SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Twelve students, teachers, nonprofits and other education innovators will present new ways of advancing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education at the California Academy of Sciences on Friday, April 1, 2011 at the inaugural “STEMposium” (www.stemposium.com) – a celebration of excellence in K-12 STEM education innovation presented by nonprofit EnCorps Teachers Program with co-host Citizen Schools.
The twelve STEMposium finalists were selected from more than 130 video submissions to present their innovations for bringing science, technology, engineering and math to life in compelling new ways before a live and digital audience through short, rapid-fire presentations. Five presenters from one of five tracks – Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Integrated STEM – will be awarded prizes valued at up to $5,000 at the STEMposium awards ceremony.
“While there is plenty of cause for alarm about America’s lagging STEM education system, STEMposium is about showcasing the many reasons for optimism,” said Jennifer Anastasoff, President of EnCorps Teachers Program. “By highlighting innovative ways to teach science, technology, engineering and math, STEMposium is serving as a catalyst for teachers and students seeking to enhance STEM education in their classrooms and for policymakers working to bolster STEM education policy nationwide.”
On April 1st, STEMposium will draw 300 attendees including students and teachers and civic, business, philanthropic, nonprofit, education and technology leaders. The event will be Livestreamed at www.stemposium.org to a national online audience of educators, students, policymakers, business and philanthropic leaders, education thought leaders and media.
The twelve STEMposium finalist presenters, whose videos are available at www.stemposium.org/videos are:
- Caleb Cheung, Science Program Manager, Oakland Unified School District
- Tony DeRose, Senior Scientist & Research Group Lead, Pixar Animation Studios
- Betsy Fitch, Lead Social Studies Teacher, Herman Intermediate School
- Kristy Lathrop, Science Teacher, Mesa Middle School
- Meg Omainsky, Librarian, Palo Alto Unified School District
- Irene Salter, Assistant Professor of Science Education, California State University, Chico
- Lia Shepard, Teaching Fellow, Citizen Schools
- Tiffany Tai, Science Teacher, Synergy School
- Tzipor Ulman, Founder, Science is Elementary
- Dawn Valadez, Producer/Director, Vaquera Films
- Alejandro Vega, The Techno Guards
- Bert Wooden, The Tech Museum
STEM education is a national priority for the Obama administration, with President Obama repeatedly emphasizing STEM education as a vital component of America’s competitiveness and calling for 100,000 new science, technology, engineering and math teachers.
STEMposium is an initiative led by nonprofit EnCorps Teachers Program (www.encorpsteachers.org), which helps skilled professionals in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math make the transition into teaching these subjects to younger generations.
STEMposium is co-hosted by CitizenSchools with sponsors including Hewlett Packard and the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. Community Partners and Media Sponsors include Edutopia / The George Lucas Foundation, Silicon Valley Education Foundation, San Francisco Education Fund, BayBio Institute, The California STEM Learning Network and the BizWorld Foundation.
More information about STEMposium is at www.stemposium.org and STEMposium © finalists videos are available at www.stemposium.org/videos.
ABOUT STEMPOSIUM (www.stemposium.org)
View STEMposium Finalist videos at www.stemposium.org/videos
STEMposium is a celebration of excellence in K-12 STEM education innovation presented by nonprofit EnCorps Teachers Program with co-host Citizen Schools. At the inaugural STEMposium event on April 1, 2011, students, teachers, nonprofits and education thought leaders will showcase their innovations for bringing science, technology, engineering and math to life in compelling new ways before a live and digital audience through short, rapid-fire presentations.
STEMposium will be Livestreamed at www.stemposium.org, and videos of the STEM education innovations showcased on April 1st will be disseminated nationally to help educators, funders and policymakers advance STEM education policy, inspire teachers and students and catalyze innovation in classrooms nationwide. STEMposium is led by EnCorps Teachers Program and co-hosted by CitizenSchools, with sponsors including Hewlett Packard and the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. Community Partners and Media Sponsors include Edutopia / The George Lucas Foundation, Silicon Valley Education Foundation, San Francisco Education Fund, BayBio Institute and the BizWorld Foundation.
ABOUT ENCORPS TEACHERS PROGRAM (www.encorpsteachers.org)
EnCorps Teachers Program helps skilled professionals in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math make the transition into teaching these subjects to younger generations. We hope to close the achievement gap through supporting passionate math and science professionals as they navigate their way into the classroom so they can pass their knowledge onto future leaders in these industries.