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Nominations for the 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program are being accepted through November 15, 2024.
Nominations for the 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program are open through November 15. We invite administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, students and community members to nominate an inspirational science, technology, engineering or mathematics teacher for the prestigious 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program.
The Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program is dedicated to honoring the passionate teachers who are making a significant difference in the lives of students across the state. It recognizes one full-time, licensed PreK-12 Iowa STEM teacher from each of the state’s six STEM regions. The six selected recipients will each receive a monetary gift for their classroom and a second for personal use.
“We are thankful to have such outstanding science, technology, engineering and mathematics teachers in Iowa and are delighted to honor them for the 11th year of the Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program,” said Justin Lewis, bureau chief for Iowa STEM. “We want to hear about the inspiring teacher crafting engaging learning experiences, the instructor helping open doors to in-demand STEM career paths in Iowa or the educator going the extra mile for their students and community. These educators provide excellent curriculum, encourage lifelong learning and inspire a passion for STEM both in the classroom and into the future. We look forward to learning about these exceptional STEM educators through your nominations.”
Nomination forms and additional information can be found at educate.iowa.gov/STEM/TeacherAward.
Following nomination, eligible educators will be invited to fill out an application for evaluation by a panel of reviewers. The award recipients will be announced in early 2025 and honored at STEM Day at the Capitol on February 12, 2025.
Questions about the nominating process for the 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program can be directed to info@iowaSTEM.org.
Many schools across Iowa are working to find ways to re-engage students and excite them to come into school each day. The Storm Lake Community School District is leveraging two recent STEM BEST® Program state funding opportunities to to develop an elementary STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classroom and kick start their work-based learning program at the high school learn STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). STEM BEST® is a signature program of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education.
“We started STEM in 2018, kind of after a trip to NASA,” said Jacquie Drey, Storm Lake Early Elementary STEM teacher. “We came back, and we just said we need to offer more science opportunities to all the students, not just select groups, but to all of them. So how could we push that in as a special?”
In one of Drey’s kindergarten classes, young minds are introduced to exciting new things, like mixtures and polymers. Broken into small groups and adorned in tiny lab coats, students mixed together an activator solution and then added a neon colored solution to explore chemical reactions and molecules.
“We use that high vocabulary,” Drey said. “We want them to hear it.”
Jacquie Drey teachers a kindergarten STEM class on polymers and mixtures at Storm Lake Early Elementry.
Additionally, Storm Lake Community Schools used a second STEM BEST® Program funding opportunity in 2022 to start their ASCEND (Ambitious Students Creatively Exploring New Directions) program at the high school.
ASCEND allows students to move between a traditional high school setting and a pathway model with access to work-based learning options, reflecting a more student-centered, 21st century teaching and learning approach. Storm Lake Superintendent Stacey Cole says the ASCEND program was born out of a desire to open up time in students’ schedules so they can go out into local workplaces and afford them the opportunity to do more things than a traditional schedule typically allows.
“It's really interesting to think about how a relatively small amount of money really exploded into a whole program for us,” Cole said. “I was hopeful that we would really start to see something magical happen through that grant, and it really has opened doors that I just couldn't have imagined.”
Cole described how this project and the shift to applied mathematics courses are helping shape the future workforce in the Storm Lake area.
“Some of the classes that we're most excited about are our AMPED on Algebra and, very soon, Geometry in Construction,” Cole said.
AMPED on Algebra is a curriculum that combines business and algebra. Storm Lake students plan to use the course to create t-shirts. Using algebra, they will figure out a price point that allows them to keep the business going and build teamwork skills as they market their products. Ahead of this, they are creating personalized stickers, gaining valuable communication skills as they interview homeroom teachers on their students' activities.
Students in Storm Lake's ASCEND program explore the functions of Microbits ahead of a class challenge.
The successes Storm Lake Community School District is already seeing demonstrates how transformative the kickstart of a STEM BEST® Program award can be for Iowa schools. The benefits of STEM BEST® reach beyond the $40,000 funding opportunity and enhancement awards to the resources and network of other STEM BEST® models around the state.
The deadline for submitting STEM BEST® applications this year is December 11, 2024. To apply or learn more, visit the STEM BEST® Program webpage.
This is a condensed version of a recent story published on the Iowa Department of Education’s website. To read the full version, click here.
Mauree Haage (Iowa STEM North Central Regional Manager), Hannah Vogler (Arkansas STEM Coalition Executive Director), and Kelly Gaier Evans (Ohio STEM Learning Network Director) co-led a facilitated discussion session called STEM Network Influence on State Policy.
Each year, STEMx and STEM Connector organize the STEM Innovation Forum. At this year’s conference in Las Vegas earlier this month, Iowa STEM’s North Central Regional Manager Mauree Haage, alongside Arkansas’s STEM Coalition Executive Director Hannah Vogler and Ohio’s STEM Learning Network Director Kelly Gaier Evans facilitated a discussion entitled “STEM Network Influence on State Policy.”
The forum brings STEM ecosystem members, industry professionals and educators together to network and share ideas and best practices in ways to make STEM accessible to all and help build the pipeline to STEM careers. Attendees were able to hear from leaders in STEM through keynotes, panel discussions, facilitated discussions and poster presentations. Haage, Vogler, and Gaier Evans spoke on their experience engaging stakeholders to promote STEM workforce development, enhance computer science education and inspire legislative support of STEM.
