1. Consortium of Florida Education Foundations Winter Meeting
Maureen Wilt, Education Program Manager
Palm Beach School District STEM Council
December 6, 2016

2. Agenda About STEM Council Why teacher externships Pilot year
Program components and timeline
Year two
Lessons learned

3. Purpose and makeup Palm Beach School District STEM Council
Advocating STEM education
Address pressing issues in STEM education
Identify ways to collaborate with business community, school district and non-profit community
Increase awareness and capacity in STEM education
Build a national model for STEM education
The Council is an alliance of private, public and non-profit sectors that works collaboratively to create and promote STEM education in Palm Beach County
Modeled our council from work happening in Iowa and North Carolina
District obtained grant from three local non-profits and partnered with the Lacister School of Education at the University of Florida, for the first two years that helped convene the council and gain support for the work
Led the council members in creating a mission and vision.
Created our own website to list activities happening in our community and a place to gather and share information with interested stakeholders. 3

4. Why teacher externships
The idea of teacher externships helped to address key goals of the council’s strategic plan
Why teacher externships
Proven model in Iowa led by state STEM Council
Excellent way for local businesses to support teachers and work of council
Teachers are not familiar with the local jobs and businesses in their community
Teachers need relevant examples to introduce to their students

5. Pilot year plan Results
We launched our program with modest goals and help from the Iowa Governor’s STEM Council.
Pilot year plan
Results
Provide month long paid opportunity for high school STEM teachers
Partner with local business organizations
Recruit teachers to participate
Recruit local college faculty to mentor teachers
24 teachers applied, seven teachers placed in five businesses
One of the business organizations did not promote the program
Not all businesses wanted media attention
Teachers did not have time to write curriculum
Two positions left unfilled
Most businesses didn’t know what a teacher could do. It was not until they reviewed the resumes that they realized a teacher had the credentials to take on project work in their business
Council has district representation from Science and Math departments, but not the Choice group who works with the majority of Technology and Engineering Teachers
Not many engineering teachers in the district
Most businesses kept the teachers busy for a full day. There was simply not time to have teacher write lessons.
Teachers were learning a lot in their project based work and did not feel this component was needed.
Placed four science teachers, two math teachers, one technology teacher
Left open an engineering position at Nextera Energy and one position for a computer science teacher at a company that wanted someone to test new software.
It was difficult to recruit businesses and faculty advisors were not needed

6. Components and timeline
We work on the program throughout the year with our volunteer committee
Components and timeline
October prior year - letters sent to business community
November to January - committee meets with chamber committee’s focused on education or board of directors to pitch the program
January - notification of program and application sent to principles and posted on district website
February - obtain business commitments
March - committee reviews applications and sends two to three applications to business
Late March & early April – teachers interview and selected
May - orientation held with teachers and company reps
July - teachers work at company
August – teachers present at their professional development back to school meetings
Look for ways to meet one on one with local businesses

7. School district created video to highlight the program

8. Objectives for year two
Going into year two committee confident we could increase participation
Objectives for year two
Increase number of companies participating
Meet with area chambers for presentations
Add companies in more sectors
Identify more opportunities for math teachers
Hold orientation for businesses and teachers earlier in May
We added a hospital to our roster of companies and were surprised when Wellington Hospital interviewed four teachers and found themselves so impressed with their backgrounds, they decided to employ all four for the month long opportunity
Florida Power and Light decided to utilize three advanced level math teachers in their power delivery business unit with great results.
Teachers had meaningful project work that had great impact on the business and the teacher

9. Leading companies in Palm Beach County are providing vital experiences for teachers in their community
2016 Participants

10. Carly Littles, AP statistics teacher from Jupiter High School

11. Lessons learned Each year we learn ways to improve the program
Start recruiting businesses earlier in the year
Ask to meet with chamber organizations with education committee
Not all businesses wanted media exposure for their participation
Be clear with teachers about expectations
Teachers will use lessons without having to write separate curriculum
Must pass a background check-
Provide contact for teachers if issues arise, otherwise don’t contact them unless needed (businesses planned full day of activities, tours and projects)
If teachers commit to program they are not to approach the company with requests for time off during their month long externship unless there is an emergency- other PD
Program has had great impact and most teachers have ongoing relationship with host company