2025 Highlights: Empowering Students and Educators

in Northeast Iowa

Here’s a snapshot of what we accomplished together in 2025:

• 12,185 PreK-12 kids inspired through STEM Scale-Up programs.

• 181 educators empowered with STEM Scale-Up program awards.

• 2 STEM Festivals hosted across Northeast Iowa.

• 4 schools awarded a STEM BEST grant.

• 18 teachers and business host sites participated in the STEM Teacher Externship program.

• A teacher from Clarkesville High School honored with the STEM Teacher Award.



Requesting Exhibitors for the

Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival

The planning committee invites companies and organizations to exhibit at the Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival on Thursday, April 9 from 5p.m. to 7:30p.m. at the Waukon High School gym in Waukon.

Why Exhibit?

Exhibitor registration is free, and we simply ask that exhibitors provide a hands-on STEM activity for youth and families to enjoy. This is a fantastic opportunity to engage with the community, inspire young minds, and showcase STEM in a fun and interactive way.

Event Highlights:

• Organized like a street festival or county fair, allowing visitors to explore at their own pace.

• Primarily geared toward PreK-8th grade students and their families, but open to all ages.

• Estimated attendance of 350 attendees from Waukon and surrounding communities.

• A vibrant atmosphere designed to spark curiosity and introduce youth to exciting STEM careers.



• Check out our YouTube video for a glimpse of past events: Watch Here

Eleven Schools Receive a STEM BEST® Award in Northeast Iowa

The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is awarding 11 schools in Northeast Iowa with STEM BEST® Program awards. 

Through the STEM BEST® Program, students and teachers work closely with local workplaces and professionals to introduce and prepare learners for future success in their communities. By helping schools identify and anticipate local workforce needs in collaboration with business professionals, the STEM BEST® Program strengthens Iowa’s future workforce through the development and expansion of work-based learning and career exploration opportunities.

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STEM BEST® Enhancement Awards

The STEM BEST® Program enhancement award supports previously awarded STEM BEST® Programs that demonstrate evidence of how the funds would enrich or expand the current STEM BEST® Program, strengthen partnerships and/or enhance experiences for students. The performance period for this award is December 2025 through May 2026 (6 months).

Congratulations to the following awardees in Northeast Iowa:

• Allamakee Community School District
• Easton Valley Community School District
• Holy Family Catholic Schools - Dubuque
• Waverly Community School District

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STEM BEST® Awards for NEW Schools

The purpose of this award is to launch or grow your STEM BEST® Program — from purchasing industry-grade equipment and facility upgrades to integrating STEM curriculum into existing courses. The performance period for this award is February 2026 through May 2027 (17–18 months).

Congratulations to the following awardees in Northeast Iowa:

• Denver Community School District
• Clayton Ridge Community School District
• Monticello Community School District
• Sumner-Fredericksburg Community School District

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STEM BEST® Awards for RETURNING Schools

The purpose of this award is to expand or enhance the existing STEM BEST® Program by adding new grade levels, expanding to additional buildings, and/or launching new partnerships. The performance period for this award is February 2026 through May 2027 (17–18 months).

Congratulations to the following awardees in Northeast Iowa:

• Cedar Falls Community School District
• Oelwein Community School District
• Waterloo Community School District

Waterloo Teacher is 2025-26

Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow

Kyle Kuhlers, Waterloo Career Center teacher, is a 2025-26 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow.

Veteran educator Kyle Kuhlers has traded in the familiar school hallways of the Waterloo Career Center (WCC) for a view of the U.S. Capitol on his way to work these days as he spends a year in the national spotlight as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow. “It is a great honor to represent Iowa on a national level,” Kuhlers said.

Kuhlers has over 20 years of teaching experience, most recently teaching information technology and cybersecurity in the Waterloo Community School District. As an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, Kuhlers is one of 15 educators from across the country selected to spend 11 months in Washington, D.C.



“I’m serving in the United States House of Representatives Education and Workforce Committee. My focus is technology, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum and cybersecurity. The connections I’ve made are unbelievable,” Kuhlers said. “A second focus is giving congressional staff and elected officials in D.C. a real high school teacher perspective on their ideas. I provide input and value from a perspective that most don’t have.” Kuhlers hopes this experience will help him gain further credibility with his students and community. 

“I have asked students for the last 21 years to explore and try new things, explore outside their box. This is an opportunity for me to do just that, modelling that opportunity,” Kuhlers said.

Working at the national level is providing Kuhlers with a wider perspective on education across America. “Iowa does an amazing job of educating our youth, and our students are amazing,” Kuhlers said. “We are currently doing what a lot of other states are trying to figure out and start doing. We have teacher externships, business involvement, high school paid internships and IRCs (industry-recognized credentials), to name a few.”

During his time in D.C., Kuhlers has had the opportunity to attend several events including the Google AI Summit, Defense Tech and a showcase of national security critical technology startups, among other events. 

“I plan to bring back to the WCC and the State of Iowa my AI and emerging technology experiences, resources and ideas that will make students more marketable,” Kuhlers said. “Students never fail, they are curious. There are no problems, only opportunities! Let’s continue building students’ passion toward the lifestyle they want to achieve 10 years from now.”

*All views expressed are Kuhlers' personal views and not AEF or

any government office or agency views.

Iowa STEM Scale-Up Application

Opens Soon!

The Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program application will open on or around January 27 for the 2026–2027 school year, offering educators the opportunity to bring engaging, hands-on STEM experiences to their students.

Eligible applicant(s) include public and private school PreK-12 teachers, youth organization leaders, informal education professionals, home school associations and others who deliver STEM education programming.

Further information will be coming out later this month. Don’t miss the opportunity to elevate STEM learning for your students!