Davenport Community School District Receives STEM BEST® + HD Program Award
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ STEM Advisory Council announced Davenport 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.
“Davenport School District has long recognized the importance of STEM education and how it prepares students and equips them with skills that are in high demand in the growing job markets related to STEM,” said TJ Schneckloth, Superintendent of Schools, Davenport Community Schools. “We’re proud of our teachers and staff, and proud of our students, for this recognition, as we continue to grow excellence in STEM in our classrooms.”
TJ Schneckloth
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:
• Central DeWitt Community School District
• Davenport 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/
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.
