 Iowa’s STEM BEST® Program is basking in the national spotlight this spring for its pioneering work that is transforming the traditional learning environment.
Through the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education, the STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program connects STEM business and industry professionals with teachers and students local to their communities.
This innovative work has garnered national attention as part of the National Science Teaching Association’s (NSTA) National Conference and their NSTA TV Thought Leadership Film Series. The series is produced annually for the NSTA National Conference. This year’s event organizers aimed to feature leaders working to engage K-12 students in STEM learning experiences driving future success, a mission exemplified in the STEM BEST® Program.
“Having the opportunity to highlight the work of this growing network of impassioned educators in Iowa is a true privilege,” said Tanya Hunt, program coordinator for Iowa’s STEM BEST® Program. “The STEM BEST culture is growing because there is genuine interest in showing our students that opportunities exist and can be created here while also affording them opportunities to explore their passions.”
The film, “Innovating for the BEST future in Iowa,” highlights the work being done by the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at Boone Edge, Boone High School’s STEM BEST® Program model; No Boundaries Middles, Okoboji Middle School’s STEM BEST® Program model; and the STEM BEST® Program model at Storm Lake Early Elementary School. It debuted during NSTA’s National Conference in Philadelphia at the end of March.
“Attending the NSTA Conference in Philadelphia paved the way for more connections nationwide,” Hunt said. “Collaboration is truly what is at the heart of the STEM BEST Program. It was an invaluable opportunity to be able to connect with others, learn from them and tell our story in hopes we can benefit them as well.”
For more information on Iowa’s STEM BEST Program, visit the Department's website or contact Tanya Hunt at tanya.hunt@iowa.gov.
 STEM teachers and workplace hosts are needed to complete pairings for the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program this summer.
Summer will be here soon and we are gearing up for a fantastic round of Iowa STEM Teacher Externships! We are looking for help matching interested teachers or workplace hosts with a counterpart in their area. Can you or someone you know help complete one of these pairs?
STEM Teachers needed:
These workplaces are ready to host a local STEM teacher interested in their work.
- Midland Power Cooperative, Boone - assist with developing training curriculum and presentations
- National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque - design workshops and interactive activities
- Plantpeddler, Inc, Cresco - help propagate and transplant plants, high tech greenhouse operations
- POET, Coon Rapids - Lab Technician and/or Plant Technician role
- Thompson Solutions, Sioux City - automation and robotics projects
- Carroll County Conservation, Carroll - help develop and deliver summer children’s programs
- Harrison County Conservation Board, Woodbine - plan and implement education programs
- Jasper County Conservation, Newton - assist with summer education programs
- Marshall County Conservation, Marshalltown - help with summer programming and trail work
- Mahaska County Conservation, Oskaloosa - help prairie restoration and native landscaping
- Pottawattamie Conservation, Council Bluffs - help with summer programs, song bird research and prairie seed collection
- Washington Co. Conservation, Ainsworth - create and implement environmental education programs
- Whiterock Conservancy, Coon Rapids - help with invasive species identification and ecosystem management
Workplace partners needed:
These skilled and dedicated STEM teachers are ready for an Externship in their area and looking for a business or industry host to partner with.
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Iowa City - high school chemistry and physics teacher
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Iowa City - high school computer science teacher
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Palo - high school physics and chemistry teacher
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Fairfax - mathematics teacher
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Tiffin - mathematics teacher
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Cedar Rapids - high school mathematics teacher
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Bellevue - industrial technology teacher
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Clinton - high school mathematics teacher
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Eddyville - middle and high school mathematics teacher
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West Des Moines - mathematics teacher
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Marshalltown - high school science teacher
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Algona - high school life science teacher
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Carson - high school family & consumer sciences teacher
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Clarinda - mathematics and science teacher
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Shenandoah - middle school science teacher
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Sioux City - physical science teacher
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Orange City - elementary STEM teacher
Contact Ann Gritzner at ann.gritzner@iowa.gov if you or someone you know is interested in completing one of the above pairs or visit educate.iowa.gov/STEM/Externships for more information on the Iowa STEM Teacher Externship Program.
