Congratulations to the 200 educators who received 2022-23 Scale-Up programming in the Southwest STEM Region. Those educators will impact an estimated 13,544 students in Southwest Iowa.

Student impact matters for a few reasons:

• There is a positive correlation between students who participate in Scale-Up and those who score better on math. reading, and science state assessment tools.
• STEM jobs offer higher rates of pay than non-STEM-related jobs.
• In Iowa, across the country, and worldwide, STEM jobs are growing and in higher demand than non-STEM jobs.
• The skills used in Scale-Ups transcend all jobs: collaboration, problem solving, communication, and more.
• The younger the student has exposure to STEM, the more confidence, interest, and skills they build.

For more Iowa STEM impact data, see the Iowa STEM Evaluation Reports. Educators will receive materials and professional development training starting this summer. Look for another educator application cycle to begin January of 2023.

Congratulations to the CAM CSD STEM BEST model on the opening of their student-run retail store on April 8th.

In the spring of 2021, four students from CAM's Digital Media program wrote an application for a STEM BEST award. The students' vision was to open a storefront in downtown Anita where they could showcase and sell the amazing things that they were creating in their classes; and also learn how to run a business, balance the books, and keep up with inventory. The students' STEM BEST application was awarded in June 2021, and the planning began! The students were supported by a community advisory committee made up of a variety of local expertise including: business owner, lawyer, community development, real estate, banker, mayor, AEA consultant, school administration, school board member, and their classroom facilitator. The group was able to secure a vacant building on Main St. in Anita. After lots of renovations, contract negotiation, advisory committee meetings and budgeting, the store officially opened on Friday, April 8th. The Grand Opening was attended by over 100 community members, legislators, Iowa STEM, and other well wishers. The students will be selling student-made products created in a variety of their CTE courses and also taking special orders. The store is located at 777 Main Street in Anita, IA and is currently open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 11:30-3:30. 

Looking for ways to engage students in solving real world problems? The University of Iowa’s STEM Innovator® Program offers workshops that employ cutting edge practices of STEM Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking to incorporate into an educator’s teaching practice. There are six online, self-paced workshops that allow educators to experience firsthand the innovation process as they explore the many engaging STEM Innovator® activities and resources to use with their own students. Educators can register and start a workshop anytime. After completing workshops 1-5, participants become STEM Innovator® certified and can offer their high school students University of Iowa college credit. Workshop 6 allows STEM Innovator® certified educators to do a deeper dive into their innovation implementation strategies. Workshops are offered at the low cost of $79 per workshop. Affordable graduate credit is also available at a cost of $149 per credit. Educators can earn 1 graduate credit per workshop for workshops 1-5 and can earn up to 3 graduate credits for workshop 6. Find out more at https://jacobsoninstitute.org/stem-innovator-online-professional-development. Please contact stem-innovator@uiowa.edu with any questions.

Thank you to the Southwest Regional STEM Board for your service and support! 

• Jane Chaillie
• Misty Grey
• Denise Hoag
• Nadie Jessen
• Larry Jonson
• Stephanie Lane 
• Janell Leinen
• Tom Lesan
• Heidi Lowthorp
• Renee Riedel
• Deb Sprecker
• Terry Thoreten
• Kristin Sheffield
• Kathy Somers