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Fall Meeting of Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Marks Transition Period

Consistency through change was the message delivered by members, friends and allies of the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at their bi-annual meeting on Monday, November 13, in room B100, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines. As Jeff Weld steps down from the post of executive director, smooth and swift leadership transition is a top concern among attendees.

Iowa youth gain awareness and excitement for STEM through STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair, among other events and programs led by the STEM Council each year.

Letter from Executive Director

Dear Iowa STEM Community,

Students from the Clarinda School District demonstrate how they make computer science come to life with STEM Scale-Up Program Storytime STEM-packs.

Thirteen STEM Programs Selected to Scale in Iowa

Educator applications have opened for the STEM Scale-Up Program which provides access to exemplary STEM educational opportunities for students throughout the state. These programs are some of the top in the nation and offer a diverse range of STEM activities to nearly 100,000 students each year.

Students from the Linn-Mar Venture Academics, a STEM BEST Program, gain non-traditional, project-based learning experiences in job sectors that are in high demand.

Thirty-Seven School Districts to Join STEM BEST Community

Thirty-seven Iowa school districts will join or expand offerings in the STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program to provide students with real workplace experiences.

Blake Fehringer, Le Mars High School Skills and Technical Sciences Teacher, took part in a STEM Teacher Externship experience at Interstates.

Teacher Externships Connect Classroom Learning to Careers

Iowa's educators have considerable influence in equipping tomorrow's workforce with

Dr. Duhita Mahatmya, research scientist at the University of Iowa, is featured on the latest STEM Gem poster to inspire students and create awareness of STEM careers.

The 2023 STEM Gem of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council

Each year, an Iowan of distinction in STEM is selected to be featured on a classroom poster distributed to thousands of teachers across the state. Career-linked learning helps students connect the dots between skills learned in the classroom and real-world application. Dr.

STEM BEST Program Boone Edge provides a work-based learning continuum of awareness, exploration and training in partnership with employers and higher education institutions.

Making STEM Class Matter by Tying to World of Work

Work-Based Learning (WBL), a phrase coined by the U.S. Department of Labor for career-technical education, is fast becoming mainstreamed into Iowa’s STEM classes as Career-Linked Learning (CLL).

STEM Council Member Louis Moreno featured in Computer Science career video.

Computer Science is for Everyone

STEM learning often begins early. Louis Moreno, an IT Support Analyst at Ruan and STEM Advisory Council member, recalls an interest in computer science from a young age, beginning with a curiosity of how his video games worked.

Pi515’s Tech Mentorship Program and Iowa 4-H’s Nutcracker Ballet + STEM received the STEM Council’s Seal of Approval for their contributions that help to enculturate, sustain and spread STEM thinking.

Two Programs Stamped with STEM Council Seal of Approval

The STEM Council aims to increase interest and achievement in STEM and prepare students for career paths in STEM fields. STEM experiences can happen almost anywhere.

Jason and Meghan Lang pass the STEM Teacher Externships Program torch after 14 years of leading the growing program.

Passing the STEM Externships Leadership Torch

What began fourteen years ago with a few brave teachers crossing the threshold into businesses for summer immersion has blossomed into one of Iowa’s most effective educator-employer partnerships.

Business and industry partners have helped grow and develop the next generation of high-demand workers through the STEM Teacher Externships Program.

Call for Employer-Hosts for Summer Teacher

Each summer, the STEM Council matches some of Iowa’s most talented STEM educators with Workplace Hosts and helps build partnerships that enhance the workplace and the community’s future workforce.

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