News

Next Leader for Iowa STEM

Alongside Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Co-Chair Diane Young, Iowa Department of Education McKenzie Snow announced Justin Lewis as the STEM Bureau Chief under the Division of Innovation effective March 1. As Bureau Chief, Mr.

Winterset High School Teacher Kacia Cain utilizes STEM Scale-Up Program SoapyCilantro to connect genetics to medical careers.

STEM Scale-Up Programs Provide Career Context

Each year, the STEM Council introduces a new menu of STEM Scale-Up Programs available to educators across Iowa. The Scale-Up Program aims to bring top STEM education opportunities to all learners, inspire young Iowans to pursue STEM career opportunities and increase student achievement in STEM.

Corporate Partners Heighten STEM Impact

STEM is a vital economic development advantage for quality job growth in Iowa. STEM graduates are in great demand to meet current and future workforce needs. The STEM Council opportunities that inspire Iowa’s young people to become innovative, enterprising contributors to our future workforce are made possible with the help of our public and private partnerships.

Spencer High School was selected to develop a school district work-based learning plan.

Nine School Districts to Pioneer Work-Based Learning Plans

Nine school districts have stepped up to create K-12 work-based learning plans that do four things:

Detail a spectrum of innovative WBL options connecting K-12 classrooms to future careers;
Integrate WBL in a cohesive way across grade levels and content disciplines to diverse students;
Involve businesses and other community partners; and

Waukee APEX, a STEM BEST Program model, offers a human services sector that is designed to give students a hands-on experience.

STEM BEST Program to Emphasize High Demand Careers

The STEM Council is focusing a special round of the STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program to help prepare students to enter job sectors that are in high demand, made possible by legislated support funding through the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Two Programs Earn STEM Council Seal of Approval

To enculturate, sustain and spread STEM thinking, the STEM Council created the Seal of Approval to recognize and support programs and events that help achieve STEM Council goals, yet are not under the STEM Council umbrella.

MVP for Iowa STEM: Stephanie Laird

STEM is present in our everyday lives; and Stephanie Laird, Southeast Polk Community School District Learning Supports Coordinator and this month’s STEM MVP, was drawn to STEM at an early age. Growing up in rural Illinois, she remembers unboxing and putting together her family’s first computer by herself and was thrilled when it worked.

STEM BEST H.D. Office Hours

STEM BEST H.D. Office Hours

Project Coordinator, Tanya Hunt along with current STEM BEST Mentors will hold office hours to answer questions and share details regarding STEM BEST H.D.

Have an idea you need to talk through?

Select the day below that is most convenient for you:

High school students from Saint Albert Catholic Schools, a STEM BEST Program model, code with robotics.

STEM Council’s STEM BEST Program to Emphasize High Demand Job Sectors This Fall

Computer Science is Elementary Project schools recently met to share ideas and prepare blueprints for implrementation.

Experimental Computer Science is Elementary Project Re-Shapes Grade School

2021-2022 STEM BEST Program mentors play a critical role in supporting the expansion of work-based learning in Iowa.

STEM BEST Program Gets Boost from Expert Mentors

From resources and webinars to workshops and handbooks, the STEM Council provides a strong support system to assist STEM BEST Programs throughout the year. These supports are made possible through the valiant efforts of the team, including STEM Council Program Coordinator Tanya Hunt and the STEM BEST Program mentors.