Honoring STEM Educators & Awardee Announcements!

In this issue, we focus on our key partners, the STEM Educators.

Much of our attention is concentrated on understanding and helping with recruiting and retention,

but we feel recognition is a major part of the formula. There is not enough!

We highlight traditional State leaders like our PAESMT winners, but also our first "Shining Light,"

Steve Cook, who like so many of you, does an outstanding job every day for every one of his students.

As summer approaches, there are a lot more opportunities for professional development.

We hope you can participate!

— Randy Guschl, Executive Director

Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education (DFSME)

2022 DFSME Seed Grants Awardees Announced!

DFSME provides Seed Grants for innovative programs that support our mission and vision and are suited to standards-based STEM education for Delaware teachers and students. Seed Grants are designed to provide a portion of the costs of a program that either is new or that replicates a successful program in a new geographic area or for a new population. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000.

This Year's DFSME Seed Grants Awardees:

Melissa Tracy on behalf of Odyssey Charter School

The Future of Food

Judson Wagner and Michelle Kutch on behalf of Brandywine School District

Growth and Sustainability for

New PECS (Physics, Engineering and Computer Science) Summer Camp for Girls

Delaware Mathematics Coalition, Delaware District and Charter Schools,

and UD Center for Secondary Education

Building a Stronger and More Inclusive Pathway to Mathematics Education: A Pilot Study

Delaware Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Delaware Mathematics Coalition, and TECH Impact

Investigations in Data Science

Congratulations!

Stay tuned to future issues of DFSME News for more in-depth coverage of these projects.

Delaware Finalists for White House

STEM Recognition Announced

Delaware Department of Education has named five Delaware teachers as state finalists for the

2022 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the highest recognition that K-12 STEM teachers can receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Finalists’ applications now will move forward to the national level for final selection of the

2022 PAEMST Awardees.

The 2022 Delaware State Finalists Are:

Mathematics

Jason Orlen, East Millsboro Elementary School, Indian River School District
Michele (Missy) Snyder, Major George Welch Elementary School, Caesar Rodney School District
Allison Van Ness, Clayton Intermediate School, Smyrna School District

Science

Maria Cobb, Mount Pleasant Elementary School, Brandywine School District
Jaime Swartz, John M. Clayton Elementary School, Indian River School District

For listings and photos of all the 2020-2021 finalists, click here.

DFSME’s Inaugural “Shining Light Award”

Honors Stephen Cook, Agriscience Educator

(Left) Students learn how to draw blood from sheep to run a bioPRYN test to determine if they are pregnant. Pictured with Cook (L to R) are Mckenzie Skinner, Michael Fondong, Natalie Beronio and Elizabeth Molengraft. Photo courtesy of Brandy Timpson. (Right) On May 5th, Cook was presented the DFSME Shining Light award during his FFA class at Appoquinimink High School. Pictured with Cook (L to R) are Kyle Gares, Jacey Wiley and Kaylee Wiener.

We are pleased to recognize this superlative educator!

Stephen Cook was nominated for the DFSME Shining Light Award by Mike Trego, College and Career Readiness Coordinator, Appoquinimink High School.

This inaugural award honors Stephen Cook, an Agriscience Educator at Appoquinimink High School.

His teaching kindles a spark in his students and he serves as a positive role model among peers.

Cook uses hands-on activities with students to increase their understanding and need for efficiency in the Agriculture industry through STEM-based lessons. He challenges students to feed a growing population of people with abundant, safe and affordable products while having minimal impact on our natural resources. In addition, he brings realistic applications to the classroom from his family farming operation to share with students to make them informed citizens and consumers of the future.

Over 15 of Cook’s former students and student teachers are now agriscience teachers in the state.

In turn, the number of students impacted increases the future progress of Agriscience.

Cook’s achievements include receiving Delaware Online’s 2020 Top Teachers Award, the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from University of Delaware’s College of Ag and Natural Resources, the 2021 Outstanding Service Award from the 2021 Delaware Association of Ag Educators (DAAE), and the DAAE Teacher of the Year and Mentor Awards. He is also former President of the Middletown FFA, Delaware FFA, UD FFA and DAAE.

