Iowa’s STEM BEST Future Workforce

STEM BEST Programs Iowa BIG North and No Boundaries collaborate to provide opportunities for students.
Middle school students enrolled in No Boundaries, a STEM BEST Program model, traveled to visit Iowa BIG North and further the STEM BEST collaborative spirit between school districts.

Growing the number of community collaborations involving school and business partnerships through the STEM BEST Program continues to be a goal for the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. By helping expand the learning continuum from school to careers, the benefits of this program have been felt throughout communities across Iowa.

STEM BEST helps create a culture of cooperation and innovation to assist in the development of Iowa’s education and economy. The need for a future workforce that is adaptable and innovative is apparent now more than ever for the state.

Some school districts have used this out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration across boundaries and district lines to provide opportunities for students and educators that translates back to their local communities. STEM BEST Programs Iowa BIG North, a four-district consortium of Charles City, New Hampton, Osage and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock school districts and No Boundaries, a three-district consortium of Okoboji, Graettinger-Terril and Ruthven-Ayrshire school districts have applied this model to allow their students and educators the benefit of shared learning - demonstrating that working together through adversities leads to new opportunities. 

Fostering future opportunities for Iowa’s students and communities has created authentic learning in every corner of the state and in communities of all sizes. The number of STEM BEST Program applications are on track for a record setting year as the June 15 application deadline fast approaches. This demonstrates enthusiasm and desire for work-based learning opportunities and partnerships among Iowa schools and workplaces.

To complete an application or learn more about a STEM BEST Program partner in your backyard, visit https://iowastem.gov/STEMBEST.

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