November is all done...

STEMtastic things in the SW STEM Region

Welcome to State STEM Council Members at November 20th meeting;

Major Jen of the Iowa Army National Guard also present to discuss STEM education. She was the Blackhawk helicopter pilot featured on the STEM Gem poster in 2017

The STEM Council is the appointed 50-member working group that sets policy and oversees the larger targets of the Governor's Program. The first meeting of the newly seated council was held at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny on November 20th.

Members of the Council from the SW Region include: Dr. David VanHorn of the Green Hills AEA, Dr. Barb Crittenden President of Southwestern Community College, Jeremy Puck of Puck Custom Enterprises in Manning, and a newly appointed member Katherine Howell of Poet Biorefining in Coon Rapids.

The large task for the meeting was to identify priorities and set direction for the coming service year.

Lt. Governor Adam Gregg gave the welcome and Co-Chair Roger Hargens provided the closing remarks and thanking the members for their time, energy and commitment to the very important development of the current and future workforce.

A special event at the Council meeting was demonstrations of Scale-Up program materials by students from Bondurant-Farrar and Saylorville School Districts.

Cindy Dietz, who has served during 2018 as the Acting STEM Director, was recognized for her service and support of the STEM Program.

Computer Science is Elementary interest increases

If you have not researched the hot topic of computer science instruction in recent days, make sure you check out the proposal for the upcoming grant project sponsored by the Governor's STEM Council through private donations. The Loess Hills Elementary Computer Science School in Sioux City has served as a state-wide model to interested educators in the region. Check it all out at

Computer Science is Elementary Grant information

Please return Scale-Up Check Out materials to the SW STEM Hub by December 21st so that inventory can be completed over the holiday break. Any questions may be directed to Manager Deb Frazee.

SCALE-UP applications for the 2019-2020 award cycle are scheduled to open on January 21, 2019. More details will be announced in December about the process and the products.

If your program is new to the STEM program please reach out for a dialogue about the "hows and whens" so that your program can benefit from the STEM services.

DATES ARE FILLING

Is your group's event on the calendar?

There are still a few open dates for STEM Festivals in the SW Region.

The formats are varied. If your group is considering but needs information, please reach out to Manager Deb Frazee or any of the SW STEM Advisory Board members.

NEED TO SAY THANK YOU to the SW Regional Advisory Board members!

Volunteers make the world go around, and in the STEM program that is a for sure thing!

Many thanks to the volunteers who help with all kinds of requests, from attending meetings and conferences, to working at STEM Festivals and events, to trying out the Scale-Up kits, doing interviews of all kinds, and being available in their communities as resources!

Heidi Lowthorp, Sidney (Chair)

Tom Lesan, Creston (PI)

Alan Ladd, Atlantic

Kathy Somers, Atlantic

Misty Gray, Atlantic

Josh Shatava, Clarinda

Gilbert Thomas, Clarinda

Jim Holwegner, Redfield

Lisa Hilder, Red Oak

Luann Langel, Manning

Larry Johnson, Lamoni

Jane Chaillie, Leon

Janell Leinen, Harlan

Jason Plourde, Council Bluffs

SW STEM Region; SWCC Red Oak Center; stem@swcciowa.edu