CREATE STEM Learning Ecosystem

Curious about how the CREATE STEM Learning Ecosystem is shaping the future of STEM education? Our new informational video breaks it down! 🌍🔬

🎯 Learn how educators, industry leaders, and community partners are coming together to provide hands-on, real-world STEM experiences for students.

📺 Watch the video to see how CREATE STEM is building pathways from classrooms to careers!

The CREATE STEM Learning Ecosystem’s working groups have been actively planning an exciting one-day career event designed to provide enhanced, hands-on industry experiences for students. This event will help overcome common industry challenges, such as transportation limitations and short rotation times during school-day career visits, by offering extended, immersive activities that connect students directly with industry professionals.

A key focus of this initiative is to ensure local industries develop and lead hands-on activities, allowing students to experience the skills and technologies shaping today’s workforce in a more meaningful and engaging way.

Event Goals for Students:

🔬 Discover how STEM is everywhere – in your classes now and in the future!
⚙️ Engage with industry professionals and explore the skills that power today’s workforce.
🚀 Experience interactive activities that bring STEM careers to life.
🏭 Learn about local industries where your STEM knowledge can lead to exciting jobs!

Parent Engagement

Recognizing the importance of parent involvement in career exploration, the event will also include parent engagement activities, such as workshops or panel discussions. These sessions will provide insights into emerging career opportunities and equip parents with the knowledge to support their children’s STEM learning journey.

Working Groups: Progress and Next Steps

Our working groups—Workforce, Systems & Communications, Partnership, and Aligned Teaching & Learning—have been hard at work laying the foundation for this initiative. Below are some key areas of focus:

Workforce

• Identify and secure business and industry partnerships to support student activities.
• Determine the number of industry participants and student participation caps.

Systems & Communications

• Establish a central message for educators and parents.
• Plan communication structures for clear outreach.
• Partner with schools and organizations to build support and determine interest.

Partnership

• Establish a central message for parents.
• Partner with organizations to expand awareness and ensure alignment with existing events.

Aligned Teaching & Learning

• Identify school contacts and student selection criteria.
• Address potential scheduling conflicts.
• Recommend strategies to engage all 6th grade students at the school level.

Get Involved!

If you’re interested in getting plugged into this initiative, complete the Working Group Interest Form and working group lead will follow up with you:

• Aligned Teaching & Learning/Measurement & Evaluation – Dottye Armstrong (darmstrong@oxboe.com)
• Partnership – Sherita Hayes (shayes@oxboe.com)
• Systems & Communications – Kelli Howard (khoward@oxboe.com)
• Workforce – Bill Whaley (william_whaley@na.honda.com), Danielle Presley (danielle.presley@nfigroup.com), & Valerie Curtis (vcurtis@jsu.edu)

With these efforts, we are creating a powerful network of educators, industry leaders, and community partners to expand STEM career awareness and workforce readiness. Stay tuned for more updates as we bring this initiative to life!

The JSU Regional Inservice Center is taking bold steps to strengthen the connection between education and workforce development in Workforce Region 2. Recently, the center hosted a series of dynamic discussions aimed at aligning classroom instruction with real-world industry needs.

Panel Discussion Highlights

A key moment was the January 22nd Governing Board meeting, which featured an inspiring panel discussion led by Valerie Curtis, Director of the Jax State Regional Inservice Center. Panelists included:

• Abby Howle, Modern Manufacturing Project Manager, East Alabama Works
• Bill Whaley, Southern Workforce Partnerships Lead, Honda
• Laurel Harp, Business Development Coordinator, Calhoun County Economic Development Council
• Danielle Presley and Tamatha Jackson, Talent Acquisition and Workforce Development Specialists, New Flyer

These experts emphasized the power of collaboration, with Danielle Presley noting, “Together, we are dot-connectors, creating meaningful bridges that inspire, spark learning, and call us to action.”

The discussion also benefited from insights by Jeff Norris of the Office of Extended Learning and the outgoing Alabama State Teacher of the Year, who highlighted after-school and summer learning opportunities as vital tools for student success.

