Nominate an Outstanding Teacher

The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, in partnership with Google, is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Iowa STEM Teacher Award through October 22.

Now in its 12th year, the award honors one full-time, licensed PK–12 teacher from each of the state’s six STEM regions whose passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics inspires students to develop a lifelong interest in these fields—both inside and outside the classroom. Each of the six recipients will receive $1,500 for their classroom and $1,500 for personal use.

Any individual can nominate a teacher by visiting educate.iowa.gov/STEM/Teacher Award and completing the nomination form by Wednesday, October 22 at 4:59 p.m.

Additional information about the Iowa STEM Teacher Award is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website. Award recipients will be announced in early 2026.

Requesting Exhibitors for the Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival

The Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival planning committee invites companies/organizations to exhibit at the Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival on Thursday, October 16 from 4p.m. to 7p.m. at The W at Wartburg College in Waverly.

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 800 attendees from Waverly and surrounding communities.
• A vibrant atmosphere designed to spark curiosity and introduce youth to exciting STEM careers.

Exhibitor Registration Deadline is October 6

STEM BEST Application Opens September 3

STEM BEST® Program award applications for new and returning schools will open September 3. Applications will be accepted in IowaGrants through November 10. New this year, STEM BEST® awards will be for up to $50,000 with a 2:1 required match. 

The STEM BEST® Program awards funding to K-12 public and private schools in Iowa to build long-lasting schools + business partnerships through authentic learning experiences. Teachers and industry professionals work side-by-side to craft curriculum and projects that help students develop high-demand skills and expose them to pathways of opportunity, honing in on interests and potential career opportunities. 

Once awarded, there is a 17-month window for planning and implementation in which award funds can be used in a variety of ways including facility upgrades, purchasing industry grade equipment, acquiring additional space, time for program planning with partners, travel needs for exploration, integrating curriculum into existing courses, aligning learning with workplace needs and related professional development for either teachers, students or community partners. 

Application for New Schools

Application for Returning Schools

Becoming a STEM BEST® model unlocks additional opportunities such as the Enhancement award to upgrade or improve upon a schools existing model. The STEM BEST® Explore award is the program’s summer extension to craft work-based learning experiences for students. Partners with STEM BEST® models also gain access to a growing statewide network of supportive counterparts across Iowa along with opportunities to collaborate at the annual statewide BEST STEM-posium. 

Nearly 200 Educators Trained to Bring STEM Opportunities to 12,000 Students in Northeast Iowa

Nearly 200 educators from across Northeast Iowa dedicated time this summer to professional development, participating in training for at least one of the 14 programs offered through the 2025–26 STEM Scale-Up Program menu. These high-quality programs are designed to equip teachers with the tools, resources, and confidence to bring engaging STEM learning experiences directly to their students.

Now that the training is complete, the real impact begins. Over the course of this school year, educators will introduce their newly acquired STEM programs to more than 12,000 students across the region. From robotics and computer science to engineering, and beyond, each program offers hands-on, minds-on learning opportunities that connects to real-world applications.

The STEM Scale-Up Program is a statewide effort supported by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, ensuring that students from all backgrounds have access to innovative learning experiences. By investing in teacher training and resources, the program helps spark curiosity, foster creativity, and prepare Iowa’s young people for future careers in STEM fields.

With nearly 200 trained educators ready to launch their programs, the 2025–26 school year promises to be filled with exciting opportunities for students to explore, experiment, and discover the possibilities that STEM has to offer.

With nearly 200 trained educators ready to launch their programs, the 2025–26 school year promises to be filled with exciting opportunities for students to explore, experiment, and discover the possibilities that STEM has to offer.

Join Us on October 17 for the

Iowa STEM Summit

The 2025 Iowa STEM Summit will take place on October 17 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. 

This event, sponsored by Microsoft, is perfect for classroom teachers, students, administrators, business partners, and community leaders. Attendees will find valuable insights and connections to help advance STEM education and workforce connections in Iowa.

This FREE full-day program features the following:

• engaging keynote speakers
• interactive breakout sessions
• networking opportunities designed to inspire and empower attendees
• opportunities to learn more about Iowa STEM Council programs
• a complimentary lunch and more!

New this year:

1. Registration will require a SCHED account, which you must create or log into before registering. Registration closes October 9.
2. The summit will have an artificial intelligence (AI) track to explore the role of AI in education, the workforce and everyday life.
3. This year’s featured keynote speaker is Jay Flores, a Global STEM Ambassador, founder of Invent The Change and author of the bilingual children’s book Engineer Someday.

Flores, Keynote

A dynamic science communicator, Flores has appeared on NBC's American Ninja Warrior, Amazon Prime Video’s Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, PBS’s Make48 and Telemundo’s Exatlon. His media presence champions Hispanic representation in STEM.

As one of the most influential voices in K–12 STEM education, Jay reaches millions of students monthly through Discovery Education’s Mystery Science and his live show It's Not Magic, It's Science!, which blends science and magic to spark curiosity.

More info is coming soon!

Updates on session topics, additional speaker announcements, and logistics details will be released in the coming weeks. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at summit@IowaSTEM.org.