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 quietly go about enabling 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 and a mini heavy-duty mag flashlight.

ANYONE may nominate a STEM Educator for the Shining Light Award.

Click here to download the Nomination Form. Fill out and email to anne.dfsme@gmail.com

with "Shining Light" in the subject line.

Delaware’s Afterschool Programs Step Up

as Key Partners in STEM Education

By Regina Sidney-Brown, Director, Delaware Afterschool Network (DEAN)

In Delaware, unmet demand for afterschool programs has reached an all-time high, with more than 62,000 children who would be enrolled in a program if one were available to them. Demand for afterschool in Delaware surges as parents see key benefits from afterschool, including keeping kids safe, helping them learn and grow, and providing peace of mind for working families. As families face barriers to participation, such as cost and accessibility, there is strong support behind public funding for afterschool programs in the state.

Delaware afterschool and summer programs provide hands-on STEM learning for students to explore, learn, and grow. But too many young people are missing out. Young people need sustained opportunities to engage with STEM learning, develop an interest in and comfort with STEM subjects, and understand the career pathways to pursue STEM interests and careers.

Over the last decade, afterschool programs have become a cornerstone in providing STEM learning for students. Research conducted on the role that afterschool programs play in supporting STEM learning for students has established the field as a key player in helping students develop their science identity and belief that they can succeed in STEM careers.

Working together with schools, businesses, community organizations, and informal science institutions, afterschool programs can help equip all young people to play a role in addressing our most pressing issues. By fully utilizing the hours outside of school and taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to maximize collective impact, we can ensure that our students are prepared for the future.

To read the full article including key recommendations that will help to realize the potential of afterschool as an integral partner in STEM education, click here.

To visit the DEAN website, click here.

DFSME Seed Grant Awardee

Building a Stronger & More Inclusive

Pathway to Math Education

Capitalizing on the Power & Influence of Delaware Math Marigolds

Reprinted from Delaware Math Coalition News, May 2022

There has probably never been a more important time to champion the virtues of becoming an educator. Challenges regarding the attrition of candidates in teacher prep programs and teacher retention are well-documented, both at the local and national levels (TeachDE , TELL DE, All4ED.org). While Delaware districts and charter schools have made progress in the quality of their Teacher Academy Pathways, traditionally, the programs are content-agnostic.

Conversations held during monthly meetings of the Delaware Mathematics Coalition (DMC) suggest that the teacher shortage in mathematics may be reaching crisis levels. Even as recently as February 2022, a Math Supervisor from one of New Castle County’s largest employers of educators shared that three secondary math positions remained unfilled since the beginning of the school year. Without qualified candidates in our mathematics classrooms, student learning suffers. The impact and long-term implications of this systems-level challenge are severe.

DMC leaders are seeking to change this dynamic. Data collected by researchers studying the alliance’s content-focused mentoring induction initiative, Leadership Coaching Lab: Growing Math Marigolds Project, found that both novice and experienced mathematics teachers benefited from the program (LabWare Report, 2019-2020). Growing the instructional capacity of the math leaders

and mentors known as Math Marigolds in Delaware schools is a critical step toward creating stronger pre-service to in-service connections and is an instrumental part of the DMC’s equity-focused

strategies priorities (Obj. 1).

To read more, click here.

For more information about participating in this pilot program, please email pilot leads Drs. Jamila Riser jqriser@gmail.com and Diana Roscoe droscoe@udel.edu.

DFSME Mini Grants are Available!

Got a STEM Project but Short of Funding?

DFSME will fund the costs of a variety of projects which are not funded by districts or agencies. The gap created by this lack of funding means that these costs often are paid by teachers and participants. These grants are designed to bridge that gap. Here’s an example of how a DFSME Mini Grant was used!

