August 2015

Kristine Bullock
SE Hub Manager


Last Friday of every month at the Iowa Children's Museum from 5:00-8:00

September 1, 5:00

September 15, 8:00-2:00, Marshalltown

AWIM Training
September 16, State Hygienic Lab

EiE PD
September 23, 8:00-4:00, BioVentures Center Multi-Purpose Room

FTC Returning PD
September 26, 8:00-5:00, John & Mary Pappajohn Education Center Room 128, Des Moines

FTC Rookie PD
October 3, 8:00-5:00, John & Mary Pappajohn Education Center Room 128, Des Moines

October 15, 9:00-11:00, Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa

STEM Pre-Service Teacher Conference
November 6 4:00-November 7 4:00,
Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa

November 19, 2:00-4:00, TBD
Submit Your STEM Event HERE

The Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council is a bipartisan collaboration of legislators, educators, businesses, students and families to increase STEM awareness and opportunities in Iowa.  To learn more about STEM programming going on in southeast Iowa, visit us at http://se.iowastem.org. 
 
New Board Members

We are very pleased to announce the appointments of three new board members to the Southeast Iowa STEM Hub Advisory Board! 


Mike Adams
 
Organization: President/CEO of Precision Bend & Machine Co.

"As an owner of a manufacturing plant, I see the importance of STEM in real world practical applications.  I would like to see the gap bridged between math/technology and vocational careers that drive our manufacturing facility."  
 

Chris Cournoyer
 
Organization:  Self-employed Webmaster, Pleasant Valley School Board of Education, Communications Chair for Quad City Engineering & Science Council, Jr. FIRST Lego League coach, after-school Lego Robotics teacher

" I am particularly interested in encouraging girls and minorities and want to be a role model for those wanting to go into, and sustain, a career in a STEM-related field. I look forward to collaborating with STEM leaders from around our region and state that share my passion to enhance the availability and awareness of STEM education and opportunities."



Dwight L. Dohlman, P.E.

Organization:   City Engineer for the City of Ottumw a

"Due to all the ongoing technological advances, I believe now more than ever we need to instill a STEM desire in our youngsters.  While I may be biased, I feel future engineers will continue to play an important role in societal evolution.  Additionally, our children must have the opportunities for a learning environment that keep them on par with the rest the world.  While new to the STEM board, I look forward to those opportunities to put this philosophy into practice."
 
STEM Pre-Service Teacher Conference Coming Soon

The SE STEM Hub will be hosting a conference to bring together pre-service teachers at all grade levels from across the state of Iowa who are interested in STEM education. This conference will be a great opportunity for pre-service teachers to network with each other and teacher education faculty members from other institutions.  In addition, pre-service teachers will have the opportunity to network with current K-12 administrators interested in recruiting high quality STEM teachers.

Date & Time: 4:00 pm Friday, November 6 & 8:00 am- 4:00 pm Saturday, November 7

Location: Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa
                2301 Oakdale Boulevard, Coralville, IA 52241 

Potential breakout sessions for the conference include:
  • The goal of STEM education
  • Curriculum planning in different school settings
  • Resources available through the STEM Council, higher education, AEA's, informal educators, and community partners
  • Teaching in redesigned STEM learning environments
Please keep an eye out for more information from us in the next couple of months!
 
Business Engagement Highlight: Hillphoenix

 

Hillphoenix in Keosauqa, Iowa
The SE STEM Hub paid a business visit to Hillphoenix on July 17 in the historical town of Keosauqa, Iowa. Keosauqa is the county seat in Van Buren County and home to the second oldest active county courthouse in the nation. Hillphoenix is nestled in the heart of town and is the county's largest employer.

 

Hillphoenix manufactures temperature-controlled display cases, specialty products, and refrigeration power systems. They also have a plant located to the west in Centerville, Iowa (Appanoose County). Plant Human Resources Director Russ Curry and Director of Continuous Improvement Shannon Souplset provided a comprehensive tour of the plant coupled with numerous examples of the implementation of STEM both in technology and their workforce. Hillphoenix runs 3 full shifts and depends on a skilled labor pool to meet critical deadlines for production orders. 

