April 2022
Monthly News
IN THIS ISSUE

Relevancy Opens Windows to the Future with STEM Externships

Strengthening Skills in High Demand Fields through STEM-LIfT Scholarship

Rural STEM BEST Program Opens Student-Led Store

Scale-Up Programs Build Foundation in Computer Science for Iowa High School

May 13, 2022 - 2:30 p.m.
South Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

May 16, 2022 - 10:00 a.m.
Northwest Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

May 18, 2022 - 12:00 p.m.
Northeast Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

May 19, 2022 - 11:00 a.m.
Southeast Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

May 20, 2022 - 12:00 p.m.
North Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

May 31, 2022 - 12:00 p.m.
Southwest Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
Relevancy Opens Window to the Future with STEM Externships
Lincoln High School Industrial Technology Teacher Jorge Esquival participated in the STEM Teacher Externships Program in 2019, working with the Iowa National Guard as his workplace host.
“This experience has brought many new ideas for how I can create more authentic experiences in student tasks and labs. I will be incorporating more relevant contexts so they can tie their experiences to specific career paths,” said Jorge Esquival, Lincoln High School industrial technology teacher, following his experience in the STEM Council’s Teacher Externships Program, spending summer at the Iowa National Guard.

The STEM Teacher Externships Program differs from other externship professional development experiences by offering teachers an opportunity to work for a local organization for six weeks in the summer. Externs earn three hours of graduate credit and a participant stipend of up to $5,000 for 200-240 hours with the workplace Host. Two paid professional development days are held, utilizing the latest real-world applications specific to the subject they teach.

As a result of the STEM Teacher Externship experience, teachers gain a sense of the content skills, employability skills and technological literacy needed by their students to become future members of Iowa’s workforce. Their students will then receive a first-person account of how their studies in science, mathematics and technology education ultimately have real world application. Relevancy opens windows to the future and allows students to begin to imagine how their academic skills can eventually transition to a career.

Extern hosts receive a unique opportunity to work with some of Iowa’s most talented science, mathematics and technology teachers who can offer uncommon expertise and a return on the investment of being an extern host. This fully immersed workplace experience helps pave the way for further collaboration between the extern host, teacher and local school district.
 
Any Iowa public or private school secondary teacher of mathematics, science or technology education is eligible to apply. Visit www.iowastem.org/externships for more information.
Strengthening Skills in High Demand Fields Through STEM-LIfT Scholarship
Matt Jones, Mt. Pleasant High School agricultural education instructor, was the first
recipient of the STEM Latest Information for Teachers (LIfT) Scholarship available
through the STEM Council.
Mt. Pleasant High School Agricultural Education Instructor Matt Jones first heard about the STEM Latest Information for Teachers (LIfT) Scholarship for educators within STEM fields from his principal. He was motivated to complete an application and was awarded the first scholarship. He is completing a course through Iowa State University in agricultural education research.
 
“This course has not only taught me how to structure research problems, but how to test for validity, construct instruments of research and much more,” said Jones. “I can now better teach students how to organize and set up research to ensure that the results are reliable and viable.”
 
The scholarship was created to help STEM teachers stay informed and aware of rapidly evolving skill trends to better prepare their students for future workplace opportunities. Scholarships may range up to a maximum of $1,800 and are dependent on the institution and credit hours of the enrolled course at a higher education institution in Iowa.
 
“I would absolutely consider applying for this Scholarship again in a heartbeat. It helps alleviate the financial burden for us educators to refine our skills and further our own education,” said Jones. “This opportunity has allowed me as an educator to continue bettering myself to be the best educator I can be for my school, community and most importantly for my students.”
 
Now that Matt has pioneered the new LIfT scholarship, Council operations staff are hopeful that many more Iowa STEM teachers take advantage to stay abreast in their fields. To learn more about the STEM-LIfT Scholarship, visit www.iowastem.org/scholarships.
Rural STEM BEST Program Opens Student-Led Store
Students from CAM High School coordinated with other classes and the community to open a store in Anita, Iowa, as part of their STEM BEST Program.
Students from CAM High School have a new experience to add to their repertoire – opening a student-led store called the Cougar Den in Anita, Iowa. The store features CAM-branded items ranging from clothing to home décor that were designed and produced by CAM high school students. This STEM BEST Program brought together multiple high school classes with the local community to impact economic development and keep downtown Anita vibrant.

Approximately 100 students, educators, community members and leaders attended the grand opening event where CAM High School students, STEM Teacher Shelly Miller, Southwest Regional STEM Manager Joni Ehm and community leaders spoke.

CAM high school senior Eyon Steffensen said, “I think that STEM BEST Programs like this should be in every school. These programs teach real life skills. This is especially important in rural communities because so many kids graduate from high school and go into a trade school. Students in these programs learn soft skills, communication skills and now with this new endeavor, they will be able to learn entrepreneurship, marketing and record keeping skills, as well as management techniques. I also love that we are able to bring a new business to the main street of Anita.”

The CAM STEM BEST Program model is one of 118 awarded STEM BEST Programs in Iowa. These authentic career-linked learning opportunities are positively impacting communities while offering life-long learning and career preparation opportunities for students.

The STEM BEST Program is currently accepting applications. Learn more at www.iowastem.org/STEMBEST.
Scale-Up Programs Build Foundation in Computer Science for Iowa High School
Keokuk High School students engage in STEM Scale-Up Program Computational Thinking in Action with Micro:bit.
The Keokuk Community School District is working to create and support a cohesive pathway where students in kindergarten through grade 12 have access to career exploration, specifically in technology and computer science. These efforts have progressed, in part, thanks to the STEM Council’s STEM Scale-Up Program according to Keokuk High School Principal Adam Magliari.

“We would not have the programs and resources that we have for our students right now without the Scale-Up Program awards. The impact of these programs and resources have afforded our school the opportunity to build a solid foundation of computer science,” said Magliari.

Instructional Coach Natalie Ulloa encourages other school districts to take the plunge into computer science.

“To those who are hesitant I would say, ‘You can do it!’ There are so many people in our state that are here to support you,” said Ulloa. “Preparing students to actively participate in a global economy comes with the realization that computer science and technology applications are embedded in every career. Therefore, providing access to computer science courses allows students to develop skills like problem solving, resilience and teamwork that are necessary for the future that awaits them when they graduate.”

Ulloa also encourages coordination with local employers. “Connecting to our local industry is very important to us and the Scale-Up Programs provide an opportunity to showcase innovative learning opportunities, create the space for conversations with local businesses and foster partnerships,” she said.

The STEM Council’s regional managers serve in that vital role of connecting educators and schools to local employers through the Scale-Up Program as well as community festivals, STEM BEST partnerships, teacher-externships and more.

More information about the STEM Scale-Up Program can be found at www.iowastem.org/Scale-Up.
Contact the Iowa STEM Operations Center by phone at (319) 273-2959
or by email at info@IowaSTEM.org.