February 2022
Monthly News
IN THIS ISSUE

38 Schools to Advance Career-Linked Learning through STEM BEST H.D. Recognition

Six Iowa Educators Recognized with 2022 Iowa STEM Teacher Award

Joni Ehm Joins STEM Team as Southwest Regional STEM Manager

Exciting Innovations in Education Exhibited at STEM Day at the Capitol

March 25, 2022 - 10:00 a.m.
Northwest Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

March 28, 2022 - 2:30 p.m.
South Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

March 29, 2022 - 12:00 p.m.
North Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

March 29, 2022 - 2:00 p.m.
Northeast Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

March 30, 2022 - 2:00 p.m.
Southeast Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
38 Schools to Advance Career-Linked Learning through STEM BEST H.D. Recognition
Waterloo Schools Executive Director of Professional Education Jeff Frost provided a tour of the Waterloo Career Center to Northeast Regional STEM Manager Jeff Beneke.
The Waterloo Career Center became a STEM BEST Program model in 2019, which supported the development of a Biomedical Lab Technician program as part of the Health Sciences pathway.
Thirty-eight school districts throughout Iowa have been recognized as STEM BEST H.D. (High Demand) models of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. This is the highest number of schools to be named as STEM BEST models since the program’s launch in 2014. STEM BEST H.D. is designed to prepare students for the workforce through curriculum and career-linked learning focusing on skills needed in job sectors such as computer science/information technology, healthcare professions and advanced manufacturing.
 
The STEM BEST H.D special selection cycle is the result of an appropriation from the Iowa legislature to expand the STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program and focus efforts on job sectors that are in high demand. It will help build partnerships between schools and businesses, allowing educators and industry professionals to work together to develop curriculum and projects that prepare students for careers in these high-demand fields.
 
The STEM Council Executive Committee endorsed the recognition of 38 new or expanded partnerships up to $40,000 each. Compared to the traditional STEM BEST Program, STEM BEST H.D. offers a higher financial support and a lower cost-share requirement for applicants. The funds can be used for facility upgrades, equipment, time for program planning with partners, site visits or integrating curriculum into existing courses.
 
To be considered for STEM BEST H.D. designation, applicants were required to submit a comprehensive proposal that incorporates rigorous and relevant STEM curriculum, valuable partnerships with community businesses or organizations, alignment with STEM goals, plans for sustainability of the model program and evaluation strategies of the program’s effectiveness.
 
For more information, please visit www.iowastem.org/stembest.
Six Iowa Educators Recognized with the 2022 Iowa STEM Teacher Award
The STEM Council is proud to announce the recipients of the 2022 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries.
 
Northwest Region
Susan Oehlertz, K-12 Technology Integrationist and Computer Science Teacher
Pocahontas Area Community School District, Pocahontas, IA

North Central Region
Jamie Pudenz, Agricultural Science Teacher
Aplington-Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg, IA

Northeast Region
Donna Schmitt, Technology Teacher
Carver Elementary School, Dubuque, IA

Southwest Region
Adam Cox, Science Teacher
Woodbine Community Schools, Woodbine, IA

South Central Region
Kristen Recher, 5th Grade Teacher
Northeast Elementary School, Ankeny, IA

Southeast Region
Terri Smith, Technology STEM Teacher
Central Dewitt Middle School, Dewitt, IA

Now in its eighth year, the award recognizes one full-time, licensed PreK-12 teacher from each of the six Iowa STEM regions. Each recipient is honored for their efforts to foster enthusiasm and inspire a passion for STEM that goes beyond the classroom and helps prepare students for future high demand careers.
 
Each recipient was nominated by a colleague, student, parent or community member before completing an application showcasing their work and curriculum.
 
As a recipient of the 2022 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, each educator receives $1,500 to use for their classroom and $1,500 for personal use. The six teachers will also be honored in a recognition ceremony during STEM Day at the Fair at the Iowa State Fair in August.
 
Additional information about the Iowa STEM Teacher Award can be found at www.IowaSTEM.org/teacheraward.
Joni Ehm Joins STEM Team
as Southwest Regional
STEM Manager
Joni Ehm is the newest addition to the STEM Council Network Team, serving as the Southwest Iowa Regional STEM Manager.
The STEM Council recently welcomed Joni Ehm as the new Southwest Regional STEM Manager operating out of Southwestern Community College. She joins five regional manager counterparts to effectively implement STEM programming, create connections and collaborate with community and business partners, educators and others to increase student interest and achievement in STEM education and careers.
 
Ehm is a former secondary teacher and instructional coach for the CAM Community School District. She also served multiple school districts in Southwest Iowa as a digital learning consultant with Green Hills Area Education Agency. In this role, she supported several school districts in Southwest Iowa in implementing and growing authentic learning programs.
 
Ehm has been a strong advocate for STEM Council programming and previously served on the review team for the STEM BEST Program. She is a member of the Iowa Authentic Learning Network (ALN) and a trained Strategic CSforALL Resource and Implementation Planning Tool (SCRIPT) facilitator.
 
“I am passionate about helping stakeholders change the way they look at education systems and transform how we teach 21st Century learners,” said Ehm. “I believe STEM education aligns the needs of our economic development efforts with the needs and interests of our students. The STEM Council serves an important role in providing the means to meet those needs. I am thrilled to join the STEM team and look forward to supporting the educators, students and communities in Southwest Iowa.”
 
Ehm earned a Bachelor of Science in Spanish and public administration from Iowa State University. She also earned a master’s degree in education from Kaplan University.
 
For more information about the six STEM regions, visit www.iowastem.org/regions.
Exciting Innovations in Education Exhibited at STEM Day at the Capitol
Educators and students representing STEM Council programming participated in
STEM Day at the Capitol on February 9.
STEM Council programming drives an interdisciplinary approach to STEM education that helps students develop technical and intellectual skills to make connections from the classroom to the world of work. STEM careers with Iowa business and industry make this core discipline a vital economic development driver.
 
Iowa’s STEM programs that are ushering the future of school were on full display at STEM Day at the Capitol on February 9. STEM exhibits lined the Capitol Rotunda to demonstrate the powerful impact of STEM Council programs in local school districts across the state. Exhibits featured a STEM BEST Program model that is upcycling waste materials into usable products, a Computer Science is Elementary project school that is teaching computer science instruction across curriculum, STEM Scale-Up Program StoryTime STEM-packs that embeds multiple disciplines into STEM education, among others.
 
Sponsored by Collins Aerospace, STEM Day at the Capitol opened with remarks from Gov. Kim Reynolds, who emphasized how important STEM education is to transforming Iowa’s future workforce by connecting what students learn in the classroom to career opportunities.
 
The STEM Council receives generous, bipartisan support from the Iowa Legislature, which was demonstrated in remarks from Senator Chris Cournoyer (R), Senator Eric Giddens (D), Representative Dustin Hite (R) and Representative Dave Williams (D).
 
Additional speakers who shared support for STEM education included Raytheon Technologies Director of State Government Relations Cindy Dietz, Lewis Central Middle School student Luella Fahrenkrug and Foundation Analytical Laboratory Owner and Director of Technical Services and STEM Council Co-Chair Diane Young.
 
View photos and videos from STEM Day at the Capitol on the STEM Council Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/IowaSTEM.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
The STEM BEST Program
application opens on
March 14, 2022
www.IowaSTEM.org/STEMBEST
Contact the Iowa STEM Operations Center by phone at (319) 273-2959
or by email at info@IowaSTEM.org.