Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council

Congratulations to Tara Gray, our North Central Iowa STEM Region's recipient of the Iowa STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Google. 📚 Learn more about what makes Tara so deserving: https://bit.ly/3FtpfZ5 Gray is recognized by colleagues for growing her school's agricultural program from nothing into a thriving program today. She brings a wealth of knowledge as a fifth-generation farmer. Gray believes in a hands-on learning approach, striving to provide real-life experiences to advance student understanding and make relevant connections to everyday life. This includes taking her students to her family farm to witness first-hand what farmers do and learn more about farming operations. She will receive $1,500 for her classroom and $1,500 for personal use, thanks to Google. Congratulations, Ms. Gray!

Congratulations to Alex Spooner, our Northwest Iowa STEM Region's recipient of the Iowa STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Google. 📚Learn more about what makes Alex so deserving: https://bit.ly/3FkM2Go One of Spooner's colleagues noted his drive to bring cutting-edge STEM opportunities to all students. He has developed and designed more than 10 innovative courses at the middle school including coding, robotics and the STEM BEST Curious Minds program. Spooner strives to make STEM education engaging, inclusive and relevant by tailoring lessons to students’ interests so they see STEM as a natural extension of their passions. This includes a multi-year video game design program that evolves through students' middle school years, using industry-standard tools to develop skills in 3D sketching, dimensioning and game development. He will receive $1,500 for his classroom and $1,500 for personal use, thanks to Google. Congratulations, Mr. Spooner!

🤔Know a teacher looking for a way to expand their knowledge of local STEM careers, enhance lessons, and build connections with STEM professionals in their area? 📲Share this post with them! 📋Placements for this summer are underway but the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program is still accepting applications!  🔗https://lnkd.in/gdX5XXdF

Students and teachers from across Iowa’s six STEM regions came together in the State Capitol rotunda on Monday to share the exciting things happening in STEM education in Iowa schools with state leaders and lawmakers. 📚 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gaPetKpS

Want to relive the celebration of STEM from STEM Day at the Capitol? Check out the moments and smiles we were able to capture in our online photo gallery ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/gv44j5EY

We just began placing STEM teachers with local workplace hosts for summer externship experiences, but it's not too late to put your name in the hat! Let us know you are interested in expanding your knowledge of local STEM careers or share with a teacher who might be! https://lnkd.in/gdX5XXdF

Wow! What an amazing group of STEM students and teachers, volunteers and leaders, professionals and advocates. We are so grateful to everyone who shared in the celebration of STEM at STEM Day at the Capitol yesterday. Thank you!

Emily Thomas, an elementry teacher in Mount Ayr, used her Externshipsip experience last summer to learn explore how screen printing and STEM connect and has taken that back to her classroom this school year. Check it out ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/gcbcbBVe

Congratulations to our 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award recipients! ⭐ Alex Spooner, Okoboji Middle School in the Northwest Iowa STEM Region ⭐Tara Gray, Marshalltown High School in the North Central Iowa STEM Region ⭐Dan Kuchera, Clarksville High School in the Northeast Iowa STEM Region ⭐Dustan Kern, Lewis Central Middle School in the Southwest Iowa STEM Region ⭐Maddie Kampf, Irving Elementary in Indianola in the South Central Iowa STEM Region ⭐Chuck Tonelli, Metro High School in the Southeast Iowa STEM Region Thank you Google for sponsoring the Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program and STEM Day at the Capitol. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gY8-TtU5

Thank you to everyone who helped make #STEM Day at the Capitol a success! It was a great day of learning and sharing with state leaders and fellow friends in STEM. We're already looking forward to next year!