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June 2025 Newsletter

From the Director's Desk

As we wrap up a full and inspiring school year, I want to thank you—our incredible community of educators, partners, and supporters—for helping make hands-on, equitable STEAM learning possible across the region.

We’re heading into summer with exciting momentum: our educator externships filled up in record time and we’re already planning for fall with a fresh focus on middle school math kits to support pre-algebra and algebra readiness.

The Educator Lending Library will be taking a summer break, but if your district is running summer programs and would like access, just reach out—we’re happy to help! The MILL and Lending Library will be back in the fall to support STEAM integration for students and high-impact PD for teachers.

Wishing you a restful, adventure-filled summer!

—Sarah Whiteside, Director

In May, two Science Talent Search finalists, Laasya Acharya and Charlotte Rosario, gave thought-provoking interviews to the Closing the Gap podcast. Both explained how their extraordinary capacities for compassion led them to pursue research topics that will help others receive greater access to life-saving care and resources.

Listen to: "Bridging Technology and Food Security: A Conversation with Laasya Acharya."

Listen to: "Understanding Transgender Youth and Mental Health: A Conversation with Charlotte Rosario."

Become a Little Library Steward

We are partnering with the Early Learning Hub, Oregon Coast STEM Hub, and Family Connections to place 25 Little Libraries in communities around Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties to foster positive reading practices and promote literacy skills for new and young readers. Each Little Library will come stocked with a diverse selection of STEAM-focused books to encourage young readers to take an interest in STEAM learning from an early age. 

This project can’t be done without help from caring library stewards. That’s where you come in. We invite interested individuals and organizations to be our partners and watch over the Little Library in your community, help with maintenance, and maintain a stocked selection of books.

Little Library stewards are invited to visit our makerspace, The MILL, to build their community’s library. Completed Little Libraries will also be made available to those who are not able to build their own.

If you are interested in partnering with us to host a Little Library in your community, please take a moment to fill out our interest form.

Partner Spotlight

Thank You to Oregon Freeze Dry – 2024-2025 Pipeline Supporter!

We’re proud to partner with Oregon Freeze Dry in our mission to Build Your Future in manufacturing and beyond. Their support helps the Mid-Valley STEM-CTE Hub expand access to hands-on STEAM and CTE opportunities for students and educators across our region.

A special shoutout to Kelly Goforth of OFD for your dedicated service on the MVSCH Leadership Team—your commitment helps shape the future of workforce development in our community.

Take a look inside Oregon Freeze Dry and learn about the fascinating processes involved in commercial freeze-dry manufacturing meals for top brands like Mountain House on this Manley Jobs episode.

ABOUT US

Visit the Mid-Valley STEM-CTE Hub 

website to learn more about us, see a list of our partners, and find out how YOU can get involved.