2020 STEM BEST® Program Partners

The STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program focuses on teachers and industry professionals working side-by-side to craft curriculum and projects that prepare students for exciting STEM careers local to their community in manufacturing, information technology, bioscience (agriculture and medicine), finance and more.

The STEM Council Executive Committee voted to award 12 competitively-selected school partnerships. The 2020 STEM BEST Program partners are:

Ames Community School District in the North Central STEM Region

Ames Middle School partners with Ames businesses to learn how STEM is integral to the business. Students will produce interactive demonstrations for public presentations at the Science in the City event held at the Ames Public Library.

Contact: Anthony Jones at anthony.jones@ames.k12.ia.us

Cedar Falls Community School District in the Northeast STEM Region

Cedar Falls Community School District will expand the Cedar Falls STEM BEST model (“CAPS”) to add Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) strand and Industries strand. New strands represent community demand for talent pipeline into critical industries.

Contact: Ethan Wiechmann at ethan.wiechmann@cfschools.org

Cedar Valley Catholic in the Northeast STEM Region

Cedar Valley Catholic will create project-based and work-based learning experiences for students in alliance with Cedar Falls “CAPS” that align with Iowa Core Curricular Standards and college and career readiness standards.

Contact: Tom Novotney at tnovotney@cvcatholic.org or Sarah Smith at ssmith@cvcatholic.org

Clear Lake Community School District in the North Central STEM Region

Clear Lake Community School District will expand curriculum and projects for elementary through secondary students in partnership with local businesses and an advisory board of employers to prepare students for high-demand careers in the community.

Contact: Emily Hill at ehill@clearlakeschools.org

Emmetsburg Community School District in the Northwest STEM Region

Emmetsburg Community School District is planning to expand student career exploration opportunities in partnership with employers in the Emmetsburg region.

Contact: Tracie Christensen at tchristensen@e-hawks.org

Lewis Central Community School District in the Southwest STEM Region

Lewis Central Community School District will focus on recycling/re-purposing plastics into other usable products by using their small-scale plastic manufacturing processes and create a Plastic Manufacturing business using the model of Rocket Manufacturing.

Contact: Nathan Van Zante at nathan.vanzante@lewiscentral.org

Marshalltown Community School District in the North Central STEM Region

Marshalltown Community School District is planning to expand their Career Pathways and Career Trees for additional STEM-focused future ready opportunities for Marshalltown students grades 8-12 conducting authentic experiences in video broadcasting alongside partners.

Contact: Pam Brewer-Michael at pbrewer@marshalltown.k12.ia.us

MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District in the Northwest STEM Region

MOC-Floyd Valley plans to design and development of a multi tier work-based learning program for manufacturing and entrepreneurship extended career experiences through project-based learning and on-site workplace experience alongside tradesmen.

Contact: Michael Mulder at mmulder@mocfv.org

Muscatine Community School District in the Southeast STEM Region

Muscatine Community School District will offer progressive work-based learning experiences from 8th to 11th grade with increasing career and college exposures for Muscatine middle and high school students.

Contact: Karey Hawkins at karey.hawkins@mcsdonline.org

North Fayette Valley Community School District in the Northeast STEM Region

North Fayette Valley Community School District plans to offer grades 10-12 authentic learning opportunities connected to community workplace experiences focused on community needs and career and college readiness. Students will investigate community needs and partner with community entities to tackle real-life issues.

Contact: Rachael Strong at rlstrong@nfv.l12.ia.us

Pella Community School District in the South Central STEM Region

Pella Community School District plans to expand the PEERS (Partnership for Excellent Educational Resources for STEM) model to create a continuum of business and student engagement in-demand careers in Iowa. This innovative continuum of learning will guide students from career exposure through career experiences from 2nd through 12th grade.

Contact: Lowell Ernst at lowell.ernst@pellaschools.org

Woodbine Community School District in the Southwest STEM Region

Woodbine Community School District will create specialty instruction modules in Woodbine’s new STEM workshop and classrooms within a new Community Wellness Center which support and expand the Construction Trades Program.  

Contact: Eric Moores at emoores@woodbine.k12.ia.us