In this issue
 Attendees, as well as Metro High School staff and students, gathered around the greenhouse at the conclusion of the BEST STEMposium for a group picture..
On June 10 and 11, the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council BEST STEMposium brought Iowa STEM BEST Program participants together with industry and community partners to collaborate around shared STEM efforts.
The event kicked off with featured speakers Dr. Tawana Grover, superintendent of the Cedar Rapids Community School District, and Justin Lewis, STEM Bureau Chief for the Iowa Department of Education. Speaking about the importance of STEM education, Dr. Grover remarked that for students, it is "not just about what career they are going to choose, but about the rigor of the learning." Lewis echoed this, adding that "strong alliances prepare students for the jobs that do not yet even exist." That spirit of finding innovative ways to prepare students for the future through STEM set the tone for the two-day event.
BEST STEMposium attendees then participated in a "mash-up" session to share ideas and inspiration with fellow educators, followed by a gallery walk, featuring STEM BEST Program recipients and community partners. Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning included site visits to City View Community High School, to hear about their specialized, choice-based community magnet school, and Metro High School, where Metro STEAM Academy staff and students treated attendees to in-depth, hands-on learning about their innovative community- and project-based learning.
One attendee stated, “This is my second time attending. I absolutely loved both experiences. They get me energized, motivated and connected. I’ve already begun planning some content for my new Creative Writing project-based course.”
Attendees experienced up-close looks along with opportunities to use CNC machines, laser engravers, a robot lovingly named "Moguera," a greenhouse, sublimation printers and more. The event was more proof that even in summer educators continue to learn, share and spark inspiration for themselves and their colleagues.
 Bayer invests in Iowa’s STEM future..
The STEM Advisory Council received a $10,000 grant from the Bayer Fund to help support the expansion and growing network of the STEM BEST Program.
The Bayer Fund is a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the United States. This grant will be used towards building a better future by providing funding opportunities for schools to develop strategic partnerships that provide authentic learning opportunities for students.
“Having the support from organizations like Bayer is crucial to the success and growth of Programs like STEM BEST,” says Tanya Hunt, STEM BEST Program Coordinator. “Their investment in Iowa schools will pay off in dividends when students receive hands-on opportunities which will, in turn, create a talent pipeline for organizations like Bayer.”
It is the Bayer Fund and STEM Advisory Council’s mutual goal to see the communities we serve flourish. This grant from Bayer Fund will support the organization by allowing the STEM Council to also host a 4th annual BEST STEMposium in June of 2025. This event hosts educators from across the state and connects them to innovative resources. Most importantly, the BEST STEMposium connects them with each other to continue to share and build upon this innovative community.
“The Bayer Fund is proud to support the STEM Advisory Council and their work to make real, sustainable impacts in their community,” said Al Mitchell, President of Bayer Fund. “Programs like STEM BEST inspire future generations for careers in the high-demand STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, and we’re proud to provide our support.”
In 2023, Bayer Fund awarded more than $12.1 million to over 2,300 charitable and nonprofit organizations to help address essential needs in Food and Nutrition, STEM Education and Health & Wellness. Since 2017, nonprofit organizations across the U.S. have received nearly $90 million from Bayer Fund.
 Jan Ryherd Lockhart joined the Iowa STEM effort as Information Specialist on June 26.
Iowa STEM is very pleased to announce that our new team member Jan Ryherd Lockhart started on Wednesday, June 26, as Information Specialist for Iowa STEM.
While Jan is under the Iowa Department of Education Communications Bureau, she will be working with Iowa STEM to continue to advance our mission of increasing interest and achievement in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) studies and careers through partnerships engaging preK-12 students, parents, educators, employers, non-profits, policy leaders and others.
Jan joins the team after four years with the KCRG-TV9 First Alert Storm Team. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Iowa State University. While at Iowa State, she was an active member of the American Meteorological Society ISU student chapter and the Central Iowa National Weather Association chapter. She was also active in the school's weather broadcast, Cy's Eyes on the Skies, for which she was a director and producer. After graduating from ISU, she started her first job two days later in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she worked for Gray TV’s network of stations across the state for three years including KOLN, KSNB, KNOP and KNEP.
Sharing her love of science and weather with future scientists, Jan has thoroughly enjoyed helping educate people on the weather happening around them by visiting students at schools, as well as engaging with several regional STEM festivals as part of her outreach to the community.
Welcome to the Iowa STEM Team, Jan Lockhart!
Effective July 1, 2024, IowaSTEM.org will move to the Iowa Department of Education website. The new URL is:
https://educate.iowa.gov/pk-12/iowa-stem
The IowaSTEM.org URL will redirect to this new website for a period of time.
We hope you will bookmark this new website and visit it often to find the latest Iowa STEM information and resources.
If you do not find what you are looking for, please email us at info@IowaSTEM.org for assistance.
 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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