HOWELL – The Michigan STEM Partnership, a statewide non-profit organization, has received a $24,500 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation to support a STEM professional development program to provide resources for educators to better align STEM instruction to essential skills required in critical Michigan business sectors.
STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Besides ensuring the delivery of STEM curriculum across multiple grade levels, the initiative will assist educators in engaging businesses in the instructional design of STEM education. Through this process, educators can better align STEM instruction to talent development needs of critical Michigan industries. The initiative will also show educators how to design in and out-of-classroom activities that relate to business environments. Funding from the Consumer Energy Foundation grant will allow for a comprehensive model design and the piloting and refinement of one or two of the model segments.
“We routinely receive requests for teacher in-service activities that provide an understanding of the definition of STEM education,” said Paul Agosta, Board Chair for the Michigan STEM Partnership. “Through this grant we will be able to design and implement an educator training program that will enable teachers to develop a continuum of STEM-based instructional activities aligned to both student interest and regional talent needs, addressing a crucial need for educators throughout the state.”
By participating in this program, educators will understand the operational elements of a process-based STEM approach and will have the skills, knowledge, and resources to engage business and industry and to ensure a direct connection between instructional outcomes with career and college preparation needs.
“Consumers Energy is committed to providing opportunities for the next generation of Michigan students to study science, technology, engineering and math,” said David Mengebier, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “We are pleased to help the Michigan STEM Partnership to train teachers, not only for the good of employers like us but the entire state.”
