Oregon STEM Newsletter

a boy and girl working on a project with a microscope and electronics

Hello Oregon STEM friends and partners,

As the school year winds down, the STEM Hubs are keeping busy by offering educator externships with industry partners, coordinating student earn-to-learn internships through Oregon STEM’s Spark Oregon initiative, and engaging with partners to bring hands-on activities to fun summer learning.

Last month, Oregon STEM had the opportunity to present at the Oregon Talent Summit, where we emphasized the crucial role of data in shaping education investments and promoting equal access. We also successfully advocated for the inclusion of emerging talent data in Oregon 2024 Talent Assessment, which can be found on pages 70-75 of the report.

Just like students and educators, our newsletter will be enjoying a “summer break” during July and August. But don’t worry, we’ll be back in your inbox come September, refreshed and ready to share more inspiring stories, updates, and valuable resources. Stay tuned for an exciting fall edition!

With optimism,

Deb Mumm-Hill
Executive Director, Oregon STEM

Collaboratives Boost STEM Learning Across Oregon

In a recent interview with Belle Cantor, the senior program officer for education at Oregon Community Foundation, we learned about OCF’s approach to supporting STEM education across the state. “Oregon is a geographically large state and lends itself to regional collaboratives,” Cantor told us. “When looking at regional entities to partner with, we look for engagement from all relevant sectors, agreement on focus and programming, and that there is investment and resources committed at the local level.”

Read the full interview to learn how regional collaboratives ensure work is relevant to community’s unique needs and how OCF supports STEM education across our state here.

Spark Oregon

This summer, Oregon STEM is continuing its ‘Spark Oregon’ initiative, which is an earn-to-learn program for students living in rural Oregon.

Spark Oregon offers students a wide rage of opportunities, from working at an insulated glass manufacturer in Hood River to collaborating with Columbia Gorge Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing & Construction Skills labs on a playground project, and engaging with the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Pendleton UAS Range.

The initiative is made possible by funding from Catalyze, and helps remove obstacles that may prevent students from participating in internships, including paying for transportation, compensating students for their time, and in some cases, covering childcare costs for participants who would otherwise be expected to care for their siblings, ensuring that family obligations do not hinder their ability to take part in the internship. These opportunities not only provide valuable hands-on learning experiences but also gives students a glimpse into the exciting career possibilities that await them after high school graduation.

Code Can Dance!

The Central Oregon STEM Hub, in collaboration with Daryl Thomas from Western Oregon University, has been engaging students across the region in innovative coding workshops since 2018. This spring, the “Code Can Dance” program visited four schools across central Oregon to provide full-day workshops, where students learned dance, drumming techniques, and created masks to wear during their performances.

The highlight of the program was the opportunity for students to use block coding to program LED lights on their costumes, bringing their dance performances to life. By integrating the arts with coding, these workshops demonstrate the potential link between arts and science, showcasing how creativity and technology can work together in exciting ways.

Lost River in the News

We enjoyed reading about Lost River’s approaches to keep students engaged and in charge of their plans after graduation. The recent profile in the Oregonian uncovers how educators are starting conversations about post-high school pathways in middle school and providing ongoing support. The strategy is paying off, Lost River helped 80% of their class of 2021 enroll in higher education within 16 months of graduating, far outpacing the state average.

Oregon STEM has seen the great work that Lost River is doing first hand, thanks in part to the efforts of Karla Clark, Southern STEM Hub Director. Clark is tireless in pursuing career-connected learning and maintains close relationships with rural educators to ensure students understand their potential and see a future full of hope and opportunity.

Read the full story here.

Learning Science Might Help Kids Read Better

A study recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Developmental Psychology offers strong evidence for the link between STEM concept knowledge and reading achievement.

The study was led by James Kim from Harvard University, and demonstrates that well-designed science and social studies curricula can significantly enhance students’ literacy skills and content understanding. This finding aligns with a 1987 experiment that showed children with weaker reading abilities but strong baseball knowledge comprehended a baseball-related passage better than stronger readers who lacked familiarity with the sport, highlighting the importance of background knowledge in reading comprehension.

Read the coverage in the Hechinger Report here.

Clean Energy Fellowships Application Deadline Extended

Attention educators and district support staff, the deadline to apply for the Clean Energy Bright Futures Fellowships have been extended to June 23! Both fellowships, The Pacific Northwest Power Grid and the Pacific Northwest Offshore Wind, offer a $5,000 stipend and a $2,000 materials budget.

Find out more and how to apply here.

Congratulations to Educator Zach Knapp!

Vale Middle School career and technical education teacher Zach Knapp was recently recognized nationally for his work in helping students explore different career paths. Knapp was awarded the Innovative Educator Award from YouScience.

“[His] innovative approach not only inspires but also empowers our students to reach their full potential,” Vale Middle School Principal Lisa Andersen said. “By incorporating YouScience into his curriculum for all 7th and 8th-grade students, he assists them in identifying their aptitudes and strengths, guiding them toward career and educational pathways that align with their skills. Thanks to his dedication, students transition to high school equipped with individualized 4-year academic plans tailored to their aspirations.”