The ESD 112 Student and School Success division is excited to announce its role as a new program partner for 100Kin10, a national initiative launched in 2011 to recruit and train 100,000 new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teachers in 10 years. The initiative is on track to exceed its goal of training 100,000 new STEM teachers by the year 2021, and ESD 112 is proud to be a part of this important project.
Following a comprehensive application process, 100Kin10 formally announced its new slate of 41 program partners on September 17, 2019. The application process took into account ESD 112’s goals for joining the network, and what skills and expertise the ESD might be able to offer other program partners if selected. ESD 112 is also one of only two of the national network’s partners residing in the state of Washington. This year’s cohort of new program partners is the seventh and final cohort of partners for 100Kin10, and they join an already existing network of more than 280 partners.
“This partnership is very exciting for the long-term development of our STEM programs at ESD 112,” said Vickei Hrdina, STEM Director for ESD 112. “It’s an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with other STEM programs around the country as we look to continue growing our local programs’ reach and scale in the coming years.”
The 100Kin10 initiative has built its network of program partners to work towards three main objectives: increasing the supply of STEM teachers, retaining excellence to keep highly qualified STEM teachers engaged, and building the STEM education movement in schools around the country. ESD 112 operates numerous STEM programs that support these objectives, including several opportunities for professional development for STEM teachers in our region.
ESD 112 currently runs a “Grow your Own” alternative route to teacher certification program called ESD-U that focuses on partnering with Washington school districts to increase the number of teachers certified to teach in shortage areas. It offers an affordable option for both initial teacher certification and “retooling,” or training a current teacher in a shortage area. In the summer of 2019, ESD-U enrolled the first cohort of Initial Licensure candidates experiencing a robust STEM pathway. ESD-U will add additional support for the 2020/2021 cohort to prepare preservice teachers to teach STEM content and skills.
ClimeTime is a statewide initiative headed by Washington’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction that seeks to provide modern professional development opportunities to teachers based on climate science and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). As part of the program, ESD 112 develops innovative instructional materials for teachers to bring climate science concepts to life in their classrooms and puts on student events to engage learners in and help them develop a connection to climate science.
nPower Teachers, another professional development program at the ESD, is a STEM teacher mini-externship that partners with local businesses to learn from professionals about the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their industry. Teachers visit the business for half a day and spend the second half developing career-connected classroom activities to engage their students in STEM and career awareness.
“While ESD 112 has been focused on paving the way for STEM teachers and learners in our region for a number of years,” said Hrdina, “we’re excited about this partnership and looking forward to connecting with similar programs around the country to take our work in STEM to the next level.”
To read more about the 100Kin10 initiative and for a list of other participating program partners, visit https://pathto100k.org/.