 

A key growing business in Van Buren and Appanoose Counties, both Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds have individually toured the operation. Hillphoenix is eager to expand their already significant community role by participating in the SE STEM Hub's area festivals, assisting with Scale-Ups, and possibly hosting a teacher extern in the near future. The Governor's STEM Initiative presence in the region will help prepare a job-ready labor force and give students an overview of the opportunities available to them in their local communities.

 
University of Iowa & Kirkwood Welcome RAGBRAI

The SE Region STEM Hub at the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College welcomed RAGBRAI riders from Iowa and across the world to the Coralville/Iowa City area for the Friday night stop of the week long trek. Over 30,000 cyclists and support staff crowded the Iowa River Landing for entertainment and a chance to get pictures with Herky while learning of the exciting STEM initiatives happening in Iowa. The SE Region Hub (Governors STEM Council) joined forces with the UI's College of Engineering, College of Education, and the College of Medicine promoting STEM to attendee s including students, parents and grandparents.    
RAGBRAI riders attend the festivities in Coralville on July 24
 
 
Lee County STEM Initiatives

 

I am honored to be serving on the Southeast Iowa STEM Advisory Council. There is a lot of activity going on in Lee County, and I am excited to not only share our successes but bring ideas back to the area from other parts of Iowa.

 

As part of our workforce development efforts, Lee County EDG has been focusing on building a pipeline of local workers starting in the elementary schools. To do this, we have increased our Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) participation in the area through a variety of programs.

 

In our Grow Lee Lego Robotics program, students work in pairs to build a project then program the material with basic computer programing software. Through our Grow Lee Scholarship initiative, Lee County EDG provided 19 scholarships for Lee County students to participate in Southeastern Community College's Kidtek U summer STEM camps. The week-long camps included Woodworking, Fungineering, Heavy Metals and ROBOtek. Each of these camps expose students to a career path through project based learning.

 

I am excited to see programs like Grow Lee Lego Robotics and Kidtek U available to the elementary school students. We frequently expose our children to a variety of activities while they are young to see if they have any interest or talent in that area; why not do the same with vocational areas? With this early exposure, students can find what they like and potentially build a career.

Dana Millard,
SE Iowa STEM Hub Board Member

 

As a parent, I am glad to see the message of the variety of career paths available in Southeast Iowa spreading into the schools. There are a lot more opportunities for students to explore what interests them now than ever before.

 

Lee County EDG not only is familiarizing the students to the variety of career fields but also introducing them to our local manufacturers so they can see the variety of opportunities in Southeast Iowa. Many of our programs involve working together, building team problem solving skills, developing critical thinking, and communication skills in our youth. These are all skills everyone, regardless of chosen occupation, will need in order to be a successful adult. Which is what every parent wants for their child, to be happy and successful in their chosen field.

  Don't forget to submit your proposal for STEM BEST or STEM RLE by September 1!  Click here for more information.
Resources Galore!
A collection of resources for STEM educators, businesses, and community members
 
Facebook Resource Exchange

Do you have a great resource that you would like to share with teachers? Are you in search of STEM materials? Check out the Southeast Iowa STEM Hub Resource Exchange group on Facebook to post items you have to share or items that you are in search of!


New Pint Size Science Kits Available for Check-Out!
Pint Size Science kits are great STEM curricula for students ages 3-5! These kits help to introduce STEM topics through the understanding of basic space, physical, earth, and life sciences. Mathematical skills and a literacy component are also involved in these activities. Currently, we have  Science Sprouts, Mini Meteorologists, Gizmos and Gadgets and Insect Investigators !   If interested in checking out a kit or for more information, click here. 

  

A World In Motion Activity Kit Check-Out! 

Three types of kits designed for primary or elementary students are currently available for checkout. If interested in checking out a kit or for more information on the kits that are available, click here. 


Materials may be checked out for 6 weeks. They can be picked up and returned at W211 BioVentures Center, 2500 Crosspark Rd Coralville, IA 52241.  Please replace any consumables you use. 

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Sincerely,
 
Kristine Bullock
SE Iowa STEM Manager 
kristine-bullock@uiowa.edu