Twelve awardees commit to innovate through business-education partnerships
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Iowa Governor's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council has awarded 12 new STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) and STEM RLE (Redesigned Learning Environment) models across Iowa.
Both STEM BEST and STEM RLE models transform typical K-12 classroom environments and methods to unite business and education and develop clear pathways from STEM education to STEM careers in the state. Since 2014, the STEM Council has established four STEM RLE and five STEM BEST models that currently serve as examples of these business-education partnerships.
"The STEM BEST model allows students to experience a local industry or business environment firsthand that exposes them to STEM career opportunities right in their backyards," said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, co-chair of the STEM Council. "The STEM RLE model engages students in a more collaborative, technological environment that prepares them for STEM success in college or career training after high school."
The STEM Council's executive committee voted unanimously to award and support 12 of 22 proposed partnerships that bring to the table a total cost-share commitment of $630,628. The $300,000 STEM Council investment made possible through a combination of state and private sector funds is divided equally among these 12 awardees to purchase equipment and provide teacher training:
- Charles City Community School District – North Central STEM Region – STEM BEST
- Lincoln Intermediate School – North Central STEM Region – STEM RLE
- Dubuque Community School District – Northeast STEM Region – STEM RLE
- North Tama County Community School District – Northeast STEM Region – STEM RLE
- Carroll High School – Northwest STEM Region – STEM RLE
- Western Christian High School – Northwest STEM Region – STEM RLE
- Albia Community School District – South Central STEM Region – STEM RLE
- Hoover High School – South Central STEM Region – STEM BEST
- Davenport Community School District – Southeast STEM Region – STEM BEST
- West Branch Community School District – Southeast STEM Region – STEM RLE
- Corning Elementary School – Southwest STEM Region – STEM RLE
- Hamburg Community School District – Southwest STEM Region – STEM RLE
"Uniting business and education is a key priority of the STEM Council," said Dr. Chris Nelson, president and CEO of Kemin Industries and co-chair of the STEM Council. "These 12 new models will help bridge the education to workforce gap by addressing local industry strengths and challenges in each region of the state to ultimately shape the future of Iowa's economic development."
Each selected program submitted an in-depth proposal, considering factors like education driven by business and industry need, rigorous, relevant and dynamic STEM curriculum and authentic partnerships. The programs bring various strengths in community partnerships, district demographics and program focus and will serve as models or prototypes for business-education partnerships across the state.
To learn more about these programs, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov/STEMBEST or www.IowaSTEM.gov/STEMRLE.
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About the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council
Established in July 2011 via Governor's Executive Order, the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership of educators, companies, and Iowa students and families addressing policies and programs designed to improve Iowa's educational system focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The STEM Council works to engage and prepare students for a career-ready workforce path, regain the state's historic leadership position in education and provide a vital competitive economic advantage now, and for the future, to ensure that every Iowa student has access to world-class STEM education opportunities. The 47-member STEM Council is chaired by Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Kemin Industries President and CEO Dr. Chris Nelson. For more information, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov.
