 MMCRU STEM BEST model led by Matt Hansen and Nick Long offering authentic and engaging experiences that capture the interest of 86% of the student body.
The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education announced 21 Iowa school districts will join the STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program to provide students with career-linked learning experiences. The program helps introduce and prepare students for future success in career opportunities in Iowa through the development or expansion of authentic and work-based learning programs at the school level which foster growth in high-demand, career-ready skill sets by providing students real-world, hands-on opportunities created by business and education partnerships.
Including the latest awardees, 137 models have been created or expanded since the STEM BEST Program launched in 2014. The STEM BEST Program encourages teachers and industry professionals to work side-by-side to develop a work-based learning model that incorporates STEM subjects like mathematics and science with experiential learning opportunities to emphasize high-demand skills in the workplace. The Council’s investment of up to $40,000 professional and financial support for each awardee can be used for curriculum development and coordination, educator training and development in workplace-classroom integration and preparing work-based learning environments.
The 2024-25 STEM BEST Program awardees are:
- Center Point-Urbana School District
- Central Lyon Community School District
- Easton Valley Community School District
- Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District
- Gerald W. Kirn Middle School, Council Bluffs
- Kingsley-Pierson Community School District
- Lewis Central Community School District
- Logan-Magnolia Community School District
- Marion High School, Marion Community School District
- Marion Intermediate School, Marion Community School District
- North Polk Community School District
- North Scott Community School District
- Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Community School District
- Red Oak Community School District
- Sioux City Community School District
- Southeast Warren Community School District
- Unity Christian High School
- Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District
- Western Christian High School
- Winterset Community School District
- Woodrow Wilson Jr. High, Council Bluffs
To be considered for a STEM BEST Program award, applicants were required to submit a comprehensive proposal that incorporates rigorous and relevant STEM curriculum, includes valuable partnerships with community businesses or organizations, aligns with STEM goals, addresses sustainability of the model program and evaluates the program’s effectiveness.
For more information on the STEM BEST Program, please visit https://www.iowastem.org/STEMBEST.
 Topics to amplify solutions for connecting education and the workforce.
The 2024 statewide Iowa Classrooms+Workplaces Summit will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at the Iowa Events Center, Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, in Des Moines.
Presented by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education, the Summit brings together Iowans from business and industry, education, nonprofits, trade organizations, professional societies, governmental agencies, elected officials, students and others to amplify the public conversation and set the stage for inspiring networks, making connections and accessing what is possible to establish learning environments that link classroom learning to real-world career opportunities.
Registration is required. To register and for more information, go to: https://iowastem.org/2024Summit. The deadline for registration is April 3. The Summit is open to the public and admission is free of charge thanks to generous sponsors. The day of the event check in starts at 8:30 a.m. with the event running from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The morning will include a presentation by Code.org Chief Academic Officer Pat Yongpradit on the “Future of Innovation and STEM: CS and AI Education as a Foundation,” as well as a presentation by ExcelinEd Senior Policy Fellow Christy Hovanetz on credentials to careers.
Participants will be in for an inspiring presentation by Kemin Industries over the lunchtime with remarks on the importance of science education in our world today along with the recognition of the six STEM Teacher Awardees for 2024. The STEM Teacher Award has been sponsored by Kemin Industries since 2014.
The afternoon breakout sessions will provide an array of options for career-linked learning toward bright horizons and actionable outcomes.
Be a part of the solution to accelerate Iowa’s growth and prosperity!
 Shreyas Shrestha, a junior at Johnston High School, visits with Web Programming and Cybersecurity Instructor Kyle Kuhlers at the Waterloo Career Center.
On Monday, February 19, 2024, Shreyas Shrestha traveled from Johnston to spend the day in Cedar Falls with the STEM Council Central Operations team as a part of the Department of Health and Human Services Annual Youth Shadow Week. In addition to being a Co-Lead of the STEM Council Youth Advisory Board, Shreyas is a member of the Iowa Youth Congress. He is a junior at Johnston High School and is actively involved in the community, serving as the Secretary of the National Honor Society (NHS). He is an avid advocate for STEM education and mentors a robotics team in the metro area. Shreyas has held leadership roles in Science Olympiad, Technology Student Association and FIRST Robotics. He is also involved in National History Day, Cross Country and Soccer. He enjoys public speaking and legislative discourse, especially as a participant of Congressional Debate where he was able to be a national qualifier. In the future, Shreyas plans on majoring in either software or mechanical engineering.
Youth Shadow Week was started by the Department of Health and Human Service in 2021 to provide youth an opportunity to shadow a state government leader in order to gain insight and experience into the state government. The Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council was honored to be included this year.
