Previously published on February 23, 2022
Sioux City, Iowa – The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council announced Sioux City Community Schools’ Sioux City Career Academy as one of 38 school district programs 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.
The Sioux City Career Academy partners with Siouxland businesses to provide hands-on experience and internships to students. The Career Academy offers over 30 pathways for students to explore.
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.