During their session, the trio covered advances of STEM programming throughout their states and the policies that have helped fund and support those advances. In addition, they led the attendees through facilitated discussions on key takeaways and simple action items they could return to their states and utilize.
The presentation was well received and well attended (standing room only). Iowa has been a leader in STEM ecosystems and states continue to look at Iowa’s progress over the years and next steps as the state’s STEM effort continues to grow.
Haage was also asked to do a poster presentation on her work with Iowa’s Computer Science Education Week. This presentation, again, stressed the importance of bringing a variety of voices and stakeholders to the table. Several states have reached out since to learn more on how to utilize a similar approach in their own states.
Iowa STEM’s Dr. Sarah Derry and Casey Wenstrand along with Allison Walders, a mathematics and STEM teacher at North Union High School and former Iowa STEM Teacher Extern, gave a presentation entitled “Math in Action through STEM Teacher Externships” at this year’s ICTM conference.
At the 2024 Fall Math Conference this month, organized by the Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM), conference goers had the opportunity to learn about the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program. Dr. Sarah Derry, Iowa STEM’s South Central Regional Manager; Casey Wenstrand, Iowa STEM’s Southwest Regional Manager and Allison Walders, a mathematics and STEM teacher at North Union High School and former Iowa STEM Teacher Extern, delivered an insightful presentation entitled, “Math in Action through STEM Teacher Externships.”
The trio emphasized how Teacher Externships offer Iowa STEM teachers the opportunity to work alongside skilled employees in various sectors of industries during a six-week temporary summer placement. Teachers earn up to $5,000 and three graduate credits while gaining practical experience that enhances their classroom teaching.
Since its inception in 2009, the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program has placed 938 teachers with 276 workplace hosts.
Dr. Derry highlighted the program's success stories, showcasing how 93% of participating teachers reported improvements in their teaching approach, while 88% said their views on mathematics and science education were transformed.
Walders shared how it sparked creativity in her classroom. "The experience has inspired me to foster more authentic thinking in my students," she said.
The presentation allowed for conversation with attendees which allowed the trio to draw a connection between Teacher Externships and the benefits to both teachers and students. By fostering real-world industry connections, the program helps teachers integrate current workplace skills and technologies into their lessons, equipping students with the knowledge they need to pursue STEM careers.
In addition to the lessons brought back to the classroom following these STEM Teacher Externships, workplace hosts benefit by completing summer projects and forming a relationship with schools and area educators that can carry over into the school year. Many externships hosts share their excitement about gaining outside perspectives following summers with STEM Teacher Externs. If you are or know of someone who may be interested in hosting a Teacher Extern next summer, please let us know you are interested.
For more information on the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program, visit educate.iowa.gov/STEM/Externships or contact Program Coordinator Ann Gritzner at Gritzner@IowaSTEM.org.
We are excited to launch a new section of our newsletter written by members of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council’s Youth Advisory Board. This is their space to share insight and ideas on STEM events and initiatives important to Iowa students, written by Iowa students. Check out what’s on their minds this month:
The Iowa Science Bowl is coming up and the registration deadline is just around the corner. It’s time to gear up for an exciting competition that celebrates the wonders of science! We had the chance to chat with James Peng, a member of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council’s Youth Advisory Board and a champion from the Cedar Falls High School Science Bowl team that triumphed at last year’s Iowa competition. Here’s what he shared about this thrilling event.
What is Science Bowl?
Science Bowl is a dynamic trivia-style competition where teams answer questions across various scientific categories, including biology, physics and energy topics. It’s an engaging way for students to showcase their knowledge and passion for science!
James' Experience
James brings a wealth of experience to the table. He is part of the Cedar Falls team that won the Iowa competition last year and went to nationals. His journey has been filled with challenges and triumphs, highlighting the importance of teamwork and preparation.
Competition Structure
The Science Bowl competitions follow an exciting format. Both the state and national levels utilize a round-robin format for the first round, followed by a double elimination format in the second round. This setup ensures that teams have multiple opportunities to showcase their skills and knowledge.
Competition Details
The 2025 Iowa High School Science Bowl will take place at the Ames National Laboratory on the Iowa State Campus on February 22. The Middle School competition will be held February 8. It is sure to be a fantastic event, bringing together a variety of young scientists from across the state.
Preparing for Success
When it comes to preparation, James has some valuable advice. “Teams can prepare in lots of different ways. What worked best for me was reviewing the material I learned in my classes and diving deeper into those topics,” he explained. Consistent study and collaboration with teammates can make a significant difference in performance.
Starting a Team
Interested in starting your own Science Bowl team? James has a simple suggestion: “Get four friends together and find a teacher willing to support you!” Building a team is the first step toward joining the ranks of those competing in this exciting arena.
Registration Deadline
Registration for Middle School and High School teams is open now and space is limited for the event. It’s crucial to check the Iowa Science Bowl’s official website or contact organizers for the latest information. Don’t miss out on the chance to participate!
Join the Fun!
The Iowa Science Bowl is more than just a competition; it’s an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of science, make new friends and challenge yourself. Gather your team, prepare diligently and get ready to showcase your knowledge on February 22 at the Ames National Laboratory. Who knows? You could be the next champion!
Written by Ella Meyer, Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council’s Youth Advisory Board
Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council
Iowa Department of Education
214 East Bartlett Hall
University of Northern Iowa
515-335-1531
info@IowaSTEM.org
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