The June 2018 final report...

June 2018 Newsletter

STEM Professional Development, BEST Applications and STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair...

The new year brings lots of exciting times for STEM fans statewide! The calendar is full during July and August with STEM opportunities:

applications for BEST
Kemin I.O.W.A. Teacher
Professional Development for Scale-Up Awardees
Teacher and student Externships
and the big day of the Iowa State fair -STEM Day on Sunday August 19th!

Teacher in the Workforce Experience a great success!

A great planning team led by Stacie Euken of the Midwest Partnership sponsored a busy 4-day experience for educators in and around Guthrie, Audubon, Greene and Adair counties from June 11 through the 14th. Approximately 26 educators participated in the event which moved daily to new locations and introduced businesses and business issues from many perspectives. Discussions related the topics of what teachers need to know and teach about the world of work, the Future Ready Iowa Initiative, STEM in the workforce, and even a discussion of the age old question "will I ever use this information again?" The request for future sessions has already been made. Many thanks to the sponsors of the event!

STEM BEST application information - due date September 12th

The 2018 STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) application will seek 15 programs from across Iowa to bring real-world learning to K-12th grade programs through partnerships in new and exciting models. Details of the program are covered in the above link. The BEST application format has changed to an on-line format for the coming round so applicants please familiarize yourself with the requirements for all partners.

Currently there are 37 awarded programs around the state.

Hub Institutions Begin new 5-Year Award Cycle

July 1st beings a five-year renewal for the six Hub Institutions anchoring the Governor's STEM Advisory Council. Southwestern Community College will continue operating the Southwest Hub at the Red Oak Center. SWCC President Dr. Barb Crittenden is an appointee to the State STEM Council. VP of Economic Development Tom Lesan oversees the STEM program and is a the Hub representative on the Regional Advisory Board. The 15-member Southwest Regional Advisory Board will have 2 new members appointed the first week of July. and re-appointment of 5 members currently serving. Members serve a 3-year term.

STEM Scale-Up materials available in the SW Regional Check out program have been updated on the SWCC website. The link to those materials is updated weekly, and new items are added through out the year.

SW STEM Check Out Resources