Celebrating the Best in STEM 2022 | |
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Dear Educators and Community, in this December 2022 special issue, we honor you and your hardworking colleagues for your stellar accomplishments and celebrate the many inspirational stories and projects in STEM. We value your work and creativity and the profound impact you have on Delaware's students.
We encourage you to share the accompanying videos of the award-winning efforts with your students, their parents, and others in your school districts! It is an impressive body of work as well as a reinforcement of our combined endeavors in building an even stronger STEM workforce for our future.
We also provide some great “drop-in” videos of forefront STEM speakers and doers who were spotlighted during our 4th Equity Summit in October, including STEM giants like Freeman Hrabowski, Bassam Shakhashiri, Vere Archibald and others. These are terrific, short 5-6 minute clips that you and your students will learn from and enjoy.
– Randy Guschl, Executive Director
Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education
We hope you enjoy this Edition!
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The 8th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Award Winners Ceremony:
“STEM Permeates Everything!”
The 8th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards ceremony was held in a hybrid format and hosted live from Buena Vista Country Estate in New Castle on November 17th. During the evening, six awards with accompanying cash prizes were presented to individuals and teams of educators, from across the elementary through high school levels, for their outstanding achievements in STEM education.
Framing the evening as part of a bigger picture of the universality of STEM and the power of human curiosity as a driver of progress, Jon Wickert, Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and STEM Initiatives at Delaware Department of Education provided opening remarks:
“We often overlook how STEM permeates every aspect of our life. STEM is more
than a set of academic and technical skills, it’s a way of sensing and experiencing
the world around us, and involves curiosity, inquiry, problem solving, risk taking,
and, I think most importantly, wonder. Wonder permeates STEM
when we allow it to, and when we put it at the front.”
Throughout the evening, many of Delaware’s foremost elected representatives made appearances virtually to draw attention to the profound and tireless work of the teachers being recognized. State officials included Governor John Carney, Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.
2022 Honorees & Winning Project Videos
Certified Educators Award, Elementary School Level, 1st Place
Jaime Swartz, John M. Clayton Elementary School
Project Lead the Way Launch Program
https://youtu.be/cUoP63RbIkI
Certified Educators Award, Elementary School Level, 2nd Place
Wendy Turner, Mount Pleasant Elementary School
Dendrology, the Study of Trees
https://youtu.be/I-XbfSFnucI
Community STEM Educator Award, Elementary School Level
Divita and Arnav Taduvayi
Girls Tech Together
https://youtu.be/iQz59P_dpac
Community STEM Educator Award, Middle School Level
Kristen and Milton Melendez
Engineer Early
https://youtu.be/lvC8fCJWV_8
Community STEM Educator Award, High School Level
John Larock, Brandi Mycoff, Joseph Perrotto, Louis Rossi, Brian West, Richard Schlack
MOE (Miracle of Engineering) Robotics
https://youtu.be/aGbi4IQSsdA
Jon Manon STEAM Team Educators Award
Tara Faircloth, Christine Alois, Carolyn Bush, Kendra Dechenes,
Tracy Fennemore, and Jennie McMahon from Caesar Rodney School District
Odyssey of the Mind
https://youtu.be/OO8uijkm6uA
Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, a close supporter and Honorary Co-Chair
of the Delaware STEM Council, offered closing remarks:
“As a professor and as a nurse who gets to live and see the implications
of science and STEM translated into health outcomes and into
our community, our pursuit of STEM education is critical – and it is amazing.”
Attention STEM Educators! The application process for the 9th Annual Awards will open soon!
For updates on upcoming events and to learn more, visit the DE STEM Council website.
To read the full article by Jan Castro, click here.
| Thank You to our Event Sponsors! |
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For Our Delaware Educators, Community & Friends
STEM “Drop-In” Videos to Share!
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As a gift for our Educators, Community and Friends, we packaged up a special series of video clips for you to share throughout the coming year! Created for the STEM Equity Summit & Conference event on October 15th, themed ‘What does STEM Equity Look Like’, these video snippets, interspersed virtually throughout the day, are inspirational stories from STEM leaders from across the country. We invite you to share these clips with your students, colleagues, parents and school districts! Feel free to air them at school gatherings and events as well as in the classroom.