 Amy Gonzales, James Glad, Kathy McGrane and Kyle Hurt are recent Iowa STEM Teacher Externs who have contributed to the Iowa Science Phenomena partnership.
The Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program allows STEM educators to work side-by-side with knowledgeable and skilled industry professionals to provide educators with the exposure to improve educational experiences, better answer questions and prepare students for careers they may have in the future.
Educators earn graduate credits through the University of Northern Iowa’s Continuing Education program which includes a final project connecting their workplace externship experience with their classroom student learning. Since 2023, teachers have been able to represent their externship experience as a contribution to Iowa Science Phenomena resulting in nearly 80 originally created, locally-relevant phenomena being added to the site.
“The partnership between the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council's STEM Teacher Externships Program and Iowa PBS’s Iowa Science Phenomena has allowed teachers another method to bring the STEM Externship experience back to their classroom through phenomena based lessons,” said Ann Gritzner, Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program coordinator. “The relationship between the Externships Program and Iowa Science Phenomena has enriched the experience for educators and, in turn, students.”
Check out the selection below of teacher extern contributions and visit the Iowa Science Phenomena website to explore them all.
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Diversity of Iowa Lichen: Lichens are a partnership between a fungus and an alga. More than 400 unique lichen species can be found in Iowa. How can two different organisms work together in one ecosystem? (Contributed by Chantel Karns and Olivia Tebben)
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Properties of Brass and Steel Alloys: When working with natural gas, a spark can mean danger. How do alloy properties impact the type of tools used by power plant professionals to ensure safety? (Contributed by Kathy McGrane)
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Declining Population in Bumble Bee Species: Rusty patched bumble bees were listed as endangered in 2017. Since that time their population numbers in Iowa have fluctuated. How do changes to their environment relate to these fluctuations? (Contributed by Amy Gonzales)
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Assessing Water Quality through Macroinvertebrates: There are many different types of bugs found in Iowa’s waterways. How can the type and variety found in creeks and streams provide clues about the quality of the water they live in? (Contributed by Kyle Hurt)
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Monarch Caterpillars Eating a Milkweed Leaf: A time-lapse video captures two monarch caterpillars feeding on a milkweed leaf. Why do monarch caterpillars focus on milkweed, and how might a monarch caterpillar eating milkweed change the ecosystem? (Contributed by Pennie Klepper)
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Phosphate Changes at FW Kent Park Lake: In 2018, the Johnson County Conservation Board along with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources dredged the FW Ken Park lake and created interconnecting catch basins to reset its water quality. What can be gleaned from the water quality data collected since that restoration? (Contributed by Cynthia Tsarpalas and Jim Glad)
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Impacts on Changing Monarch Populations: A dataset of monarch sightings between the years of 2017 and 2024 showed fewer sightings since 2021. What factors may be causing the changes in the monarch population? (Contributed by Erica Dodge)
Wondering how you can contribute to Iowa Science Phenomena? Email phenomena@iowapbs.org to learn more!
The Iowa Department of Education is partnering with the Iowa Hospital Association to introduce middle school and high school students across the state to high-demand health care careers during Health Sciences Career Day in Iowa, a live virtual event on Thursday, May 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Students will have an opportunity to see health care professionals at work through engaging video content, hear more about their education, training and experience during live panel discussions and ask panelists questions from their classrooms.
Health Sciences Career Day in Iowa will feature six high-demand professions that offer students a range of postsecondary education pathways from certificate programs or associate degrees to bachelor’s and advanced degrees.
Each career segment will feature health care professionals who work at hospitals in Iowa:
- Physicians – WinnMed, Decorah
- Nursing – UnityPoint Health, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Grinnell
- Radiology Technician – MercyOne, West Des Moines
- Respiratory Therapist – Clarinda Regional Health Center, Clarinda
- Laboratory Technician – Pella Regional Health Center, Pella
- Behavioral Health – Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames
This free event offers educators and students a real-world learning experience delivered right to the classroom. Educators are welcome to join with an entire class or make it available for groups of students interested in health sciences and related careers. The format is flexible so participants can join based on class schedule or interest in specific career segments.
