News

October 25, 2018 Achievements

WHS GeoPhysics announced as a STEM BEST Program partner of the IA Governor’s STEM Advisory Council

IA Governor's STEM Advisory Council logo

The West High GeoPhysics model has been announced as a STEM BEST® Program partner of the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council!

We are thrilled to receive a $25,000 award from the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council for the West High GeoPhysics (Geometry + Physics) program.  This STEM BEST award allows our West High FutureReady education team to develop hands-on, project-based STEM learning opportunities with the help of local community partners. This team is made up of educators Jamie Bratvold, Allyson Siefker, and Teacher of the Year Shelly Nash.

C.W. Suter, Launch PAD, UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s, Wells Enterprises, and the 185th Air National Guard are some of the partners committed to providing real-world context to help GeoPhysics students develop the 21st century skills of critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication.  The STEM BEST® Program partners are funded through a $25,000 cost-share from the STEM Council made possible through a combination of state and private investments.

This STEM BEST award will create an innovative learning environment for more than 300 students each year at West High.  West High will receive one of only 13 STEM BEST awards presented state-wide this year, and our STEM BEST program model is one of 50 awarded since 2014. This is also the first time the  Sioux City Community School District has been named as a partner of the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.

The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership of educators, business leaders, nonprofits and local and state government officials, collaborating to increase student interest and achievement to meet the STEM employer demand across Iowa. The 50-member STEM Council is led by co-chairs Governor Kim Reynolds and Accumold President and CEO Roger Hargens.