North Central STEM Region
May 17, 2022
Mauree Haage To Join STEM Team as Southwest Regional STEM Manager
Mauree Haage is the newest addition to the STEM Council Network Team,
serving as the North Central Iowa Regional STEM Manager.
The STEM Council welcomes Mauree Haage as the new North Central Regional STEM Manager operating out of Iowa State University. Starting in June, she will join 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.
 
Haage has been a science and computer science teacher for the past 10 years; most recently teaching at North Mahaska Junior High and Senior High School. Haage has been a strong advocate for STEM Council programming and previously served as co-chair of the South Central Regional STEM Advisory Board and on several state working groups advocating and providing recommendations for STEM, computer science education and computer science standards for Iowa youth. She has presented on various STEM topics at state and national conferences in addition to facilitating hands-on workshops for practicing teachers who want to learn more about STEM teaching methods throughout the Midwest and other states.

“I am passionate about introducing students and teachers to the world of STEM and firmly believe all students should have access to quality science education and opportunities,” said Haage.
 
Haage earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary science education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also earned a master’s degree in science education from University of Northern Iowa.
 
For more information about the six STEM regions, visit www.iowastem.org/regions.
STEM BEST Program Ignites Curiosity and Empowers Students
The Boone EDGE STEM BEST Program combines classroom and work experience to help students develop career awareness and skills for future success.
By: Jill Janes and Lydsey Hyman
 
Laney and Cheyanne began a fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and completed ride-alongs with the local fire department to explore EMS careers. Gage worked in welding with a local manufacturer, often coming in on unscheduled days just to help out his employer and be a part of the work environment. Sarah and Brenna created a pop-up prom dress boutique and fashion show for a local bridal store owner prior to beginning a major in fashion merchandising next fall. Dalton gained confidence in iJAG and secured a paid summer trades internship with a future full-time employment option. Deeply personalized and grounded in community support, the varied experiences of these students highlight the culmination of work-based learning experiences provided by the Boone EDGE STEM BEST model.
 
EDGE (Empowering Desire, Guiding Experience) combines classroom experiences with work experiences to help students develop career awareness and skills for future success. EDGE ignites curiosity and empowers students to gain a set of core skills like communication and self-awareness. With a vision of a PK-12 work-based learning approach, younger EDGE students build career awareness, while high school students partner with local businesses for deeper career exploration and training experiences. The end result is students who are well prepared for success in any pathway of life and also have a deeper understanding of career opportunities right within the local community. 
 
EDGE’s success comes from collaboration with local and regional businesses. Businesses not only recognize the skills needed in a particular industry, but also understand the local workforce needs.
 
“STEM BEST has been instrumental in not only getting EDGE up and running but has continued to support the work for students in continuing to build skills and knowledge,” says Lindsey Hyman, EDGE Director.
 
Since Boone EDGE’s creation in 2017-2018 as a STEM BEST Program, EDGE partnerships have given students hands-on experiences through job shadows, guest speaking, student tours, mentorships, authentic projects using the Iowa Work-Based Learning Clearinghouse, apprenticeships and internships. These partnerships are building future community members with the skills needed to help our community and state grow.
North Central STEM Regional Advisory Board Profile: Jared Brown
Jared Brown is Senior Process Development Engineer II at Renewable Energy Group in Ames, and is in his first term serving on the North Central Regional Advisory Board for the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
Iowans are fortunate that ninety citizens volunteer for three-year appointments on regional STEM advisory boards across six regions of the state. Members support regional managers in connecting to thousands of youth, families, educators and employers within 10,000 square-mile zones of responsibility. Governor Reynolds appoints each board member to help translate STEM Council visions into practical solutions at ground level. Regional boards bring the problem-solving “how” to the Council’s “what” and “why.” And engineers on STEM advisory boards are naturals in that role. One of them is Jared Brown.
 
A biorenewable resources expert by day, Jared applies his mechanical engineering degree in Biorenewable Resources and Technology from Iowa State University to develop advanced sustainable fuels and chemicals for the Renewable Energy Group. Away from work, Jared is married to an elementary teacher so he knows first-hand the impact potential of STEM, an impact he recognizes to be just scratching the surface for all the teachers out there. The son of medical professionals, Jared veered into engineering as a young gear-head interested in math and science. Today he gives back time to Iowa STEM as a means of making a broader contribution to the state that provided him a STEM degree and career opportunity. Already in his first year on the board, Jared has reviewed Scale-Ups and sat on a STEM Careers Panel for Engineering Week while chipping in ideas for improving reach and implementation of all offerings through the North Central board. He readily admits to “…a steep learning curve…” when it comes to education systems but values “Being around the other board members that have so much passion and so many ideas…” 
 
In answer to the oft-asked question, How does Iowa STEM get so much done? It is people like Jared Brown and his eighty-nine fellow board members whose guidance and service make all the difference. Members of each regional STEM board can be accessed by clicking on regions at https://www.iowastem.org/regions.
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