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Available Now: STEM “Drop-In” Videos | |
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Freeman Hrabowski
President Emeritus of the University of MD Baltimore County (UMBC)
Freeman shares how he has always had ‘A Love for Math’, how the Meyerhoff Program began, the Four Pillars of Success in College STEM and a ‘Tale of Two Students’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lF_r7TqBfg
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Vere Archibald
Chemical Engineer & Site Leader for DuPont Experimental Station
Vere’s STEM beginnings started early in his childhood with curiosity inspired by Marvel Comic Books, including Spiderman, and trying to figure out how his web shooters work! Fostering curiosity and inquiry has taken him on an interesting lifelong STEM journey. Vere’s career has led him to develop and build the technology and innovation ecosystem of DuPont’s Experimental site for the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy0__9Vm2Pg
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Carol O’Donnell
Smithsonian Science Education Center
Carol O’Donnell, Smithsonian Science Education Center director, explores the question, “How do we dismantle structural and systemic racism, and ensure that all children gain a world-class education, especially over the past few years when access to education has been disrupted and resources allocated for education have been dramatically reduced?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQHhQY9-b6Q
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Bassam Shakhashiri
Science is Fun
Professor Shakhashiri is an educator, chemist, former American Chemical Society president and founder of Science is Fun. He promotes excellence in STEM education and is well known for his demonstrations in the teaching of chemistry in both classroom and community. He enlightens and enables people to make informed choices, to be skeptical, to reject shams, and unproven conjecture, and to avoid making foolish decisions where matters of science and technology are concerned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGyi_8IXzaM
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Teri Quinn-Gray
Vice President, Provivi, and Delaware STEM Council Co-chair
Teri shares her belief in the need to ask critical questions and explores the answer to “What does STEM equity look like?” She acknowledges that real STEM equity is not a level playing field and we can make meaningful change – with exposure, excitement, and encouragement for all!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWoGeyfgjZI
| We hope you enjoy these videos! | |
Celebrating Ag Harvests at Delaware Elementary Schools | |
Carrcroft Elementary School students harvested radishes, turnips, kale, arugula, peas and tatsoi. Drone photo of Carrcroft students harvesting peas, courtesy Brandywine School District. | |
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It was a busy year as students from Carrcroft, Heritage, John M. Clayton and Rehoboth Elementary Schools celebrated their agricultural harvests. Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids (HFHK) teamed up to train the teachers in all four schools in their “Education Cultivation” program.
At Carrcroft Elementary, the second graders prepared the soil, kindergarten and first-grade students planted radishes, turnips, kale, arugula, and tatsoi on September 27. Third graders carefully hand-watered until the seeds sprouted and fourth grade harvested the bountiful fresh produce. Visitors at the harvesting event were able to listen in on a lesson and watch fourth graders learn how to give their crops a “haircut”.
Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids is a school-based gardening program that helps improve students’ academic achievement and also improves their eating habits, a trend which continues into adulthood. Working with 40 schools across the state, HFHK has touched the lives of almost 17,000 Delaware school students with the growing of fresh produce.
For more information about Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids, click here or email Lydia Sarson at lsarson@healthyfoodsforhealthykids.org.
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Foster Schucker has been recognized at the regional, state and national levels in VEX Robotics as a coach, mentor and volunteer for his innovative and inspiring approach to teaching. | |
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DFSME’s December “Shining Light Award”
Honors Foster Schucker, Vex Robotics Educator
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This month’s DFSME Shining Light Award honors Foster Schucker, a true advocate for STEM education. Among his many accomplishments, Foster works with New Castle County Schools and Libraries to build, support and sustain VEX Robotics programs. His ultimate goal is to develop 21st Century skills in as many students as possible, as well as help them to pursue STEM scholarships, majors, and careers as a result of their participation in robotics programs. He is helping students understand how to embrace new technology and solve problems with big ideas in a local space – great preparation for their future!
