One Week Remains to Nominate a PreK-12 Teacher

Administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, students and other STEM advocates are invited to nominate an inspirational science, technology, engineering or mathematics teacher for the 2024 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries and the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council.

This award honors teachers who make a significant difference in the lives of students across the state by providing excellent curriculum, encouraging lifelong learning and inspiring a passion for STEM beyond the classroom and into the future.

Eligible nominees include licensed, full-time, PreK-12 Iowa STEM teachers in public or non-public schools. For this award, a full-time teacher is defined as an educator who spends at least 75% of their working hours (approximately 30 hours, minimum) in the classroom - both virtually and in person - interacting with students. 

Nominations for previous award recipients and self nominations will not be accepted.

The Deadline to Nominate a Teacher is

October 10, 2023



Past Awardees from Northeast Iowa

Requesting Exhibitors for the STEM Festival in Manchester

Exhibitor registration is open for the Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival in Manchester.

The STEM Festival will be held on Thursday, November 16 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the Community Center located on the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

Who is invited to exhibit?

• Business and Industry
• Higher education
• Community non-profit groups
• Organizations providing STEM education

What are we looking for?

• Fun and free hands-on activities
• Conducting an experiment
• Playing a game
• Participating in an interactive demonstration
• Refer to examples for your business and government sector

Register to Exhibit in D

The deadline to register to exhibit is Wednesday, November 1.

To learn more, visit https://neiowastem.com/northeast-stem-festival-manchester

STEM BEST Application

Opened Today!

The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is accepting applications for the STEM BEST® (Business Engaging Students and Teachers) Program, which is aimed at launching or expanding models specifically focused on creating project-based learning opportunities.

The goal of the awards is to enable students to develop future-focused, high-demand skills to ensure success in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) pathways.

Iowa public and nonpublic school districts and buildings serving students in grades K-12 may apply for the competitive grant opportunity, which offers awards up to $40,000.

The STEM BEST Program encourages teachers and industry professionals to design project-based learning models that combine STEM subjects with hands-on learning. These experiences highlight the essential skills needed in the workplace and give students the opportunity to learn about different industries and businesses and explore potential career paths in high-demand sectors.  

Award may be used for many things, including facility upgrades, the purchase of industry-grade equipment, acquiring additional space, travel needs for exploration, and costs associated with planning with partners and integrating curriculum into existing courses.

In addition to acquiring high-demand skills, the projects should help students hone key 21st century skills, such as innovative thinking, problem solving, and complex communication and collaboration.

An applicant is required to provide a 2:1 match. For instance, if a school is seeking the full $40,000, it would need to have $20,000 to invest in the project, as well. The match may be either cash and/or in-kind support and the match may be contributed by the applicant or a community partner. To be eligible as a match, the cash and/or in-kind contribution must be provided during the funding period of the STEM BEST® Program award.

Timeline:

• October 2 - Application opens
• December 13 - Application deadline
• February 2024 - Awards announced
• February 2024 - May 2025 - Implementation

Read more about the STEM BEST Program and learn how to apply.