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In this edition, we invite educators and the business community to register for our free 8th Annual STEM Educator Awards on Nov 17. The live videocast event will reveal and honor winning teachers in Delaware classrooms and community educators outside the school environment who demonstrate STEM innovation and excellence through teaching, collaboration and student engagement.
We share highlights from last month’s STEM and Math Equity Conferences. You'll also read about the announcement Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary of Education, made at the National STEMconnector / Million Women Mentors event in Washington D.C. on October 12. DFSME’s advocacy supports change for a world-class STEM presence in Delaware’s education system with delivery of quality science and math literacy for every student. The new federal message, “YOU Belong in STEM” is not only for every student, but for every STEM educator and others as well.
– Randy Guschl, Executive Director
Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education
We hope you enjoy this Edition!
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8th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards | |
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November 17, 2022 • 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
FREE Virtual Event!
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Join Us! Register Now for November 17 Event
DE STEM Educator Award Winners will be Revealed!
The Delaware STEM Educator Awards recognize certified and uncertified community teachers, or a team of educators who demonstrate STEM innovation and excellence through teaching, academic collaboration, and student engagement.
Our sponsors, elected officials, in collaboration with the hosts,
will preside over awards honoring winners at the
Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8) and High School (9-12) levels,
the Community Awards, and the Jon Manon STEAM Team Education Award!
Guest Speakers:
Bethany Hall-Long, Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
Jon Wichert, Secretary of Education, Delaware Department of Education
To register for this FREE event and receive a zoom invite, click here.
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U.S. Department of Education Launches
“YOU Belong in STEM” Initiative
To Enhance STEM Education for Young People
On October 12, the U.S. Department of Education launched "YOU Belong in STEM," an initiative to galvanize the broad STEM education ecosystem to implement and scale equitable and high-quality STEM education for all young people from Pre-K to higher education.
"With the ‘YOU Belong in STEM’ initiative, we are helping districts and schools redesign systems and learning spaces to ensure students get the well-rounded education they need," said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten. "We are also challenging narratives about who belongs in STEM learning and careers that, over generations, left out millions of girls and young women, students of color, students living in poverty, Native American and Alaska Native students, students with disabilities, and other marginalized students.”
“Every student, no matter their background or zip code
can meet and exceed their unique
potential to learn and thrive in STEM education.”
Through the new initiative, the Department seeks to show both teachers and students that they have a place in the STEM field and in the pathways to long-term success that STEM has to offer in a 21st century economy.
In the coming weeks, the Department will provide guidance and other technical assistance to elevate STEM teaching and learning, convene STEM partners and thought leaders, elevate bright spots and evidenced-based practices that engender belonging in STEM, and partner with public and private entities to leverage best efforts and reach.
To access the U.S. Department of Education STEM site, click here.
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The 4th Annual Delaware Math & STEM Equity Conferences
“Cultivating Equitable Climates of Learning”
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On October 14 and 15, the STEM and Math Equity Conferences were held for the fourth consecutive year as over 500 educators and attendees from throughout the state and beyond joined together to advance the mission of cultivating and promoting more equitable climates of learning in the spaces of science, technology, engineering, and math education.
“This equity summit provides an opportunity for us to come together around a single focus,” said Dr. Mark Holodick, Delaware Secretary of Education. “We have to ensure that what we put in front of our children positions them for success within and beyond our schools, and that every student has access to high quality curricular materials and high quality instruction.”
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Opening the Math Equity day was keynote speaker, Dr. Tanji Reed Marshall, a national-level speaker and agent of change in education whose work centers around addressing complex issues of educational equity. She challenged the audience to "empower every learner with the highest quality education through shared leadership, innovative practices, and exemplary services."
At mid-day, Stanford University’s Dr. Jo Boaler, a professor of mathematics and published author specializing in mathematics reform and data science, joined attendees in delivering the second keynote address entitled, “Important Ideas for Equitable Mathematics Outcomes and Strategies for Leading Change.” Shortly after, Dr. Pam Seda delivered the final keynote address, “Let it Go! Why Releasing Control is an Equity Issue,” ending the day on a strong note.
Across the day, conference attendees selected from more than 20 breakout sessions organized around three equity-focused strands facilitated by educators from Delaware and beyond.
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The STEM Equity Conference offered a continuation of the critical equity dialogue through five unique panel discussions consisting of STEM leaders from all spaces, from DDOE, K-12, and higher education institutions, to the business and community side, including voices from DuPont, Ashland, DEAN, and FAME.
Alongside Delaware STEM Council Executive Director Daniel Suchenski, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, a longtime supporter of the equity conferences, welcomed attendees and encouraged them in the importance of the work in which they engage with throughout the conferences.
A series of virtual clips from STEM leaders from across the country set the tone for the day, including greetings from Bruce Alberts, a prominent biochemist and National Medal of Science recipient; Freeman Hrabowski III, President Emeritus of the University of Maryland Baltimore County; and Bassam Shakhashiri, an educator and chemist, former ACS president, and founder of Science is Fun.
Addressing “What STEM Equity Success Looks Like”, panel leaders included Jon Wichert and Tonyea Mead (DDOE), Tina Mitchell (DSU), Milton Muldrow (WilmU), Andrea Gardner (Discovery Ed), and Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd). In the afternoon, Business and Community STEM Educators addressed “Beyond the Curriculum, What’s it Going to Take to Proomote Student Success in STEM?” with panel leaders including Carolmarie Brown (Ashland), Alexa Dembek (DuPont), Regina Sidney-Brown (DEAN) and Don Baker (FAME).
Closing remarks made by Dr. Cora Scott (DDOE), “Challenging Ourselves to Take the Next Bold Step.”
