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This month, the Junior State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa (JSSTFI) has earned the STEM Council’s Seal of Approval. The JSSTFI is coordinated by Iowa 4-H, under the leadership of Alexa Groff, STEM Education Specialist and Director of the State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa (SSTFI).
JSSTFI provides a statewide entry point for students in grades 3–5 to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a fun, supportive, and age-appropriate way. It fosters STEM engagement through hands-on projects, simple experiments, and supportive mentorship, preparing them for more advanced opportunities such as the State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa (SSTFI).
These engaged students bring projects in the STEM area of their choosing for the student showcase. At this developmental stage, the focus is not on competition, but on sparking curiosity, developing communication skills, and fostering the joy of scientific exploration. Instead of traditional competitive judging, youth are interviewed by supportive judges who encourage them to explain their thinking, describe their process, and share what they learned.
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The program features several regional fairs across the state, ensuring young learners access to participate. Each JSSTFI event is hosted in partnership with a local science center, museum, or community organization, with interactive STEM opportunities offered by host sites to enrich the experience and extend learning beyond the fair.
The Council’s Seal of Approval recognizes non-Council programs and events that help achieve Iowa STEM goals. Have a program or event that significantly advances STEM principles and thinking? Apply for the Seal of Approval today!
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 Kristi Mentink, 2026 Prairie Lakes Regional Teacher of the Year, as an extern in summer 2023.
Kristi Mentink is the Prairie Lakes 2026 Regional Teacher of the Year! The honor was announced at the end of October by the Iowa Department of Education. Mentink, a kindergarten teacher at Harris-Lake Park Elementary School, is in her 29th year of teaching.
“I was shocked. It means someone has noticed and they feel like what I’m doing is benefiting my students,” Mentink said when asked about receiving the honor. “It makes my heart happy.”
Mentink was a 2023 Iowa STEM Teacher Extern with the DNR’s Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery.
“It sounded like fun and a great way to bring in some extra income over the summer,” Mentink said. “Being a veteran teacher, I was nervous. It was a new experience for me and I didn’t know what to expect but I immediately fell in love with everything.”
Mentink learned about Iowa’s waterways and issues with local bodies of water during her time with the DNR.
“I got to work with the law enforcement part of it, in the office, I got to go in the actual hatchery and work with the team there to count the little fish and see what they were gaining,” Mentink said. “ It was truly an awesome experience.”
After her Externship experience, Mentink presented to her fellow teachers on the experience.
“I just really stressed ‘If you ever have the opportunity to do it, do it!”
Mentink also regularly utilizes STEM Scale-Up Program award materials and lessons in her classroom.
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"They’ve been phenomenal. The resources we’ve received have been amazing,” Mentink said. “Right now we are doing the Storytime STEM-pack ‘The Sun is my Favorite Star,’ using the literature and the activity that are included and then expanding by walking outside and seeing where the sun is located during morning recess or our lunchtime recess or our afternoon recess. We’re making those real-world connections that kids need so they see it’s not just in a textbook.” |
Storytime STEM-pack was a STEM Scale-Up Program provider in 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
 Shannon Ellis was recently named the NAEA Alternative Education Educator of the Year.
One Iowa teacher is receiving national recognition as the National Alternative Education Association's (NAEA) Alternative Education Educator of the Year.
Shannon Ellis’ coworkers kept the honor a secret until it was announced at the NAEA Conference in October which they attended together.
“I was shocked, and then humbled when they called my name and invited our team to the stage,” Ellis said. “Alternative Education is such an incubator for innovation in education, and I feel this award validates the work we have been doing for so many years at Metro High School.”
Upon presentation of the award, the Metro team spoke about their interactions with Ellis and the work they have accomplished together. The award ceremony concluded with a video montage from students Ellis has impacted and staff he has worked with during his time at Metro.
“From the first moment we began to interact, it was very clear he is a teacher that is all about developing young people,” said Carlos Grant, former Metro High School principal. “Shannon is one of the architects of helping us transition to what we now know as the Metro STEAM Academy, which is all about creating innovation and entrepreneurship for young people in a non-traditional setting. All of it is based on relationships. This award could not have gone to a better educator because he believes in the power of young people and getting them to think outside the box and giving them experiences that they never thought that they could have.”
Ellis, a 29-year veteran educator, is a leader for Metro High School STEAM Academy in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. He aims to make his lessons relatable and relevant for his students and makes an effort to get to know each student at a personal level.
