 The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is pleased to announce the menu for the 2026-27 STEM Scale-Up Program along with exciting updates to the program’s sustainability.
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“As the program enters its 15th year, we are thrilled to introduce updates that will better meet the needs of Iowa educators," said Justin Lewis, bureau chief for Iowa STEM. "We are piloting a three-year model, giving educators the time, focus and sustained support they have been asking for to make a more meaningful impact on Iowa students and learners.”
The new three-year model features a menu of three program provider offerings. The three selected programs offered to PK-12 educators across Iowa for the 2026-27 academic year are:
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- STEMwonder, presented by the Iowa Regents’ Center for Early Developmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa
- Exploring AI and the Future of Work, presented by CodeJoy LLC
- FIRST Tech Challenge, presented by the College of Engineering at the University of Iowa
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Since it was first developed in 2012, Iowa’s STEM Scale-Up Program has helped thousands of Iowa educators deliver innovative units through high-quality STEM education programs aimed at PK-12 youth, both in school and out of school. The STEM Scale-Up Program also provides training for educators to implement these units and engage students and learners effectively.
Now through March 10, eligible educators are invited to apply for the opportunity to participate in the program(s) of their choosing. Awardees are encouraged to participate for a full three-year award cycle to reap the full benefits of sustained immersion. By investing deeper in each offering, awardees can enjoy stronger, long-term support which will lead to elevated learning and time for ideas to mature.
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Last year, Iowa STEM piloted a summer opportunity for existing STEM BEST Program models called STEM BEST Explore. Storm Lake Community School District used the opportunity to reimagine summer school as a paid, work-based learning experience that positions high school students as facilitators, mentors and leaders for younger learners.
“We saw a need to create meaningful, paid summer employment that fit high school students’ schedules while still building transferable skills,” said Dr. Stacey Cole, superintendent of Storm Lake Community School District. “The program addressed a critical need to strengthen our teacher pipeline by offering early, hands-on exposure to education as a career, helping students understand both the challenges and rewards of teaching while developing an interest in future pathways into the profession.”
Elementary students participated in a day divided between core instruction and exploratory experiences like STEM, art, music and sports. These experiences were facilitated by high school students and supported by teacher mentors who provided daily planning, reflection and professional guidance to prepare and support student leaders. |
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"Several students shared that the experience sparked an interest in pursuing teaching or education-related careers, shared teacher mentors Jean Knapp and Shelly Jacobson who lead the Storm Lake High School apprenticeship program. “Students also practiced face-to-face communication with families, learned to collaborate with peers and staff and adapted to frequently changing schedules.” |
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Students reflected on the skills they developed and honed in preparation for life and careers after high school graduation.
“Several students shared that the experience sparked an interest in pursuing teaching or education-related careers, shared teacher mentors Jean Knapp and Shelly Jacobson who lead the Storm Lake High School apprenticeship program. “Students also practiced face-to-face communication with families, learned to collaborate with peers and staff and adapted to frequently changing schedules.”
Students reflected on the skills they developed and honed in preparation for life and careers after high school graduation.
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“I dealt with a student that would sometimes run. I didn’t know how to approach that,” said Jaidyn Coon, a Storm Lake High School senior. “As I started caring for him more, I realized that being his friend became more valuable than math,” Coon said. “He had to know that I cared about him first.”
The benefits extended beyond academics. Younger students thrived with near-peer mentors, often gravitating toward them during recess, lunch and transitions. Storm Lake staff intentionally positioned high school students as mentors and role models when designing the summer school program so elementary students could see themselves demographically represented in trusted leaders.
“The PE portion was especially fun”, said Coon. “Sometimes we played basketball, and I think they really liked that. They saw me playing on the court, and they were excited to play alongside me and feel like part of the game. It helped them connect and feel more confident and engaged.”
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Applications are currently being accepted from existing STEM BEST Program models for the 2026 STEM BEST Explore funding opportunity. To apply or learn about other STEM BEST Program opportunities, visit the STEM BEST webpage.
“The STEM BEST Explore Grant was essential in making this idea possible,” said Dr. Cole. “This depth of impact, intentional design and level of student success would not have been achievable.”
 The OHS Geometry in Construction class, with teachers Todd Kastli and Liz Tapper, showing off 3 completed prototypes of their original designed bat houses and 12 ready-to-assemble kits.
This past summer, Oelwein High School (OHS) instructional coach, Bethany Hadley, completed an Iowa STEM Teacher Externship with Buchanan County Conservation. As an instructional coach, Hadley had the unique position to connect her experience to every classroom in the district, and she saw opportunity in two new classes introduced to OHS during the 2024-25 school year.
AMPED (Algebra in Manufacturing, Processing, Engineering and Design) and GIC (Geometry in Construction) are mathematics classes taken in conjunction with business or industrial technology classes, respectively. This format provides more real-world connections to students and makes the overall learning experience more interactive and connected.
“GIC seemed like the perfect place to integrate a connection with Buchanan County Conservation through the education of bat populations in Iowa, the creation of bat house plans and the development of bat house kits for future programming,” Hadley said.
Hadley leaned on partnerships formed through her summer Externship experience to ensure the project’s success. Buchanan County Conservation Board naturalist Michael Maas presented to the class in the early fall on bats habits and types of bat houses. He challenged GIC students to design their own bat houses and create kits that would be sold in the gift shop at Fontana County Park or used in a bat habit education class for the community. |
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Under the direction of geometry teacher Liz Tapper and industrial technology teacher Todd Kastli, the students designed and built an original two-chamber bat house for mass production. Tapper used the project to teach the students geometry aspects like surface area, perimeter, scale drawings, parallel lines, perpendicular lines and angle relationships. Tapper and Kastli co-taught students how to use spreadsheets to organize parts, dimensions and calculate ordering amounts and cost per kit. Kastli included industrial tech concepts like measuring, use of tools, shop safety, mass production and on the job skills like meeting deadlines, applying for jobs and teamwork.
When the project was finished, the class assembled three prototypes and prepared step-by-step directions for 12 bat house kits for Buchanan County Parks. In April, Maas plans to host a class in which families can learn about bats and assemble bat houses at the Fontana Park Nature Center.
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The Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program teacher applications are open now. Iowa classroom teachers interested in connecting their lessons to STEM careers by working alongside local businesses during the summer of 2026 are invited to apply. Applications to host a STEM Teacher Extern are also open for interested businesses or organizations. Applications received before March 1 will be prioritized.
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The Iowa Hospital Association, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education, is sponsoring a Virtual Health Sciences Career Day on Thursday, May 14, 2026, for middle school and high school students across Iowa.
This free virtual event will introduce students to some of the most in-demand healthcare careers statewide. Through engaging videos and live panel discussions, students will learn what it’s like to care for patients in a hospital and explore how to prepare for careers in pharmacy, nursing, radiology, physical therapy, emergency medicine and surgery. Register for this free event
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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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