For the full day’s events of the Oct. 14 Math Equity Conference and bios of speakers, click here.
To access the October 15 STEM Equity Agenda with live links to a video of the conference and to the videos and bios of our drop-in speakers, click here.
To read the full article detailing the two-day Equity Summit by Jan Castro, click here.
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Thank You Event Sponsors! | |
Milford School District Teacher Ashley Lockwood was named Delaware's 2023 State Teacher of the Year at a celebration earlier this month (click here for more pictures). Photos courtesy Delaware.gov. | |
Ashley Lockwood - 2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year | |
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A fifth-grade teacher from Milford School District is Delaware’s 2023 State Teacher of the Year.
Ashley Lockwood of LuLu Ross Elementary School is now Delaware’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year. She will use her position to advocate for historically underserved populations of students.
With the mindset “We repeat what we don’t repair,” Lockwood said our school systems collect many forms of data, but educators too often don’t discuss or understand the “why” behind certain data trends.
“When we break down data by racial demographic, we see year after year that a significant number of students of color are performing below proficiency levels in both reading and math despite high attendance rates and having parental support,” Lockwood said.
Lockwood started a committee in her district to bring colleagues together in this work.
“Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of meeting and working with some of the most dedicated educators. I have learned that most of them want equitable outcomes for students of color but do not know where to begin,” she said. “In the work of educational equity, the most important point to realize is that you do not have to look like your students or have the same background in order to advocate for their needs. When I started the Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee in my district, I made it clear that the committee was not going to be made up of only staff of color but of staff who teach students of color.
“We all have the responsibility to close the opportunity gap. The first step is to understand how our own biases and past experiences may show up in our classrooms. Even in our best attempts at inclusion, we must recognize implicit biases in schools do play a significant role in the outcomes of students of color,” Lockwood said. “Recognizing our own biases through professional development, committee involvement, or self-study proves we are committed to removing the barriers that have kept students of color from advancing academically, socially and emotionally.”
Governor John Carney made the announcement during a Dover ceremony to honor the 20 district/charter teachers of the year.
To learn more, read the full Delaware News article at Delaware.gov, or click here.
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1st Annual K-5 Sussex County STEM Fair
The Sussex County STEM Alliance in collaboration with the Lewes Public Library, and through the generous support of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation FACES Grant, hosted the 1st annual K-5 Sussex County STEM Fair on November 5, 2022. The STEM fair was open to students in grades K-5 attending a public, private, home, and alternative schools in Sussex County.
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Students entered projects to compete as individuals or groups within various STEM categories. The fair is designed to encourage students to experience hands-on STEM learning in a fun way while developing their critical thinking and scientific process skills. Projects were judged by local STEM professionals. All students were recognized for their efforts, and exceptional entries were awarded prizes.
Dr. Mark Holodick, Delaware Secretary of Education, encouraged students to continue with STEM classes and career pathways. At the end of the event, he handed out medals to the high school students who volunteered to help out that day.
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Start Your Science Projects Now!
28th Annual New Castle County Science Fair
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The 28th Annual New Castle County Fair is slated for March 8, 2023, hosted by Delaware Tech Stanton Campus. Get started with your students and their projects now!
New Castle County students in grades
6-12 are eligible to participate in this challenging, yet rewarding experience. Participants can submit an individual or team project (up to three persons).
Students compete at their grade level and will be judged by a diverse panel of experts. Judges will evaluate the projects and may question students about how they arrived at their scientific conclusions.
Winners are presented monetary awards in each category and are eligible to compete in the Delaware Valley Science Fair hosted by Drexel University in April 2023.
Finalists of the Delaware Valley Science Fair will elevate to the International Science and Engineering Fair to be held May 2023.
Click here for a pdf with the science fair project details.
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Deadline Extended through November 18!
“The Air We Share” Environmental Awareness Art Contest
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Register NOW! November 17
8th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards Ceremony
Live Zoom Videocast from Buena Vista Country Estate in New Castle, Delaware.
Co-hosted by Delaware STEM Council and DFSME, the event reveals and honors winners at the
Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8) and High School (9-12) levels,
the Community Educator Awards and the Jon Manon STEAM Team Educator Award.
To register for this FREE event and receive a zoom invite, click here.
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November 18 • Deadline Extension through 5 p.m.
The Air We Share Environmental Awareness Art Contest
Grades 3-5! Design artwork that shows how you can make a positive impact
on your community’s air quality. Prizes awarded!
For contest details, submission process, teacher resources, and helpful websites, click here.
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November 18 • 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Exploration: Catapults
Learn how catapults work as you design and build a catapult!
You and your child or student will use everyday materials to build a catapult, and design
the projectile that you think will be the most precise and accurate.
Learn the physics behind a great launch as well as the history of catapults.
Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation (DASEF)
585 Big Oak Road, Smyrna, DE 19977 or call (302) 834-1978 and leave your number.
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Start Your Projects Now! • Event Date: March 8, 2023
The 28th Annual New Castle County Fair
Hosted by Delaware Tech Stanton Campus. Get started with
your students and their projects going now!
To download a pdf with the science fair project details, click here.
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Our Sponsors & Supporters | |
DFSME thanks the following organizations for contributions to STEM education in Delaware. | |
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Delaware Foundation for Science and Math Education
100 W. 10th Street, Suite 612
Wilmington, DE 19801
Tel: 302.397.0034 | Fax: 302.397.0036
Email: anne.dfsme@gmail.com
www.dfsme.org
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©2022 Delaware Foundation for Science & Math Education
501(c)(3) Education nonprofit dealing with K-16 STEM education in Delaware schools.
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