DFSME Mini Grant Awardee: Engineer Early Association

Grab and Go STEM Kits

This Mini Grant helped to fund materials to produce 628 STEM kits,

available free of charge to children and youths,

and helped the program increase from four to six Delaware library partners.

The kits are intended for elementary age students. Younger children can engage in the STEM kits with parental assistance while the older children can complete the kits independently. Major STEM concepts are introduced or reinforced by fun STEM activities. Because the kits are free, available at local libraries, require no access to computers or the internet, and are fun and engaging, they help reduce the barriers to equity that underserved children must overcome to have fun STEM experiences.

Applying for a Mini Grant is Easy!

Do you or a colleague know a teacher, administrator or principal who has a

brilliant idea for engaging students and families in STEM learning? Let them know

about this awesome Mini Grant opportunity through DFSME!

To download a PDF of the DFSME Mini Grants flyer, click here.

For more information or to download the application, click here.

For questions or to send in an application, email anne.dfsme@gmail.com.

Use subject heading “DFSME Mini Grant”.

There is Still Time to Apply!

Become a STEM Educator Award Winner

Deadline is May 30, 2022

STEM Educator Award

Co-hosted by Delaware STEM Council and Delaware Foundation for Science and Math Education (DFSME), the Delaware STEM Educator Awards recognize certified teachers who demonstrate STEM innovation and excellence through teaching, academic collaboration, and student engagement. Awards are honored at the elementary (K-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12) levels.

STEM Educator Community Award

Are you a STEM Educator but might not fit into the usual K-12 description?

The Delaware STEM Educator Community Award offers recognition and funding. This award is open to community educators and organizations that coordinate STEM activities for youth in grades P-12 that typically, but not exclusively, take place outside the school environment such as afterschool and organizations that are essentially non-traditional.

Cash Awards up to $7,500

Winners at each level are eligible for a cash award up to $7,500 in recognition of their commitment to STEM in Delaware and the success of our students. Winners will be honored at the 8th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards Event in November 2022.

Eligibility

Applicants can be certified K-12 teachers in the Delaware public school system as well as exceptional educators who may be uncertified but still work with K-12 students in a focused STEM curriculum. Such a curriculum (science, math, engineering, technology, computer science and CTE) must still meet all expectations and goals of the Delaware STEM Council, as listed above.

Programs can include before and after school programs as well as summer camps. Preference is given to published STEM curriculums and programs that have been vetted, sustainable STEM programs, and activities that have impacted many and can be replicated and scaled across the state and beyond.

Application Deadline

Completed applications and all supporting materials must be received by May 30, 2022.

Submit your original application and supporting materials as well as questions to: DelawareSTEMAwards@gmail.com.

Now Offering BS Degrees in Elementary Ed & Nursing

Ready to pursue the next level of your education? Delaware Technical Community College offers a wide variety of credit programs of study, now including two new Bachelor in Science degrees.

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSE) program is a combination of in-person and online coursework combined with immersive experiences designed for teacher candidates who have acquired an Associate of Arts in teaching. Candidates will become eligible for dual certification in elementary education and special education in Delaware. Teachers in Delaware earn an average salary of $64,853, and an average starting salary of $43,092. This program is offered at the Dover, Georgetown and Wilmington campuses.

For more information, click here.

RN to BSN: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is an online degree program designed for current RNs who to reach the next level of their nursing education while working. The program will provide licensed registered nurses with baccalaureate-level education. The RN to BSN program builds upon the foundational knowledge and skills attained in previous nursing courses and experiences. Baccalaureate education prepares professional nurses with a broad knowledge base for practice with expanded roles encompassing advocacy, leadership, and scholarship. Competitive starting salaries range from $62,000 - $95,000. This program is offered online with program coordinators at the Dover, Georgetown, and Stanton campuses.

For more information, click here.

NSF Project Participation Opportunity!

Deadline is June 1, 2022

The Stroud Center, Concord Consortium, and Millersville University are recruiting DE and PA grades 5-9 teachers and their classes for the next National Science Foundation (NSF) cohort. It includes teacher professional development at the Stroud Center this summer, ongoing support and implementation of the 10-lesson curriculum which follows the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) model and is designed to meet NGSS standards. Teachers receive stipends and instructional supplies for their classrooms.

