The Regional STEM Networks coordinate partners representing K-12 and Higher Education, business, industry, public libraries, after-school providers, non-profits, government, and philanthropy to identify and scale up high-quality STEM programs that will prepare students for Nevada’s 21st century workforce. The goals of the three Regional STEM Networks are to:
- Increase the number and quality of formal and informal STEM-focused education programs in all communities in Nevada.
- Increase student awareness, interest, enrollment, and achievement in formal and informal STEM-focused education programs.
- Grow the number and depth of school-business-community STEM partnerships.
- Identify on-the-ground programmatic gaps or implementation challenges in need of a state-level solution.
- Grow interest, awareness, and achievement in STEM in the region.
- Carry out on-the-ground implementation of state-level programs/goals.
- Identify and build local programs and initiatives worthy of scaling statewide.
- Create and facilitate partnerships and the sharing of resources among K-12, higher education, and business/industry within the region.
Grant Information
McCaw STEAM Academy was awarded $13,886.00 to extend their Connecting Computer Science to Engineering is Elementary project based on success in utilizing this high-quality STEM curriculum to engage students in the Engineering Design Process for several years. Through site-based professional development led by instructors from the Boston Museum of Science, they will extend the use of the Engineering is Elementary (EIE) curriculum to include Kindergarten, as well as purchase and implement the new Computer Science Essentials (CSE) component of EIE for 1st-5th grade. The goal is to provide all staff with the skills to facilitate equitable, student-centered STEM learning experiences through literature and hands-on engineering design challenges.
Garrett Middle School was awarded $25,891.00 to pilot a new initiative STEM Teaching for Equity in Rural Schools. The project will use professional development to build the capacity of the faculty to use new technology and design curriculum to engage more students in STEM courses. The courses will be designed to build rural student confidence in coding, innovation, and science. The goal is to drive student success by ensuring they have more STEM opportunities and validation of their achievements; this will prepare students to take STEM courses in High school and consider STEM careers.
Green Our Planet was awarded $10,223.00 to scale up their Hydroponics STEM Program for Middle school and High School grades. Through this project, Green Our Planet will work with a cohort of Clark County School District teachers to create a grade-level and standards-aligned culturally-responsive Hydroponics Curriculum. The new lessons will continue to focus on food systems and nutrition but will also introduce new topics like conservation of resources and clean energy. The goal is to create a new curriculum that will engage underserved populations in high-quality STEM education taught by experienced and knowledgeable educators.