BOONE, Iowa—The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council announced Boone Community School District as one of the 38 school districts receiving the STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) H.D. Program models for 2021. The STEM BEST H.D. Program is designed to prepare students for the workforce through curriculum focused on skills needed in job sectors such as computer science/information technology, healthcare professions and advanced manufacturing. 

The STEM BEST H.D Program is the result of a special appropriation from the Iowa legislature to expand the STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program to focus efforts on job sectors that are in high demand. It will help build partnerships between schools and businesses, allowing educators and industry professionals to work together to develop curriculum and projects that prepare students for careers in these high-demand fields.

Boone CSD will create a STEM BEST HD program pathway for career exploration and preparation in advanced manufacturing that begins at the middle school level and advances in high school and postsecondary experiences. New courses and projects within current courses will be developed that allow students to explore careers and gain advanced, industry aligned skills related to the field. Additionally, choice-based opportunities for students to explore related careers through authentic projects, speakers, careers, and job shadows will be developed for both middle and high school students. Expanded internships and apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing will be the capstone for our advanced manufacturing pathway. Strong partnerships with local workforce development partners, DMACC and industry partners that include Barilla, Danfoss, American Packaging Company, ALAMACO, and Lane Trailers Manufacturing will not only guide but also be a part of the project’s implementation.

Jayce Carter, Boone Middle School STEM teacher stated, “STEM education is important because it allows students to make real world connections that support their futures in the work-force, college, career, or whatever path they choose to take.  Receiving this grant allows us to bring more tools to the classroom that can support different job sectors that our students might not have explored before.”

The STEM Council Executive Committee reviewed and approved of 38 new or expanded partnerships supported by up to $40,000 each. Compared to the traditional STEM BEST Program, STEM BEST H.D. offers a higher grant amount and a lower cost-share requirement for applicants. The awards can be used for facility upgrades, equipment, time for program planning with partners, travel needs or integrating curriculum into existing courses.

The 2022 STEM BEST H.D. Program awardees are:

• BCLUW Community School District
• Bettendorf Community School District
• Bondurant-Farrar Community School District
• Boone Community School District
• Boyer Valley Community School District
• Burlington Community School District
• Central Community School District
• Central Lee Community School District
• Cherokee Community School District
• Davenport Community School District – Central High School
• Davenport Community School District – North High School
• Davenport Community School District – West High School
• Dike-New Hartford Community School District
• Dubuque Community School District
• Fort Madison Community School District
• Johnston Community School District
• Keokuk Community School District
• Lawton-Bronson Community School District
• Lewis Central Community School District
• Linn-Mar Community School District
• Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Community School District
• MFL MarMac Community School District
• Mount Vernon Community School District
• Northeast Community School District
• Osage Community School District
• Pella Community School District
• Pleasant Valley Community School District
• Sheldon Community School District
• Sioux City Community School District
• Spencer Community School District
• Storm Lake Community School District
• Tri-Center Community School District
• Twin Cedars Community School District
• Waterloo Community School District
• West Lyon Community School District
• West Des Moines Community School District
• West Marshall Community School District
• Woodbine Community School District

To be considered for a STEM BEST H.D. Program award, applicants were required to submit a comprehensive proposal that incorporates rigorous and relevant STEM curriculum, valuable partnerships with community businesses or organizations, align with STEM goals, address sustainability of the model program and conduct evaluation of the program’s effectiveness. 

For more information on the STEM BEST H.D. Program, please visit www.iowastem.org/besthd. 

(contributed press release)