“I want to know students by name, to understand their obstacles, to know their families. Then I want to engage students in learning experiences that reflect their lives, interests, and challenges.”
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Metro High School is one of Iowa STEM’s STEM BESTⓇ Program models, receiving multiple funding awards since 2021 including a STEM BESTⓇ Explore award that opened the door to dynamic, real-world learning experiences for some STEAM Academy students.
“The STEM Council has been a powerful tool for my teaching at Metro. The financial resources, the teaching resources, and the professional collaboration has allowed me to provide partners, and even global partnerships.”
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Ellis plans to use the recognition from this honor to spotlight the work being done at Metro High School. Even amidst the national spotlight, he remains modest and credits the ongoing efforts of the entire Metro High School team for the success.
“I want students to remember that all of us at Metro gave them hope for a better life. That we remember them for the growth and strength they demonstrated, and that I was just a part of a team who valued their story, and invested in them to become the adults they imagined they could be.
 Computer Science Education Week is December 6-12.
Iowa’s Computer Science Education Week (CSEd Week) is taking cues from a famous detective this year with events sure to engage student’s critical thinking and analytical skills.
CSEd Week is an annual event that aims to raise awareness about the importance of computer science education at all levels and to underscore the critical role of computing in all careers.
“Elementary, My Dear Coder,” this year’s theme in Iowa, was chosen to reinforce the importance of foundational computer science experiences in the early grades.
This year, CSEd Week is December 6-12. The Department of Education is organizing free daily events during the school day for educators and their classes to embrace the wonders of computer science. These include virtual coding workshops, storytime with an actual rocket scientist, and a program on AI and machine learning with the Science Center of Iowa. Sign-ups are open now, but space is limited.
For more information on CSEd Week events in Iowa and to sign-up, visit the Department’s webpage or contact Michelle Meier at michelle.meier@iowa.gov.
 STEM-sights is written by members of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council’s Youth Ambassador Group. This is their space to share insight and ideas on STEM events and initiatives important to Iowa students, written by Iowa students.
Written by Luke Boyle, Eva George and Ishika Desai, Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council’s Youth Ambassador Group
The Des Moines University (DMU) Research Symposium and Young Scientist Program is an annual health sciences forum hosted by DMU’s Office of Research. It includes poster sessions, oral presentations, keynote addresses, and panel discussions focused on new advancements and research in the area of healthcare. It recognizes the research efforts of students at DMU and surrounding institutions by providing a collaborative atmosphere for new ideas. This year's event was held Nov. 14-15 on DMU's campus.
The Young Scientist Program specifically gives high school students the opportunity to display their unique perspectives. Friday was focused on healthcare advocacy, featuring a keynote address from Lakshmanan Krishnamurthy, M.D., a pediatric hematologist-oncologist who has spent much of his career advancing treatment for individuals with sickle cell disease. On Saturday, students across the state participated in the Young Scientist Program, where they presented research and engaged in hands-on research activities. The students also had the chance to attend two panel discussions tailored for high-schoolers called “From Classroom to Clinic: Your Future in Healthcare” and “Katie Miller Young Adult Cancer Conference: Advancements in Young Adolescent Cancer Research.” At the very end, students also received a certificate of completion for their involvement.
Overall, the event aims to showcase new research and advancements within the healthcare field and attendees found it to be an eye-opening introduction into the healthcare industry.
“I found the symposium to be incredibly insightful as someone considering a career in healthcare,” said Eva George, an Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador in attendance. “It definitely opened my eyes to the boundless impact medical professionals can have -- both in personal, private care and in public policy. The latter was definitely something I’d never really considered, so seeing it embodied in so many people like Dr. Robert Kruse was inspiring to say the least.”
Another Youth Ambassador attendee, Elise Smith, was inspired by the emphasis on both science and advocacy.
“The most valuable part of the conference for me was the panel on Friday,” Smith said. “It made me realize that, not only do I want to work on research in the future, but I could also incorporate more political aspects into my career as well, as I like to stand up for what I believe and want to make society a better place!”
Overall, this event not only exposed attendees to various kinds of healthcare research such as policy related and science-based, but also encouraged students to see the nuances in how they, as future providers, may approach treatment and their role in the policy side of healthcare. In fact, some panelists even remarked that they previously had never thought of the impact doctors could have in fields like politics, advocating for policies that better support future and current healthcare workers. As such, alongside encouraging and supporting students interested in research through poster presentations, the event allows students to wonder “What might my journey in research and healthcare look like?”
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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