Shreyas chose the STEM Council for his job shadow because he shares a passion for STEM education and the importance of making STEM accessible to all. He wanted to learn more about the work of the STEM Council and forge valuable connections with the team. Shreyas commented, “I believe our future is in the hands of STEM, and alongside this goes STEM education. With the proper skills learned from education in STEM, students are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in the long-run and help progress our society. From farming to medicine, everything in our world runs on technology and STEM based tools and having a strong STEM education allows for the fostering of these abilities from a young age.” Shadowing the STEM Council team allowed Shreyas to learn about the programs driving Iowa’s growth in STEM and provided a platform to learn how he can increase the impact of STEM education in his community. Shreyas was also given a tour of the STEM BEST Program at the Waterloo Career Center to see the STEM Council’s work in action.
In reflection on his day Shreyas had this to say:
“I learned about many valuable tools during my experience, most significantly in regards to creating, and capturing more engagement in activities, and initiatives. This included focusing on the target audience’s ROI, or return on investment when creating projects, and working to gather feedback from target demographics on what types of events or activities they would be most interested in. I learned about targeted promotion, and expanding connections by reaching out to as many people as possible to build an audience when setting up events, but also for my own personal growth to seek new opportunities. I had an amazing experience with Tanya, Ann, and the STEM Council, and will continue to reach out, and work with them in the future. This experience has allowed me to build upon my passions, and projects, and streamline them towards directed efforts, which I aim to use to continue to spread STEM!”
Thank you, Shreyas Shrestha, for choosing to spend your time with the STEM Council, for your service on the Youth Advisory board and for your advocacy of STEM education in Iowa!
 Aminna McGee, a DNA Criminalist with the Iowa DCI Crime Laboratory, challenges students to interpret microscopic evidence at the I'll Make Me a World in Iowa Education Day.
This Spring there are Regional STEM Festivals abound! A Regional STEM Festival is an engaging, free, hands-on educational experience for preK-12 youth and their families. The goal of conducting a STEM festival is to catalyze the connection of children and families to the community assets that inspire and support them in pursuing STEM careers. At times, the STEM Regions also host other creative gatherings that drive community engagement, partnerships and showcases that advance the mission of Iowa’s STEM Council.
South Central STEM Region.
On February 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the South Central STEM Region hosted a STEM Festival session with 14 hands-on exhibitors with tables full of activities as part of the I'll Make Me a World in Iowa Education Day, a gathering of over 800 6-12 grade students from across the state for a celebration of African American education, STEM, art, history, business and more. Students were excited and engaged at every table, and the exhibitors brought wonderful and varied hands-on activities.
The following STEM Festivals are coming up this Spring:
North Central STEM Region. For more information, go to: https://www.ncstemhub.iastate.edu/north-central-stem-festivals
- March 14, 2024, 5-8PM - Osage Middle/High School
- April 6, 2024, 9AM-12 NOON – DMACC Boone Campus
- April 17, 2024, 4-7PM – North Iowa Area Community College Gym, Mason City
Northeast STEM Region. For more information, go to: https://www.neiowastem.com/stem-festivals
- March 19, 2024, 4-7PM - Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival, UNI Dome, Cedar Falls
- April 18, 2024, 4-7PM - Dubuque Area Family STEM Festival, Dubuque County Fairgrounds
Northwest STEM Region. For more information, contact NW Regional STEM Manager Mary Trent at mtrent@iowalakes.edu
- April 26, 2024 - E-Sports Festival, Western Iowa Technical College’s Rocklin Center as well as virtually
- June 20, 2024, 9AM-3PM – Laker STEM Fest, Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville Campus
Southeast STEM Region. For more information, contact SE Regional STEM Manager Matt Stier at matthew-j-stier@uiowa.edu
- April 7, 2024, 1-4PM - Belle Plaine High School
- July 18, 2024, 9AM-1PM – Collins Aerospace Campus, Cedar Rapids
Southwest STEM Region. For more information, contact SW Regional STEM Manager Casey Wenstrand at wenstrand@iowastem.org
- March 21, 2024, 5-7PM - Earlham Family STEM Night, Earlham Community School District
- April 3, 2024, 12-3PM - Full STEAM Ahead Festival, Graceland University Morden Center
- May 1, 2024, 5:30-7:30PM - Southwest Iowa Technical Career Hub (SWITCH Center), East Mills Elementary Gym
Each of the STEM Regions welcomes additional exhibitors and volunteers who would like to be a part of these annual STEM Festivals. To express interest in participating, contact the Regional STEM Manager in your region. Their contact information can be found at: https://iowastem.org/regions
The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) has opened the application period for the 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. Applications will be accepted until March 15, 2024 with award recipients announced and funded in Summer 2024.
All public, private, and tribal schools in the 50 states and five U.S. territories are invited to apply at nlga.awardsplatform.com. Funding will be awarded to schools to support STEM-related activities, programming, curriculum, equipment, and other expenses.
Applications will be reviewed in the spring with award winners announced at the NLGA Annual Meeting in April 2024. Additional information on the STEM Scholarship Program, including instructions for applying, can be found at https://nlga.us/strategies/nlga-state-strategies-in-stem/.
Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council
Iowa Department of Education
214 East Bartlett Hall
University of Northern Iowa
515-335-1531
info@iowa.gov
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