2023-2024 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries and the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council.
This award honors teachers who make a significant difference in the lives of students across the state by providing excellent curriculum, encouraging lifelong learning and inspiring a passion for STEM beyond the classroom and into the future. Awardees recieve $3,000. We are looking for educators who represent Iowa, defined as:
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Innovative: Use unique ways to educate students to develop a curiosity in STEM fields.
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Outstanding: Have a true passion for education and provide an exceptional learning experience.
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Worldly: Help students see that STEM is all around us and is more than the sum of its parts.
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Academic: Engage students in the classroom, preparing them for higher education and high-demand careers.
Important Dates:
- October 10, 2023 --- Nominations close
- October 11, 2023 --- Teacher applications open
- November 14, 2023 --- Teacher applications close
- February-March 2024 --- School ceremonies for 2023-2024 recipients
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Externships: Plan Now for Next Summer | |
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We checked in with Iowa STEM's new project manager, Ann Gritzner (pictured above). She'll be coordinating the state's Extnership Program, and she's already hard at work renewing and finding more hosts. She took a moment to talk with us about plans for Summer 2024.
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Q: What type of business or organization makes a worthwhile host site? Are there qualities of a good host?
A: Because we pull teachers from across the state and across many disciplines, we need hosts sites in all areas.
They key thing we look for in a host is a willingness to work with the Extern during the summer and to continue to lend support to teacher's work as they return to the classroom. We really try to build a connection between the teachers and their community partners. In return the partner gets a hand in shaping the future work force.
Q: For those wondering what an extern might do, how do hosts find projects? Do you have advice/parameters for the types of work an extern can most successfully do?
A: Longstanding “to do” lists that have been shelved are often the place that business host start to find a summer project. An Extern is often a "bonus employee" that can address a project that has been put off.
Most importantly we want the extern to have the experience of working in their STEM field. They get to be a scientist, engineer, mathematician, etc. for the summer. We like to challenge the teachers while still contributing to the organizations bottom line.
The skill set of the extern can vary greatly depending on each teachers individual background. The key is to match the best Teacher Extern skill set with the needs of the host. A lot of time and energy goes into making the matches as well as recruiting teachers and hosts.
Q: What are the benefits to a host site?
A: There are many benefit for the hosts including:
- Building a lasting partnership with local schools and the future workforce
- Utilizing the talent and expertise of a local STEM Teacher for up to six weeks. In the past 96% of business hosts reported that teacher-externs provided significant contributions on assigned projects.
- Helping the future workforce learn of career opportunities and understand the 21st century skills at your company.
- Gaining publicity through the teacher and program’s promotion. Partner involvement gives a business to opportunity to promote its commitment to STEM education and economic development in Iowa.
Q: What energy or resources must a host site put into the experience?
A: Each host need to identify a project or multiple project for the Teacher Extern to complete. We ask that host provide 200-240 of work experience for each Teacher Extern over the course of the summer.
In addition, we ask that host cost share the expense of the program if they are able through a tax deductible donation.
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Gritzner says that additional information and application forms can be found on the STEM Council website at https://iowastem.org/externships. Employers/teachers are also welcome to email Gritzner@IowaSTEM.org or Externships@IowaSTEM.org for more information.
The application is open on the website. You can request more information through the application site as well.
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February 10: IMMAWII Ed Day | |
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Photo from I'll Make Me a World in Iowa's 2023 website.
Educators, exhibitors, and families--please save the date for this year's I'll Make Me a World in Iowa (IMMAWII) Education Day. Within that event, the SC STEM Hub coordinates a mini-STEM fest that features diverse exhibitors and welcoming messages.
IMMAWII's Executive Director Betty Andrews coordinates a Gala, Education Day, and Celebration Day, with the later two scheduled for February 10-11. Education Day serves students in grades 6-12, and attendees and exhibitors come from around the state.
If you have an interest in being a part of this day, please email the hub.
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Mathrubutham & Mohr Chosen as Co-Chairs | |
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Congratulations to Mahesh Mathrubutham and Alison Mohr (pictured) for being unanimously elected as South Central STEM Hub's Regional Advisory Board Co-Chairs!
We appreciate their dedication and leadership to brining the best STEM to Iowa students.
This partnership represents an important blend of backgrounds, skills, and talents. Mohr, a past middle school STEM teacher, serves as NewBoCo's Assistant Director of K-12 Education. Mathrubutham, a former academic researcher, founded SuperBio (a probiotics company) and teaches at DMACC.
Always present and first to volunteer, the SC Region is fortunate to have their expertise and positivity.
Thanks to all SC Regional Boards for serving in this leadership capacity. Along with Mohr and Mathrubutham, members include: Bridgette Andrews, Ashely Cook, Creighton Cox. Sherry Ford, Ronda McCarthy, Joe Murphy, Amber Pargmann, Scott Schultz, and Laura Williams.
Email the hub if you'd like information on how to get more involved with STEM.
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Scale-Up: Everyone Has a Story | |
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Were you awarded a Scale-Up Program for this school year?
If so, please share your story and pictures with us! We will share your story in our newsletters and social media. Better yet, invite Sarah out to see your Scale-up Program in action!
Email the hub and we'll come up with a plan to visit!
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