News @ the 112

Professional learning for teachers and career-connected learning for students

The connection between the learning that occurs in the classroom and applying it to real-life work experience is essential to long-term fulfillment and success.

That’s the premise of ESD 112’s healthy list of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Initiatives that collectively span six counties and 30 school districts. The Southwest Washington STEM Network partners local STEM business and industry with K-12 education to prepare kids for college and career, in 7 of these districts. Linking the two initiatives together creates a cohesive system of education and support for students of all abilities, from large and small districts, urban and rural alike. If students are to learn STEM skills, teachers must have powerful strategies at their fingertips to teach them. Engaging in real-world problems and learning from professionals in STEM fields help students understand what a STEM Career looks like in our region.

STEM Director Vickei Hrdina is excited to see STEM learning, teacher development and business mentoring and support come together so seamlessly. “What I think is unique about the collaboration between STEM business and industry and K-12 education is that each can be authentically connected to classrooms,” she said about the STEM Network. “We can support equitable instruction across STEM fields when we use the actual examples of applications of STEM directly in curriculum and instruction, and, in turn, skills that students learn prepare them to contribute to our increasingly STEM-based economy.”

ESD 112 STEM Initiatives

In the U.S. there is an inadequate pipeline of teachers skilled in STEM subjects. According to the National Math & Science Initiative, in 2007 about one third of public middle school science and math teachers either did not major in the subject they teach and/or are not certified to teach it. Increasing teacher enthusiasm and aptitude in STEM education is the first step toward increasing the flow of STEM students. This is where ESD 112’s STEM Initiatives Programs come in.

The initiatives focus on teacher learning and student supports to integrate STEM curriculum into K-12 content areas. The programs are designed to promote equity between students and districts, so that kids are not limited in their STEM opportunities by their zip code, ethnicity or gender.

One such program, nPower Girls, invites grades 4-8 Math and Science teachers from Castle Rock, Longview, Mill A, Mt. Pleasant, Naselle-Grays River Valley School, Ridgefield, Three Rivers Christian School, and Wishram to participate in a three-year professional development program. nPower Girls is aimed at strengthening instructional practices that support female students’ learning in STEM and connect them with mentors around the state. The partnership with the STEM Network has allowed teachers from Battle Ground and Vancouver districts to join to the nPower program as well.

ESD 112 is also home to the region’s STEM Materials Center. Starting with six school districts in 1997, the STEM Materials Center now includes almost every school district in Southwest Washington. The Materials Center provides STEM kits and professional development on how to use them effectively in the classroom. Industry relationships with the SW WA STEM Network are working with Materials Center staff to integrate real-world problems into the kits to make them more relevant, engaging and better able to support NGSS and Common Core standards.