News Pella Community School District Receives STEM BEST® + HD Program Award

Pella, Iowa – The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council announced Pella Community School District as one of the 37 school districts joining the STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) + HD (High Demand) Program. The STEM BEST Program brings schools and businesses together to provide students with real workplace experiences, introduce businesses and career opportunities in Iowa and gain career-ready skills.

The STEM BEST + HD Program encourages teachers and industry professionals to work side-by-side to develop a work-based learning model that incorporates STEM subjects like mathematics and science with experiential learning opportunities to emphasize high-demand skills for the workplace. The Council’s investment of professional and financial support can be used for curriculum development and coordination, educator training and development in workplace-classroom integration and preparing work-based learning environments.

Pella Community School’s STEM BEST + HD Program created a new Advanced Manufacturing Lab which is located in the Career Academy of Pella’s Industrial Technology area.  The new Lab provides an opportunity for students to be introduced to the high-tech, innovative nature of modern manufacturing.  The goal is to provide hands-on opportunities for students to experience professional and technical careers in industry.

“The support from the State of Iowa STEM BEST + HD Program and a grant from The Pella Rolscreen Foundation has allowed the Pella Community School District’s Career Academy to create an Advanced Manufacturing Lab with high tech equipment and STEM-based educational classes. The students will be involved in hands-on lab activities with 3D modeling design software, rapid prototyping with 3D printers, programming articulated robots in automated work cells, and computer integrated manufacturing through computer numerical controlled machining.  This provides valuable exposure and alignment for students to high tech careers in industry and engineering.”- Brent Ewell, Industrial Technology teacher.

The STEM Council Executive Committee reviewed and approved of 37 new or expanded partnerships supported by guidance, collaboration and financial investment of up to $40,000 each.

The 2023 STEM BEST + HD Program awardees are:

• Allamakee Community School District
• Anamosa Community School District
• Ankeny Community School District
• Boyden-Hull Community School District
• CAL Community School District
• Carroll Community School District
• Cedar Rapids Community School District
• Central DeWitt Community School District
• Central Lee Community School District
• Chariton Community School District
• College Community School District
• Coon Rapids-Bayard Community School District
• Creston Community School District
• Davenport Community School District
• Dubuque Community School District
• Earlham Community School District
• East Mills Community School District
• East Union Community School District
• Fort Dodge Community School District
• Griswold Community School District
• Harlan Community School District
• Holy Family System (Dubuque)
• MMCRU Community School District
• MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District
• Muscatine Community School District
• New London Community School District
• Ogden Community School District
• Okoboji Community School District
• Orient-Macksburg Community School District
• Osage Community School District
• Pella Community School District
• Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District
• Sioux Center Christian School
• Sioux Central Community School District
• Van Buren Community School District
• Waterloo Community School District
• Woodbine Community School District

The STEM BEST + HD Program encourages teachers and industry professionals to work side-by-side to develop a work-based learning model that incorporates STEM subjects like mathematics and science with experiential learning opportunities to emphasize high-demand skills for the workplace. The awards can be used for curriculum development and coordination, educator training and development in workplace-classroom integration, and preparing work-based learning environments.

To be considered for a STEM BEST + HD Program award, applicants were required to submit a comprehensive proposal that incorporates rigorous and relevant STEM curriculum, includes valuable partnerships with community businesses or organizations, aligns with STEM goals, addresses sustainability of the model program and evaluates the program’s effectiveness.

For more information on the STEM BEST + HD Program, please visit https://www.iowastem.org/STEMBEST.

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 (STEM). The STEM Council works to engage and prepare students for a career-ready workforce path, regain our 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 62-member STEM Council is co-chaired by Governor Kim Reynolds and Foundation Analytical Laboratory Owner and Director of Technical Services Diane Young. For more information, visit https://iowastem.org.