Educators can register for Health Sciences Career Day in Iowa through the Iowa Hospital Association.
Questions about the event can be directed to Heather Meissen, Department administrative consultant, at heather.meissen@iowa.gov.
 STEM-sights is written by members of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council Youth Ambassadors. This is their space to share insights and ideas on STEM events and initiatives important to Iowa students, written by Iowa students. Check out what’s on their minds this month:
Written by Ella Meyer, Ishika Desai and Seth Boyle - Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Youth Ambassadors
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international, non-profit organization whose main goal is to inspire youth to pursue STEM career fields through robotics competitions. FIRST's programs range from grades PK-12 and strive to build confidence, intellect, and skills through hands-on learning experiences. |
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There are three levels of FIRST Robotics: FIRST Lego League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Challenge. These FIRST programs target elementary, middle, and high school students.
The 2025 FIRST Championship was held April 16-19 at George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Six hundred FRC, 160 FTC, and 160 FLL teams representing 66 countries competed. Iowa had an impressive showing with the following representatives:
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FRC Teams: Servos Strike Back from Dubuque, Wildcard Robotics from Polk City, Neutrino from Ames, and Children of the Corn from Iowa City
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FTC Teams: Lion Robotics Gold from Clear Lake, and three sister teams from Johnston: Aztecs, Atomic Narwhals, and Circuit Breakers
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FLL Teams: Control Alt Defeat and Coding GOATs
Ella Meyer, a member of the Servos Strike Back FRC team and 2025 co-chair of the Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Group, attended the FRC World Championships in 2024 and 2025. In 2024 her team earned the Engineering Inspiration Award at the Greater Kansas City Regional and was a Dean’s List finalist. This year, the team earned the Impact Award at the Iowa Regional.
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"Worlds is so cool because you not only get to see all of your hard work pay off, but you also get to learn and connect with teams from all over the world who are doing amazing things to impact the community while building cool robots,” Meyer said. “One of my favorite parts of Worlds is the innovation fair. STEM companies such as NASA, Boeing, BAE Systems, and more, bring the cool robots they use in the workforce to show how robotics applies to future careers." |
FIRST is a team activity, but the Dean’s List Award offers an opportunity to celebrate one student’s achievements. The Dean’s List Award celebrates a sophomore or junior who has exemplified leadership, both in their team and in their community. Teams and coaches submit nominations and then nominees answer a series of questions about their leadership. At FTC state championships four finalists are chosen, and at the Iowa Regional two finalists are chosen to represent Iowa at Worlds. Finalists are chosen based on their coach's answers to the questions provided and an interview with a judging panel. At World Championships, ten winners from FRC and ten winners from FTC are chosen by the Dean’s List advisors at FIRST headquarters. From the Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Group, Gabriela LaRota (FTC) and Ishika Desai (FTC) were selected as finalists this year and Ella Meyer (FRC) was selected as a winner!
"Attending the global championship was truly a remarkable experience,” said Desai, a member of the RoboMinions, who has attended the global championship twice. “Witnessing teams from across the globe showcase their high-level robots and compete fiercely while embodying FIRST’s mantra of Gracious Professionalism was inspiring. I had the chance to connect with peers from different countries and develop friendships that continue today. Seeing firsthand how robotics empowers young students and opens doors to new opportunities is truly incredible."
FIRST Robotics in Iowa continues to thrive and grow, from legislative wins to strong international representation. With passionate students, supportive mentors, and an expanding network of teams, Iowa is cementing its place as a hub for youth in STEM.
Iowa STEM is looking for Iowa students who want to contribute to the STEM Council and inspire their peers in science, technology, engineering or mathematics! The Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Group, formerly known as the Youth Advisory Board, is currently accepting applications from middle school, high school and college aged Iowa youth with a passion for STEM. Youth Ambassadors will provide a youth perspective to the STEM Council and help to expand Iowa STEM's reach to Iowa youth while engaging with Iowa STEM events and being a community advocate. Applications close May 15.
Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council
Iowa Department of Education
214 East Bartlett Hall
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0298
515-335-1531
info@IowaSTEM.org
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