January 2019
 

Jeff Beneke
Northeast Regional
STEM Manager 
 

 
 
 


Upcoming Events 
 
Northeast Region
of the Iowa 
 Governor's STEM Advisory Council
 Advisory Board


 Jane Bradley
 Hawkeye Community  College

Sue Burrack
Upper Iowa University

Lisa Chizek
North Tama County Community School District

Kendra Crooks
 Chickasaw County Extension and Outreach

 Kelly Cooper
 Dubuque Area
Labor-Management Council

 Erin Dragotto
 National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

 Larry Escalada
 University of
Northern Iowa

 Doreen Hayek
 University of
Northern Iowa

Ellen Heuer
 Martin Brothers Distributing

Bill Holland
JB Holland Construction

 Mason Kuhn
 University of
Northern Iowa

 Jason Martin-Hiner
 Keystone Area
Education Agency

Kim Miller
TDS Automation




  
Dietz
Iowa STEM Council  
Executive Director Returns from DC
     
Jeff Weld has completed his one-year STEM assignment in Washington, DC. and has returned to continue as Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council's Executive Director.
 
Thank you to Cindy Dietz for serving as the Interim Executive Director during Dr. Weld's absence. Under her interim directorship, and alongside the operations team and regional managers, the Iowa STEM Council has expanded work-based learning for students and their teachers, continued to scale programming to preK-12 educators across the state, State Fair and local festivals celebrating STEM, enhanced communications, introduced innovative programs, and constructed operational efficiencies. 
 
Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg recognizing Cindy Dietz for her leadership during the November STEM Council meeting in Ankeny.
 
  
  Scale-UpScale-Up Program Application Opens January 21 
     
The Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council will release the menu for next year's STEM Scale-Up programs on January 14.  
Applications will open for these programs on Monday, January 21, 2019 and will close March 4, 2019. Selected applicants will be notified of their award beginning in early April.  
 
 
Programs range from PreK-12 grade formal and informal learning programs.  Iowa's Scale-Up programs are selected with the goal of providing students rigorous, hands-on learning experiences. They begin with in-depth professional development experiences, all materials are provided for a classroom experience, and the state follows-up with a 2-part evaluation.
 
Scale-Ups are open to all formal and informal educators, including:
  • public and private schools
  • home schools
  • before/after school experiences
  • scouts
  • 4-H
  • community programs
  • library endeavors
  • and more.
To learn more about the Scale-Up programs, visit  https://iowastem.gov/Scale-Up.
  
 Computer
Computer Science is Elementary  
Application Opens January 22  
          
Computer Science is Elementary will transform six high-poverty elementary schools across Iowa into models of innovative computer science instruction by the 2020-2021 school year. A growing number of jobs require computer science skills. This program will help prepare students for success in computer science and future careers opportunities.
 
 
School districts and non-public school systems with an elementary building of at least 40 percent of students eligible for free- and reduced-price lunch are eligible to apply. Six awardees will be selected to receive a $50,000 planning award through a competitive award application process. One Computer Science is Elementary School will be located in each of the   six regions established by the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council.
 
The application period will open January 22 and close March 29, 2019 with awards announced in the summer of 2019. The 2019-2020 school year will be used as a planning year for schools to weave computational thinking and other elements of computer science into their broader curriculum. After the Computer Science is Elementary Schools launch in August 2020, the schools will serve as a statewide resource for Iowa educators by sharing their curriculum and community engagement strategies.
 
The application template and additional information about the Computer Science is Elementary project can be found at   www.IowaSTEM.gov/CSElementary .
 
Helpful Links: 
  
 Externship
Externship Program Application Open For
Teachers and Businesses
 
One of the unique ways the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council has advanced Iowans' connection to local businesses is through the Iowa STEM Teacher Externship Program. 
  
Teacher Externships are full-time, six-week temporary summer positions in local businesses and agencies for secondary teachers of science, technology, engineering and/or math.   

Teachers earn a stipend of up to $4,800 (including two days of professional development), as well as one graduate credit through the University of Northern Iowa's Continuing Education program.
 
 
 
If your business is interested in hosting a teacher extern this summer, please fill out the interest form linked below.
 
 
 
To learn about the projects past teacher externs had with their business hosts in Northeast Iowa visit the links below; 

Check out the video below to see how teachers and businesses have been positively impacted by the externship program. For more information, visit  https://iowastem.gov/externships.