Foster has been recognized at the regional, state and national levels in VEX Robotics as a coach, mentor and volunteer. He works with many educators to help build their capacity to be coaches and mentors as well. His hardworking approach in robotics afterschool activities is innovative, inspiring, and creative.
“The best part of getting kids excited with hands-on STEM
is the 'ah-ha' moment as they become fully engaged.
The second best part is when parents become engaged too,
encouraging their child to pursue robotics. Seeing them
head towards a STEM-based career makes all the work worthwhile.”
Foster was named Co-Mentor of the Year, along with his STEM Robotics co-founder Steve Rhoads, at the 2010 VEX Robotics Competition World Championship in Dallas by the REC Foundation (RECF). The RECF STEM Hall of Fame inducted Foster as a 2010 Inspirational All Star honoree for leadership and dedication to the VEX Competition experience. In 2012 he helped orchestrate the first-ever military Delaware State VEX Championship at the Dover Air Force Base inside a C5A hanger. In 2022, RECF sponsored 2,500 VEX Robotics Challenge events, with 20,540 robots competing. Over 92,000 roboteers participate in 70 countries.
In Delmarva there are over 50 VRC teams and over 100 VIQ teams; collectively in 2022-23 there will be 14 events. Before Covid, Foster’s goal was to have 200 teams by 2020 (so close at 184 teams in 2019). The region is on track to now do that for the 2023-24 season.
We are pleased to recognize Foster Schucker as a superlative educator!
Foster Schucker, (Chief Roboteer of STEM Robotics) was nominated by Dr. Michelle Kutch
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment, Brandywine School District, Wilmington DE.
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Nominate Your Favorite Educator to be a “Shining Light”
The DFSME Shining Light Award recognizes outstanding examples of the excellence of Delaware
teachers. Every day in classrooms throughout the state, Delaware teachers enable young learners to be
informed citizens in an increasingly complex world. They prepare their students to be competitive in
the ever-changing global workforce and to be the problem-solvers of the next generation. Honorees
receive a $100 gift card, a mini heavy-duty mag flashlight and lots of recognition!
ANYONE may nominate a Delaware STEM formal, informal or community educator.
Click here to download an easy-to-fill word document. Email completed form
to Anne.dfsme@gmail.com with “Shining Light Award” in the subject line.
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Celebrate National Chemistry Week 2022!
Free Event for the Public! Saturday Dec. 10
12pm-3pm • Show 3pm-4pm • The Independence School in Newark
Celebrate Chemistry at one of the most popular events of the year! In addition to the alka-seltzer rockets, slime, robot demos, and a "Radioactivity and You" demo, see a paper chromatography experiment, a coloring page table about prints and dyes, and sodium alginate "worm" necklaces.
The American Chemical Society’s theme this year is "Fabulous Fibers". Tables are open from noon to 3 p.m. followed by an exciting Chemistry Show from 3-4 p.m. Activities are geared towards grades K-6, but all ages are welcome. Boy and Girl Scouts can earn a free event patch at the Rocket Table.
Where: The Independence School, 1300 Paper Mill Road, Newark, DE 19711
To download the flyer, click here.
Sponsored by American Chemical Society Delaware and local schools, companies and museums
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Free eBook by STEMconnector
The Future of Energy is STEM
STEMconnector's latest eBook explores how innovation in energy technologies has changed the way companies offer sustainable products and services. It highlights companies, opportunities for innovation, and the STEM pathways that are shaping the future of energy.
These innovative energy segments include Concentrated Solar Energy, Carbon Storage, Nuclear Fusion, Smart Electricity Grids, Hydrogen Technologies, Energy Storage and Wind. Atomic energy, solar energy, and energy from wind and biofuels are just a few of the promising alternatives for a cleaner and greener future. Other relatively new sources of energy such as fuel cells, geothermal energy, and ocean energy are also being explored.
While companies will still produce fossil fuels in 2040, renewables could account for almost 70% of the world's energy mix, while nearly 80% less carbon will be emitted into the air, according to a report from global financial institution, ING.
Written for educators and students alike, we invite you to discover the STEM pathways that lead to an exciting career in sustainability and clean energy!