To preview the curriculum, click here. It includes classroom, online, computer GIS modeling with Model My Watershed, E-STEM careers, and field activities.

To register, click here.

Teachers Invited to Apply for

1st Annual STEM Education Scholarship Program

Deadline is May 31, 2022

The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) has opened the application period for

the first annual Lt. Governors’ STEM Scholarship Program, sponsored by ACT, to award up to $1,000 to 12 schools nationally to support STEM-related activities for youth. NLGA will award three scholarships to states and territories in each of the four NLGA regions in 2022, for a total

of 12 scholarships worth $10,000 total.

Award winners will be announced at the NLGA Annual Meeting, July 20-22, 2022.

To read the full press release, click here.

For additional information including instructions for applying, click here.

Building Networks & Enhancing Diversity

in the K-12 STEM Teaching Workforce

In March 2022, the Smithsonian Science Education Center, in collaboration with Howard University, published a new resource titled, Building Networks and Enhancing Diversity in the K-12 STEM Teaching Workforce. This Sourcebook contains findings of a research study about the roles and challenges of Institutions of Higher Education (specifically Minority Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities) on diversifying the STEM teaching workforce. This Sourcebook serves as a guide for those who are looking for resources about diversity and system change within the K-12 STEM teaching workforce.

To download this FREE Sourcebook, click here.

To explore more Smithsonian Science Education Center Girls & Women in STEM resources, click here.

May 19

Discovery Ed Webinar for DE Leaders and Educators • 3 p.m.

Live 45-minute session providing teachers with authentic, real-world content, useful teaching tools,

and professional learning strategies to engage students, address current and relevant topics, and take advantage of ready-to-use lesson activities.

To register for this session, click here.

For questions, email Andrea Garner at Discovery Ed at agardner@discoveryed.com

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May 21-22

Thunder Over Dover Airshow • 12 p.m.

Rare, double-header Airshow at Dover Air Force Base featuring both the

U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds,

and the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.

Entry is FREE. Lawn chairs are permissible on the grounds.

For more info, click here.

For schedule, map and parking information, click here.

To see this event’s promotional video, click here.

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May 21

DASEF Planet Earth Family Day • 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Lots of fun-filled family activities including rocket launching, a hands-on Clean Water Maze featuring marine

life by Wyland, learning opportunities about endangered animals, the rain forest and much more.

$5/per person (CASH ONLY), Kids under 3 free.

To see the full schedule of 2022 DASEF educational events, click here.

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May 21 • 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Trout Unlimited STREAM Girls Program

For middle school girls in grades 6-8. Meet at Stroud Water Research Center

and travel to fishing ponds of Anson B. Nixon Park (405 N. Walnut Rd., Kennett Square 19348).

Participants are responsible for their own transportation from Stroud Center

to the park, approximately 10 minutes away. Cost is FREE for youth and adult chaperones.

Registration is required. To register, click here.

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June 11 • 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

DASEF Exploration: Computer Code

Writing computer code is a skill that can begin your journey to becoming a software engineer.

Activities introduce the basic principles of coding. Programming fun and educational!

To sign up for this event, click here.

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June 14-June 15

Workshop: Applying Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE)

Framework to Waste Streams

A two-day virtual advanced workshop, open to classroom teachers, non-formal environmental educators and homeschool providers who have completed MWEE 101 course.

Cost is FREE and limited to the first 50 participants.

To register, click here.

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June 16 • 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Health Science Virtual Summer Professional Learning

CTE-Health Sciences will hold professional learning via WebEx.

To participate, register in PDMS, Course #29633, Section #58795.

For additional information, email Peg Enslen at peggy.enslen@doe.k12.de.us.

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Save the Date! October 14-15

Delaware Mathematics & STEM Equity Conferences

Two powerful days of professional learning dedicated to Equity in Math and STEM.