Jeff Beneke
Northeast Regional STEM Manager
jeff.beneke@uni.edu 319-273-7397 (office)
neiowastem.com
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Upcoming Events
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February 14
STEM Day at the Capitol
Des Moines
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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
Scott Fortune
Upper Iowa
Tool & Die and Innovations
Doreen Hayek
University of
Northern Iowa
Chad Heinzel
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
Norma Thiese
Retired
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The Northeast Region of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council, located on the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) campus, believes it is important to bring our community together to advance the STEM movement, which is transforming the nation.
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2018-2019 Scale-Up Programs Announced
The 2018-2019 Scale-Up Program application will open Monday, January 22. The Scale-Up program menu ranges from coding programs to conducting agricultural field experiences and learning about STEM careers.
In the Northeast Region last year, more than 350 educators received an award through the STEM Scale-Up Program impacting nearly 10,000 kids.
The following ten-(10) programs are being offered for Scale-Up during fiscal year 2018-2019:
- Pint Size Science
- Grade Levels: PreK - K
- In or out of school implementation
- STEM in Action
- Grade Levels: PreK - 5
- In or out of school implementation
- Computer Science Principles
- Grade Levels: 10 - 12
- In school implementation
Any public or private school or active learning community serving students in grades preK-12 are eligible to apply for Scale-Up programs.
Additional information pertaining to each program will be posted to the Northeast Iowa STEM Hub
website during the next two weeks.
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Executive Director, Jeff Weld, Shares Iowa STEM Story in Washington D.C.
Jeff Weld, executive director of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council, has accepted a one-year role with the National Science Foundation and the University of Northern Iowa. In this position, Weld will serve as senior policy advisor and assistant director for STEM Education at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and staff associate in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources at the National Science Foundation. Weld's assignment is effective immediately and extends through December 10, 2018.
"Jeff is a true champion of STEM, not only in Iowa, but throughout the nation," said Gov. Reynolds. "There is no better individual to serve the Administration on policy issues related to science, technology, engineering, and math education. His experience in Washington will undoubtedly strengthen and advance STEM initiatives here at home."
Cindy Dietz, director of business communications for Rockwell Collins, has been appointed as interim executive director of the STEM Council. Dietz has been integral in expanding STEM education in the state. She contributed to the Iowa STEM Education Roadmap, which ultimately shaped the STEM Council. As one of the original STEM Council members, she has been involved in various working groups and initiatives that have impacted students throughout Iowa.
"We are honored to have Cindy Dietz serve as the interim executive director of the STEM Council," said Roger Hargens, Accumold president and CEO and co-chair of the STEM Council. "She has already proven her leadership in Iowa STEM and we look forward to continued growth and advancements in the coming year."
Carrie Rankin will serve as the managing director of the STEM Council. Rankin has been the STEM Council assistant director for development since 2013.
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Looking for Organizations to Host a STEM Teacher Extern
Connecting s
chools and businesses is one of the main goals of the STEM Council. Whether that business is a global manufacturer or a rural service supplier, the
Iowa STEM Teacher Externships pr
ogram unites the producers of talent (schools) with the employers of talent (business and industry) for mutual benefit.
In the past nine years of this successful program nearly 120 Iowa workplaces have hosted more than 350 Teacher Externs for six-week summer immersions that help companies' bottom lines while improving STEM teaching in local schools. A map of workplace hosts across Iowa may
be viewed here.
Companies in Northeast Iowa such as, John Deere, Doerfer Companies, Benjegerdes Machine, Inc. and Geater Machining and Manufacturing Co., have all benefited by welcoming in teachers who take on projects that bring value to the company while equipping them to modernize school lessons that guide students to careers in the community.
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Patty Green, from Wahlert Catholic High School, externed last summer at John Deere Dubuque Works
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The Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival was STEMtastic!!
On November 7, exhibitors provided hands-on STEM activities during the Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival in Waterloo.
Highlights:
- Total attendance: 2,440 (1,429 under 19 years old)
- Cities/towns represented: 33
- Schools represented: 45
Comments from attendees:
- Great Family Fun
- Great variety of activities! had a fun time
- I liked learning new things, and being creative
- I love being a student
- I loved it
- It was VERY Fun I learned new and cool stuff!
- Kids & parents had an amazing time!
On behalf of the planning committee, I want to thank the organizations that exhibited and shared their talents with the families throughout the Cedar Valley.
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