January 2025 STEM Newsletter

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Texas Lone Start STEM

January 2025

PK–12 STEM Newsletter

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Texas STEM Announcements

The Texas Mobile STEM Laboratory is Hiring Education Outreach Coordinators

The Texas Mobile STEM Laboratory operated by Learning Undefeated in partnership with the Texas Education Agency is expanding. Learning Undefeated is currently hiring education outreach coordinators to work on new traveling laboratories.

Position Description:

The Education Outreach Coordinator is a passionate and effusive ambassador for education who inspires K–12 students to connect with STEM content and careers aboard custom-designed mobile laboratories that travel from school to school. Primary responsibilities include leading hands-on laboratory activities and facilitating innovative STEM career experiences inside the mobile laboratories or school classrooms.

In addition to interacting with students and teachers, the coordinator will also assist in the development of programs and curriculum, coordinate school visits, assist schools with requirements of evaluation programs, and support management of equipment, supplies, and technology for the program.

This is an opportunity to be part of a team that is changing how STEM education is delivered, with a specific focus on underserved communities. The ideal team member will be high-energy, creative, flexible, solutions-oriented, and able to handle rapidly changing circumstances. In return, coordinators have an unparalleled opportunity to be part of this innovation in STEM education, in an entrepreneurial work environment that supports individual success with excellent benefits.

For more information, visit the job posting.

Texas EcosySTEM

Leadership Badge

Statewide STEM Leadership Training (A TEALearn Badge can be earned for this training.)

This immersive professional development prepares campus administrators to shape, support, and sustain STEM initiatives within their district or campus. Participants will learn by doing, engaging directly in the instructional approaches most critical to the STEM endeavor: project-based learning, design-based challenges, and computational thinking.

Region 4: January 22–23, 2025 Registration

 

 


 

TEA’s STEM Coordinators Network:

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is excited to announce the new STEM Coordinators Network.

Purpose: The purpose of this network is to empower STEM coordinators with the tools and knowledge they need to create engaging and effective STEM programs. TEA aims to foster a supportive network where members can exchange ideas, tackle common challenges, and drive continuous improvement in STEM education.

Who Should Join: This group is designed for district and campus-level STEM coordinators, education service center STEM leads, higher education STEM directors, and STEM directors at non-profit organizations—anyone involved in the planning and implementation of STEM programs at a systemic level. Complete the form to become a member of the STEM Coordinator’s Network. https://forms.gle/vSZUzBjwdJvpqmBb6

Next Meeting: January 14, 2025, from 12:302:00 (Central) 

Upcoming Events

Texas Mobile STEM Lab January Visits

Region 6: Corrigan-Camden ISD

Region 5:Woodville ISD and Liberty ISD

Free Texas Mobile STEM Lab Spring Professional Development

K–5 January 7, 2025

6–8 January 8, 2025

(More details in the Texas Mobile STEM Spotlight section)

STEM Coordinators Network Meeting

January 14, 2025

(More details in the Texas EcosySTEM section)

Michelle Sedberry

Contact Information

Michelle Sedberry Statewide STEM Coordinator Texas Education Agency

Texas EcosySTEM STEM Leads, Education Service Centers 

STEM Lead Contact Information

Texas Education Agency Curriculum Standards and Student Support For general curriculum questions or additional information, please submit a Curriculum Request Form through the TEA Help Desk.                

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STEM Newsletter Subscription

If you want to receive this monthly newsletter, please subscribe to Pre-K–12 STEM via this link: Newsletter Subscription.

Other newsletters you may be interested in are Science List, Mathematics, and Technology Applications.


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Mobile Lab

Free Texas Mobile STEM Lab Professional Development

Learning Undefeated’s Texas Mobile STEM Lab team will offer free virtual professional development opportunities for kindergarten–grade 8 teachers. During the sessions, the Learning Undefeated team will walk educators through the free hands-on engineering design challenges available through the Texas Mobile STEM Laboratory. Sessions will also guide participants in developing and facilitating their own Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)-aligned engineering design challenges. Texas Mobile STEM Laboratory lessons are cross-curricular, and all lessons are aligned with science and math TEKS and other subject areas as applicable. 

Event Dates:

Kindergarten–5th grade: Tuesday, January 7 | 3:30 PM Central registration

6th grade–8th grade: Wednesday, January 8 | 4:00 PM Central registration


Texas STEM News Header

Career Pictures

A Grant Program with the Future in Mind

As a courtesy to our readers, the following information from an external stakeholder has been included.

Pursuing a degree can be a worthwhile investment but paying for school may present a challenge for many Texas students. Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Conditional Grant Program strives to help ease the burden of growing tuition costs to give eligible students a pathway for their future.

The Conditional Grant Program is a state-mandated program that provides support for economically disadvantaged bachelor’s degree students entering or attending Texas public and private four-year institutions.

Eligible students must pursue a degree in civil engineering or a department-approved operational business discipline. Students are encouraged to join as early as their senior year in high school.

Participants receive $4,000 per semester or $8,000 per academic year for tuition throughout their bachelor’s degree program. Upon graduation, they are offered a position at TxDOT with a commitment of staying on board for two years. Students are encouraged to seek internships with the TxDOT while enrolled in school to receive critical mentoring,  build relationships and gain knowledge of the TxDOT practices.

The goal of the program is to increase awareness among eligible college students about the need for professionals in transportation-related careers. With diverse career opportunities within the TxDOT, the program will continue to consider many majors in addition to engineering, such as computer science, finance, and business administration.

The Conditional Grant application period opens in January 2025, with a deadline to apply by April 1. Please contact Talent Acquisition Specialists Jennifer Levine and Megan Zella at careers@txdot.gov for more information and to discuss local presentation opportunities.

Website: https://www.txdot.gov/about/careers/students-grant-internships.html

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/t7cQ5Pp-opk


9th Annual Greater Houston Area STEM Conference: YOU Belong in STEM

As a courtesy to our readers, the following information from an external stakeholder has been included.

Saturday, March 1, 2025

8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Central

University of Houston-Clear Lake Bayou Building

Educators are invited to attend the Greater Houston Area STEM Conference at the University of Houston-Clear Lake in the Bayou building. Expected conference attendees from the Gulf Coast and Greater Houston areas include K–16 teachers, teacher educators, pre-service teachers, administrators, informal educators, community partners, and STEM industry education liaisons.

Session choices include engaging hands-on workshops, roundtable talks, lectures, and panel discussions. Expected presentations about K–16 STEM education topics will range from examining 21st-century skills in STEM industries to classroom implementation strategies and address the revised science (TEKS). Participants may earn up to 7 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for all-day attendance.

Attendees interested in sharing STEM activities aligned to the TEKS or best practices can submit a proposal!  Proposals are due by January 15, 2025.

For more information, visit the Call for Proposals page. Please contact Carol Waters at watersc@uhcl.edu if you have any questions.


STEM Program Highlights

If you have a STEM event or program you would like to feature in the STEM newsletter, please send your information and picture to michelle.sedberry@tea.texas.gov

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