June 2018 Monthly News ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

IN THIS ISSUE High School Registered Apprenticeship Playbook Available Online Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Climbing to New Heights Iowa STEM at the State-Federal STEM Education Summit MVP for Iowa STEM: Mary Meisterling and Alliant Energy

UPCOMING EVENTS July 27, 2018 - 10:00 a.m. North Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting More information August 19, 2018 - 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair More information

High School Registered Apprenticeship Playbook Available Online

Governor Reynolds introduced the High School Registered Apprenticeship Playbook to help guide Iowa employers, high schools and students through the process of implementing a similar program in their community.

Representatives from business, nonprofits, government, education, media and other sectors filled the room at the Career Academy of Pella earlier this month for the introduction of the High School Registered Apprenticeship Playbook. Governor Reynolds, alongside representatives of Vermeer Corporation, the Career Academy of Pella and Des Moines Area Community College spoke at the press conference.   The playbook was developed to help guide Iowa employers, high schools and students through the process of implementing a Registered Apprenticeship program in their local community.   “The combination of classroom instruction with on-the-job experience through Registered Apprenticeships takes learning to a new level,” Gov. Reynolds said. “This employer-driven model helps students gain valuable skills and pursue outstanding career opportunities in Iowa, while helping businesses hire the skilled workers they need. The playbook will accelerate this effort in communities across the state in keeping with the Future Ready Iowa goal of 70 percent of our workforce having education or training beyond high school by the year 2025.”   “Vermeer is pleased to participate in this Registered Apprenticeship pilot program. We are excited about the opportunity it provides students and local manufacturers. This valuable work will also serve as a template for other careers and regions, addressing a variety of workforce needs across Iowa,” said Mary Andringa, chair of the Board of Vermeer Corporation.   Vermeer Corporation, the Career Academy of Pella, the U.S. Department of Labor and Des Moines Area Community College worked together to offer a local welding Registered Apprenticeship program beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year.   “Thank you for building this Registered Apprenticeship. I prefer to work and learn with my hands, so I look forward to this program and starting down my career path. I hope other students will also take advantage of this great opportunity right here in Iowa,” Charles Vander Velden, a Pella High School senior and the first apprentice in the program, said.   Vermeer Corporation and the Career Academy of Pella led development of the playbook, in coordination with the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, Future Ready Iowa, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship in Iowa and Des Moines Area Community College, and in consultation with other regional employers, school districts and state agencies. The playbook can be found at www.IowaSTEM.gov/Playbook .

Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Climbing to New Heights Teachers gathered throughout the state for program orientation to kick off their six-week Iowa STEM Teacher Externship experience. In its 10 th year, the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program reached record-setting enrollment with 74 teachers signed up for immersive six-week experiences. Teachers recently gathered throughout the state to kick off their six-week Iowa STEM Teacher Externship experience with program orientation.   Each summer, this program matches teachers with local businesses that can utilize the teacher’s content expertise. Teachers help businesses tackle projects or issues, while gaining valuable real-world business experience that can be translated into the classroom. Teachers leave the experience more equipped to apply their content knowledge to future opportunities for students.   From the 2017 Iowa STEM Teacher Externship survey, extern hosts cited the following as the most valued outcomes from the experience: Elevated awareness of their business in the community. Increased interest of the future workforce. Establishment of school-business partnerships. Workplace relevance brought to the schools.   Teachers were also surveyed and gave the following top reasons for participation: Bringing real-world experiences into the classroom. Building partnerships with employers. Discovery of the “soft skills” students will need to succeed.   Since 2009, nearly 500 externships have been placed in hundreds of businesses throughout Iowa. The program has been partly funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources REAP-CEP, along with critical cost-share investments by Iowa business and industry partners. This year’s contributions from workplace hosts totals approximately $160,000 in addition to the STEM Council’s matching state legislative investment.   Follow the adventures of the Iowa STEM Teacher Externs this summer on Twitter and Facebook . For more information about this program, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov/Externships .

Iowa STEM at the State-Federal STEM Education Summit

Dr. Jeff Weld, senior policy advisor and assistant director for STEM Education at OSTP, moderated a panel discussion with U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, NSF Chief Operating Officer Joan Ferrini-Mundy and Smithsonian Institution Secretary David Skorton at the State-Federal STEM Education Summit.

A diverse group of more than 200 STEM leaders representing each state in the U.S. convened for the first-of-its-kind State-Federal STEM Education Summit hosted by The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Iowa was well-represented at the Summit by members of the Iowa STEM Network Team Cindy Dietz, interim executive director, and Sarah Derry, South Central Iowa STEM regional manager, along with Linda Fandel, the Governor’s special assistant for education. They worked with other STEM leaders to take part in the development of a new Federal five-year STEM Education Strategic Plan.   “Top-down approaches to STEM Education can often yield wonderful ideas, but it’s at the State and community level where the momentum happens. State leaders know best what kinds of programs will work in their communities, and where they need the power of the Federal government to help drive success in this field,” said Jeff Weld, senior policy advisor and assistant director for STEM Education at OSTP.   Attendees were able to gain insights from education leaders on how STEM education impacts the future workforce and how to leverage Federal resources to advance STEM efforts. Summit speakers included Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, Deputy Assistant to the President for Technology Policy Michael Kratsios, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator James Bridenstine, Smithsonian Institution Secretary David Skorton, National Science Foundation (NSF) Director France Córdova and NSF Chief Operating Office Joan Ferrini-Mundy.   Breakout sessions were held, during which state representatives worked together in groups to collaborate on recommendations for the five-year STEM Plan.

Iowans Zac Christensen, Ashley Flatebo, Cindy Dietz, Linda Fandel, Sarah Derry and Dr. Jeff Weld in Washington, D.C.

During the Summit, OSTP and the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced more than 140 individuals and organizations to be honored with Presidential Awards for excellence in teaching or mentoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Two Iowa teachers received the award – Zac Christensen, a second-grade teacher at Perkins Elementary School in Des Moines; and Ashley Flatebo, an instructional coach at John Adams Middle School in Mason City. Flatebo is a member of the North Central STEM Regional Advisory Board. 

MVP for Iowa STEM: Mary Meisterling and Alliant Energy This month’s MVP for Iowa STEM provides energy to Iowa homes and businesses and also to the ongoing STEM efforts in the state. Mary Meisterling, manager of business support and development for Alliant Energy, has served as an active member of the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council for three years. In this time, she participated on the planning committee for the 2017 summit. Meisterling was instrumental in identifying and recruiting keynote speaker Patricia Kampling, chairman and CEO of Alliant Energy.   You will also find Meisterling promoting STEM through work and in her free time as she serves on the Cedar Rapids Community School District Board of Education.   “The priorities of the STEM Council line up with my priorities as an individual and the priorities of Alliant Energy,” Meisterling said. “I am proud to work for a company that is so supportive of STEM and to serve on the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council where students are impacted through our efforts in Iowa.”   Meisterling and Alliant Energy focus on future ready career paths and recognize the direct correlation to STEM education. Alliant Energy has been an Iowa STEM Teacher Externship Host, a sponsor of STEM events and programs, in addition to supporting various other efforts. Alliant Energy continues their STEM efforts on a local level through scholarships and grants. They also host students at their facility and send field engineers to schools to teach units on electricity.   Thank you, Mary, Alliant Energy and all members of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council for your contributions to Iowa’s widely-acclaimed, public-private partnership that is inspiring thousands of youth day after day.

Contact the Iowa STEM Operations Center by phone at (319) 273-2959 or by email at info@IowaSTEM.gov.