Focusing on STEM and Workforce Readiness

Sherita Hayes, Director of STEM, Innovation, and Research for Oxford City Schools and CREATE Ecosystem Lead for Workforce Region 2, furthered the conversation by facilitating a collaborative session on STEM initiatives. This discussion laid the groundwork for integrating workforce readiness into education through the CREATE STEM Ecosystem's goals.

CTE directors explored ways to align these goals with teaching strategies, emphasizing:

• Sustainable Partnerships: Building lasting collaborations between educators and industry leaders.
• STEM Integration: Incorporating career exploration into both classrooms and extracurricular programs.
• Extended Learning: Leveraging after-school and summer programs to enhance STEM and workforce readiness.
  
  

Looking Ahead: Classroom to Career Educator Summit

These discussions pave the way for the upcoming Classroom to Career Educator Summit, which will equip teachers with strategies to prepare students for the workforce.

The JSU Regional Inservice Center remains committed to fostering partnerships that empower students for success in college, careers, and life. Together, educators, industry leaders, and community stakeholders are creating opportunities that will shape the future workforce of Workforce Region 2.

The Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama is bringing immersive, space-themed STEM experiences to middle and high school students. Led by trained Flight Directors, students will engage in hands-on, simulation-based missions in a fully equipped Space Station and Mission Control. In addition, a state-of-the-art STEM Center is in development to expand learning opportunities beyond space exploration. Each year, they provide hundreds of thousands of students with STEM education experiences. Our programs target several student outcomes to achieve lifelong impacts:

• STEM Career Awareness: Increase student awareness of STEM careers
• STEM Identity: Develop students’ sense of belonging in STEM
• STEM Engagement: Develop student engagement in STEM
• STEM Self-Efficacy: Develop students’ feeling that they can “do STEM”
• 21st Century and Social-Emotional Learning Skills: Develop student communication, collaboration, and problem-solving ability

An Education Committee of K-12 and postsecondary educators is working to design innovative programming and enhance STEM curriculum resources. We want your input! Share your ideas for STEM experiences, activities, and tools using the survey below, and help shape this exciting new learning space.

The Oxford Public Library (OPL) is a proud partner of the STEM Learning Ecosystem, offering dynamic programs that provide students and families with valuable exposure to STEM-related topics. Through the Discover Series, held on the first Monday of each month, OPL connects the community with experts and performers who ignite curiosity and inspire a love for learning.

This series exemplifies how exposure to STEM and related disciplines through hands-on events and interactive performances can create lasting impacts. These experiences not only engage students but also help them see real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Upcoming Discover Series Events

• February: Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama
  The Alabama Nature Center will bring live animals to OPL for an unforgettable program about the reptiles and amphibians native to Alabama. For many students, there’s nothing more exciting than seeing and learning about live creatures up close. Programs like this foster an early love of biology, ecology, and conservation science.

• March: Freedom Songs: The Music of Black History
  This performance by a nationally-touring theatre troupe explores the history of Black Americans through music. While not strictly STEM, it highlights the connection between technology and art in sound engineering, musical composition, and cultural history. It also reminds us of the importance of interdisciplinary learning, showing how science and the arts intersect.

• April: Science Heroes: A Science Spectacular
  This STEM-focused program is sure to wow audiences with exciting experiments, including a showstopping dry ice thundercloud. Students will witness the magic of chemistry and physics firsthand, demonstrating how scientific concepts can become thrilling adventures.

Why Exposure to STEM Matters

Engaging with STEM topics in dynamic and interactive ways opens the door to future possibilities for students. Events like those in the Discover Series:

• Expand Horizons: Students gain awareness of new fields and careers they may not encounter in a classroom setting.
• Promote Real-World Connections: Live demonstrations show students how STEM is applied in everyday life and in exciting careers.
• Inspire Lifelong Learning: These events spark curiosity, encouraging students to explore science, technology, and creativity outside of structured environments.

By participating in these events, students develop a broader understanding of how STEM shapes the world around them and how they can become part of it.

Mark your calendars and join OPL for these extraordinary programs. Together, let’s inspire the next generation of STEM leaders and innovators!
Learn more by visiting their website!

