Northwest Iowa STEM Newsletter

April 2021

Mary Trent

NW Regional STEM Manager

Contact me at mtrent@iowalakes.edu

Northwest Regional Advisory Board Members

Tina Benton,

Sioux City

Ben Bouza,

Hawarden

Derek Brower, Orange City

Beth Bunkers, Primghar

Tyler Hahn,

Cherokee

Kiana Johnson, Primghar

Nancy McDowell, Sheldon

Jordan Menning, Rock Rapids

Faith Miller,

Carroll

Teresa Putnam, Hartley

Andrew Roelfs,

Sioux Center

Mary Skopec,

Spirit Lake

Brenda Welch, Meriden

Mark Zabawa, Spencer

Check out NW STEM Web Site!

https://www.iowalakes.edu/stem/

Northwest STEM Calendar

Stay up-to-date on all Northwest STEM regional opportunities and even a few statewide. Use this calendar to share your STEM events with others.

NW STEM Lending Resources

Check out the STEM lending library for educators and place your order online.

Don't forget to connect with NW STEM on social media as well!

Check us out on Facebook:

@NWSTEM Region

https://www.facebook.com/NWStemRegion/

@NWIowaSTEM

Invite a friend or colleague to sign up for this newsletter:

http://goo.gl/oPZmPP

Award Announcements

2021 STEM Scale-Up Programs will be sent via email on April 9, 2021

Now Accepting Teachers and Workplace Hosts to Participate in the

Iowa STEM Teacher Externship Program

The Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program aims to help teachers answer that age-old question, "When am I ever going to need to use this?"

During the summer, educators work side-by-side with knowledgeable and skilled industry employees who help bring the classroom curriculum to life. Teacher Externships provide educators with the exposure to answer questions about real-world application, prepare students for careers they may have in the future, and improve educational experiences.

Teacher Externships began in the summer of 2009 with a few goals in mind:

Create lasting partnerships between workplaces and local schools.
Connect Teacher Extern experience with STEM content and 21st century skills identified in the Iowa Core.
Give students real-world career information about career possibilities right here in Iowa.
Give teachers the opportunity to see and use the latest real-world applications STEM disciplines in a local business or industry.

Teacher Externships are full-time, six-week temporary summer positions in local businesses and agencies for secondary teachers of mathematics, science and/or technology. Teachers earn a stipend of up to $5,000 (including two paid professional development days), as well as three graduate credits through the University of Northern Iowa’s Continuing Education program.

Learn more about Teacher Externships by reading the Extern Project-Based Learning, FAQ or Brochure.

Since 2014, 75 STEM BEST Programs have been awarded throughout Iowa. The STEM BEST Program fosters partnerships between local schools and businesses in Iowa. Educators work alongside industry professionals to craft a unique STEM curriculum centered around work-based learning. Learn more about STEM BEST or complete your application at iowastem.org/STEMBEST/application

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APPLICATION AND PROGRAM TIMELINE

March 8, 2021: Application portal opens
May 10, 2021: Application due by 11:59 pm
May-June, 2021: Application Review
July-August 2021: Awards Announced
August 2021 - June 2022: STEM BEST Program Planning and Implementation
January 30, 2022: Progress Report 1 Due
May 31, 2022: Progress Report 2 and final invoice must be submitted to:

Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council, Attn: Program Manager

214 East Bartlett Hall, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614

June 15, 2023: Final Report Due

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Applications for STEM BEST® Program must be submitted by Iowa public and non-public school districts and buildings serving students in grades K-12. Clusters of schools and/or districts are encouraged to apply. This requirement, then verifies that the submitting entity will be the responsible fiscal agent. The application must also contain evidence of the roles assumed by the partnering school/districts and other identified partners.

Different school buildings within an Iowa district may submit an independent STEM BEST proposal in the same proposal period. Individual school buildings may not submit more than one proposal in the same proposal period, unless one is for school-specific BEST creation and another is part of a multi-district consortium. In instances where this policy does not apply, please contact the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, info@IowaSTEM.org

For those applicants who have previously received a STEM BEST® Program award or who intend to connect to a past STEM BEST® Program awardee, please note that there is an additional required section in the proposal form that must be completed as part of the submission process. This section will be thoroughly reviewed to determine merits of the expanded program model with regards to student engagement, specific measurable outcomes and elements of financial need.

REQUIREMENTS

An applicant is required to provide a 1:1 match, up to $25,000. The match may be either cash and/or in-kind support. The match may be contributed by the applicant or a community partner. To be eligible as match, the cash and/or in-kind contribution must be provided during the funding period of the STEM BEST® Program award.

RESOURCES

STEM BEST Program Review Process
STEM BEST Rubric
Applicant and Program Lead Definition
STEM BEST Application Template - All applications must be submitted through the online portal to be considered eligible.
Webinar Recording: “Grant writing 101”

DEVELOPING YOUR PROPOSAL:

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS:

COST-SHARE:

Please contact hunt@IowaSTEM.org for additional information.

Share your Scale-Up Story with Us!

Were you awarded a Scale-Up Program this year? If so, please share your story and pictures with us! We will share your story in our newsletters and social media. Invite me out to see the Scale-up Program in action!

Email: mtrent@iowalakes.edu

NW STEM Checkout System

NW STEM Checkout system has many great STEM Scale-Up Kits as well as other materials perfect for classrooms, homeschools, libraries, and after school groups! And the best part, everything is FREE!!

We utilize the AEA van system to make deliveries of all our kits. You can keep the kits as long as you need them and simply set them out for the AEA van to pick them up. It's as simple as that!

You can find a complete list of our items and check out form here:

https://www.iowalakes.edu/stem/stem-resources/.