December 1, 2023 At the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council, we are proud to reflect on the tremendous growth and success of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in our state. We owe this achievement to the unwavering support and dedication from our advocates, corporate partners, and program participants who have played an instrumental role in shaping Iowa's STEM landscape. Over the years, Iowa has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its approach to STEM education. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including educators, policymake ..read more

No Boundaries Middle School (NOBOMS), a STEM BEST Program, is a student-centered program that focuses on future ready skills for 20 eighth graders at Okoboji Middle School. The program, modeled after Iowa Big based out of Cedar Rapids, has given students the opportunity to connect curriculum to the community, gain real world experience and practice passion-based learning. Recently, eight students from the NOBOMS team presented a few of the projects they are working on, their experiences in the program and areas of growth and possible improvement. They began by sharing a list of the exemplary ..read more

Featuring Christina Schauer, Director of Clinical and Professional Development at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center The Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program benefits students, teachers and businesses alike, aiming to help teachers answer the timeless question, “When will I ever use this?” Secondary math, science and technology teachers are using their knowledge to lend a hand to workplaces while gaining real-world examples to provide to their students, highlighting opportunities in STEM and inspiring our future STEM leaders.  Teachers who have participated in the STEM Teacher E ..read more

Every year, the STEM Scale-Up Program provides high-quality STEM educational opportunities to educators throughout Iowa, engaging with an estimated 100,000 students to shed light on the necessary skills needed for the future workforce. Chase Krug, a former Linn-Mar High School student who participated in the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) STEM Scale-Up Program said, “I was able to learn and experience the diversity of agricultural science, develop critical thinking skills such as problem solving and learn universal lab skills.” Krug said participating in the Scale-Up Pr ..read more

By: Stephen Emrich, Mathematics Teacher at Louisa-Muscatine High School. Steve Emrich participated in a STEM Teacher Externship at HNI in Muscatine. He worked in the Corporate Accounting department. His main job was to review customer account sales volume, marketing agreements, and invoices. He took information from these reports and created excel spreadsheets that put this information into a usable format for HNI reporting. Steve learned many new things about accounting and how math is used in today's business world. He was introduced to several new mathematical applications that he ca ..read more

By: Dee Wesbrook, Linn-Mar Community School District Three Linn-Mar High School students built three Little Free Libraries which they are installing in low-income areas in hopes of keeping kids reading during the summer months. Junior Carly Schrum and Seniors Ally Anderson and Rita Tofanelli developed and organized a “Paws for Reading” program with second grade students at Indian Creek Elementary during the school year. As their program continued, they started wondering how they could transfer the student’s excitement for reading to the months of summer vacation.  “The kids get so excite ..read more

Featuring Duhita Mahatmya, Ph.D., research scientist for the College of Education at the University of Iowa Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month is recognized every April to increase understanding and appreciation for mathematics. It can truly be celebrated all year, as mathematics impacts our everyday lives and helps build the world around us. Mathematics is the language that allows us to explore science, engineering and technology. We interact with it every day to budget, cook, drive a car, use a computer or schedule our time. Learning the foundations of mathematics dev ..read more

Featuring Mark Hutcheson, High School Director of Teaching and Learning, Director of Venture Academics, Linn-Mar Community School District Venture is a Linn-Mar High School STEM BEST Program that focuses on hands on, career-linked learning and application. Community engagement is a key component of the Venture experience. Students travel offsite to various locations and businesses. Professionals come into the Venture space to work with students. In the inaugural semester of the Venture Academics program, 56 students took part in the program. A few highlights stood out: Behavi ..read more

Featuring Dan D'Alessandro, Professional Development Coordinator, Past President of the Quad City Engineering & Science Council and co-chair of the Southeast Iowa STEM Regional Advisory Council This week, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is celebrating Engineers Week to highlight the importance of engineers for Iowa communities. After all, nearly every aspect of modern life is influenced by engineering—from the phones in our pockets to the bridges we use to cross rivers and highways.  While engineers may work in different industries and specialize in differen ..read more

Featuring: Susan Wenger, Title I Reading Teacher at North Fayette Valley Schools The STEM Scale-Up Program from the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council delivers outstanding, hands-on educational experiences to Iowa students across the state, creating access to curriculum from leading STEM program providers each year. Approximately one in five Iowa students participate annually, learning about subjects like computer science, robotics, engineering design, agriculture and animal science. The program benefits educators, students and the state—leaving learners more interested in STEM, teachers ..read more