Talladega County Board of Education (TCBOE) hosted the East Alabama Regional Cybersecurity Alliance Launch Meeting on January 28th. The East Alabama Regional Cybersecurity Alliance brings together school districts, industry leaders, and postsecondary partners to create a regional approach to cybersecurity pathways for students in Workforce Region 2. The group aims to align industry demands with K-12 and postsecondary training, expand student access to cybersecurity education, and increase real-world learning opportunities. In 2023, TCBOE launched their cybersecurity program as a part of Digital Promise’s Inclusive Cybersecurity Pathways Cohort. TCBOE has brought together districts from across Region 2 to strengthen workforce readiness and cybersecurity career pathways for students.

The Bridges program is transforming afterschool learning across Alabama by providing students with engaging, hands-on STEM experiences. Every Tuesday afternoon, elementary students from across the state join interactive virtual sessions designed to foster collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication. Led by dedicated educators like Dynamic Learning Partner Mrs. Emily Clifton from Munford Elementary School, these sessions include problem-solving challenges, read-alouds, and innovative activities that encourage students to share ideas and present their final creations with their peers.

This initiative, funded by the Alabama STEM Council in collaboration with DHR, SAFE, and a generous grant, ensures that high-quality STEM education is accessible to students statewide. By integrating literacy with experiential learning, the program sparks curiosity and excitement about STEM careers while making learning dynamic and interactive.

Through Bridges’ virtual format, educators across Alabama are connecting with students beyond the traditional classroom, transforming afterschool programs into vibrant STEM learning environments and providing equitable access to enriching educational experiences—no matter where they are in the state.

In 2024, more than 7,700 eighth graders and high school juniors explored nearly 100 career opportunities alongside local business and industry partners. This hands-on career expo provides students with real-world insights into high-demand fields, helping them connect education to future career paths.

📅 Save the Date!

📍 Oxford Civic Center

🗓 March 11-13, 2025

The 2025 ACTE Region 4 Technology Fair is back with a hybrid format! This exciting event combines virtual and in-person experiences to showcase students' technological talents.

Key Dates and Deadlines

• Entry Submission Deadline: Midnight, Monday, February 17, 2025
• In-Person Fair: Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Jacksonville State University (JSU)

Event Highlights

Students (excluding Robotics participants) will submit pre-filmed presentations and portfolio documentation for judging. On March 4th, participants will:

• Take a technology test
• Enjoy lunch on campus
• Demonstrate robotics categories
• Attend the awards ceremony

The in-person event will take place at the Leone Cole Auditorium, located at 700 Trustee Street, Jacksonville, AL. The top two winners from each regional category will advance to the State ACTE Fair, held March 27-29, 2025, at the University of Montevallo. The registration deadline is February 17, 2025—Find more information on their website.

The AcaSTEMics STEM Event, STEM Extravagana, in partnership with McWane Science Center and the Wiggins Community Center, is coming to the City Meeting Center on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This hands-on event offers exciting opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, and math in an interactive setting.

📢 Stay tuned for more STEM events throughout the year!

Register now

The Chief Science Officer (CSO) program empowers students to lead in STEM. Students in grades 6-12 serve as ambassadors for their state, receiving leadership training, promoting STEM opportunities at their schools and in their communities, and collaborating to share ideas and feedback with regional STEM leaders. The program aims to inspire students, raise STEM awareness in the community, and encourage young people to pursue STEM education and careers.

For more information visit https://stemcouncil.alabama.gov/stem-cso or contact suzy.gatewood@alabamastemcouncil.org

Any STEM teachers, librarians, or schools in Region 6 looking to get started or continue learning about innovative teaching strategies and tools are invited to attend this FREE professional development day on March 18, 2025. It's a great opportunity to learn new approaches, explore technology integration, and collaborate with other educators. For more information, contact Andrea Taylor at ataylor@atim.us.

We want to hear from you! If your school or business has exciting STEM experiences or partnerships between industry and the community, we’d love to feature them in our next issue. Please take a moment to share your story by scanning the QR code or clicking the link to fill out our quick form. Your contribution helps us highlight innovative learning opportunities and inspire others across our community. We look forward to learning about the amazing work happening in STEM near you!