Academics group companions honored for dedication innovation in STEM schooling

LANSING, Mich. — The MiSTEM Community crew in area 2 – overlaying southeast and southcentral Michigan – hosted their 4th Annual Recognition Ceremony, to honor educators and group companions for his or her dedication to cultivating a vibrant STEM (science, expertise, engineering and arithmetic) ecosystem in Michigan.

“The Annual Recognition Ceremony is a superb alternative to rejoice the group partnerships and educators which might be essential to making a vibrant STEM ecosystem in our state,” stated Megan Schrauben, MiSTEM Community Government Director. “MiSTEM is dedicated to investing in STEM schooling and empowering our educators as they put together college students for in-demand careers.”

MiSTEM is happy to congratulate Jill Cain, an educator of twenty-two years and present trainer at Three Fires Elementary College in Howell Public Colleges, for receiving the STEM Integration Educator of the 12 months Award and $1,000 grant; John Riedeman, 12-year veteran educator, First Robotics Lead Mentor and 11-Twelfth grade trainer at Jackson Space Profession Heart, on receiving the STEM Educator of the 12 months Award and $1,000 grant; and the Southeast Michigan Stewardship (SEMIS) Coalition, Ethan Lowenstein and Lisa Volker from Japanese Michigan College on receiving the Important Companions Award. 

“It’s an honor to acknowledge the excellent work of our educators and group companions to advance the STEM tradition within the area,” stated Scott Heister, MiSTEM Area 2 Director. “I applaud Jill Cain, John Riedeman and the SEMIS Coalition for his or her continued efforts to assist college students on their technique to a vivid future in STEM.”

These awards acknowledge educators and group companions with a constant report of integration of STEM rules and high-quality STEM-related experiences for college students, with a give attention to: 

• Selling energetic studying and imaginative, crucial and unbiased considering;

• Creating a love of studying and appreciation for the connection between STEM-based content material and society;
• Constructing resilience and serving to college students study some great benefits of “failing ahead;”
• Utilizing design course of considering and STEM-based studying experiences;
• Participating with learners past the classroom and creating alternatives to handle the person wants of all learners; and
• Utilizing educating strategies which might be applicable and efficient with all kinds of studying types.  

Along with being acknowledged on the March 2 MiSTEM Recognition Ceremony at Washtenaw Neighborhood Faculty, Cain and Riedeman acquired $1,000 grants to assist enhance their impression round STEM schooling. Cain plans to make use of the grant funds to interchange and improve present STEM gear to broaden programming for her college students and Riedeman plans to buy gadgets to supply extra hands-on studying. 

Cain goes above and past to make sure that college students can study in a secure, wholesome, supportive and thrilling setting. She makes use of makerspaces to interact college students and assist them uncover their skills and pursuits by making, producing, fixing, creating, collaborating and considering. She additionally makes use of her expertise and expertise to inspire college students, nurture their need for studying and assist different lecturers combine STEM experiences for college students exterior of conventional STEM school rooms. 

“As a veteran educator, I acknowledge the significance of cultivating a welcoming and fascinating setting for my college students to study,” stated Cain. “This grant will enhance my classroom choices so college students can discover their skills and the thrilling world of STEM.”

Riedeman leverages his engineering expertise and robust relationships with post-secondary companions to actively promote science and STEM careers for his college students. He has remodeled Jackson Space Profession Heart’s FIRST robotics crew right into a perennial state qualifier. His classroom has turn out to be a vacation spot for native colleges to collaborate and hone their robotics expertise. A few of his former college students have come again to assist mentor this system that impressed them to purse STEM careers in faculty, illustrating the long-term impression of Riedeman’s work.

“Having former college students attain again to assist my classroom exhibits me simply how impactful STEM schooling is and I’m grateful to play a job in that right here in our area,” stated Riedeman. “I stay up for utilizing this grant to develop my classroom assets that can join much more college students to helpful STEM experiences and future careers within the subject.”

The SEMIS Coalition acquired the Important Companions Award as a testomony to their excellent work in direction of advancing the STEM tradition within the area and their constructive impression on equitable entry to STEM careers. They had been additionally acknowledged for his or her development of 3-P (venture, downside and place-based) schooling within the area.

“Right here on the SEMIS Coalition, we have now a profound respect for the educators, college students and advocates who’re altering the world by means of STEM schooling,” stated Ethan Lowenstein. “It’s an honor to obtain this award and we stay up for persevering with to contribute to the vibrant STEM ecosystem proper right here in Michigan.”

The Educator of the 12 months awards occasion served as a closing ceremony for the week-long 2023 STEAM Week + Campus Discover occasion hosted by Washtenaw Neighborhood faculty. 

MiSTEM Area 2 is comprised of six counties from southeast/south central Michigan, together with: Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe and Washtenaw Counties. Their work goals to unite schooling, enterprise and group companions throughout the state by creating pathways for all college students to contemplate and purse high-wage, high-demand careers in STEM. Their mission is to be the catalyst for equitable entry and engagement in genuine STEM experiences in each group in Michigan.

Pictured, left to proper: Ethan Lowenstein, Lisa Volker (Southeast Michigan Stewardship Initiative); Scott Heister (MiSTEM Community); Jill Cain (Three Fires Elementary College, Howell Public Colleges); John Riedeman (Jackson Space Profession Heart, JCISD).

ABOUT MiSTEM

Since its creation in 2017, the MiSTEM Advisory Council has offered $3.05 million yearly in state grants to assist Okay-12 STEM applications to extend pupil engagement and achievement, in addition to new applications to broaden entry to work-related experiences {and professional} coaching. By growing STEM engagement in all Michigan communities, we are able to create sustainable pathways and careers to domesticate an progressive workforce of the longer term.