To download this free eBook, click here.
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NOAA Grant Opportunities
Deadline for Applications: February 10, 2023
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office announces a call for proposals for their Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grants. Environmental education is relevant to all careers and provides students with the understanding and skills needed to address complex 21st century problems.
Through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs), students engage in issue definition, outdoor field experiences, synthesis and conclusions, and environmental action projects that increase understanding and stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay and local watersheds.
Applications Due February 10, 2023.
NOAA anticipates about $450,000 in total funding to support 4-6 new projects. This funding will help school districts deliver MWEEs to students or to increase school districts’ capacity to deliver environmental education in School District MWEE Programming.
For questions or to discuss project ideas, contact Elise Trelegan at elise.trelegan@noaa.gov.
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Teacher Academy Professional Learning Series | |
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ECE & K12 Teacher Academy teachers are invited to attend a virtual professional learning series to help grow and support cultural responsiveness in educator preparation programs. The Anti-racist, Inclusion, Diversity & Inclusion (AIDE) training will be led by Ernest Blackwell, Founder and CEO of Equity and Beyond, who understands that “preparing an equity focused workforce in Delaware impacts not just students from marginalized communities, but all children.”
Each session will be 90 minutes, occurring during school hours, once per month through March 2023 and will result in 15 clock hours for participants. Attendance is highly encouraged, as these sessions will be tailored to fit the needs of our Teacher Academy teachers as they prep future educators through an equity lens and grow their capacity to deliver the revised Teacher Academy Program of Study.
For more info on Ernest Blackwell’s work, click here.
Register in PDMS, Course: 30916.
For questions or additional information, please contact CTE Director Jon Wickert at jonathan.wickert@doe.k12.de.us.
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Million Women Mentors Quarterly Newsletter
Check out what's happening with MWM!
Who rules the STEM world? Girls! From building a female focused workforce to opportunities in the highest level of government, women have a seat at the STEM table.
In the newsletter you will find information on:
- Upcoming and Recent Events
- Member News
- Women in Insurance Initiative Data Insights Study
- State Leader Spotlights
To download a pdf of the 4th Quarter newsletter, click here.
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December 10 • 12-4pm
Celebrate National Chemistry Week on Saturday Dec. 10
FREE Event! This year’s theme is “Fabulous Fibers” with demonstrations,
activity tables and an exciting Chemistry Show.
Location: The Independence School, 1300 Paper Mill Road, Newark, DE 19711
Local chemists and companies willing to offer an activity
can contact Lois Weyer at Lweyer2@verizon.net.
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December 15 • 4-6pm
DelawareBio BioBriefing
Celebrate the holidays with DelawareBio’s BioBriefing
Holiday Happy Hour at Autumn Arch Beer Project in Newark.
Enjoy relaxed networking, light appetizers, and locally brewed beverages.
To register, click here.
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Save the Date! March 2, 2023 • 7:30am - 2:30pm
Yes! Delaware Youth Environmental Summit
FREE for Delaware high school students and educators who are advisors to school teams.
Students explore the most pressing state, national and global environmental issues
and engage in steps they can take on campus and beyond.
Includes morning snack and lunch.
Clayton Hall Conference Center, 100 David Hollowell Drive, Newark DE 19716
Registration opens February 1 and is limited to the first 360 registrants.
Watch here for Pre-Registration and Registration announcements.
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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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DFSME Seed Grants: Request for Proposals (RFP)
DFSME will soon open the 2023 RFP.
Five awards of up to $5,000 will be granted to assist innovative projects, research,
or programs related to STEM Education and DFSME’s mission.
For more information about DFSME Seed Grants, go to http://dfsme.org/seed-grants/
While the page currently indicates that the application deadline is closed,
once the 2023 RFP opens a new deadline date will appear.
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Start Your New Year with a DFSME Mini Grant
DFSME provides small grants of up to $500 to teachers, student groups,
community educators and others who need to fill a gap in funding a program, event,
or other activity. DFSME Mini Grants are available year round.
See https://dfsme.org/dfsme-mini-grants-2 for information and application forms.
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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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