Dr. Okhee Lee
Website: https://www.okheelee.com/
Bio: Dr. Okhee Lee is a professor in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University. She is leading collaborative research to develop instructional materials aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in order to promote science learning and language learning of elementary students including English learners. She is also leading collaborative research to integrate computational thinking and modeling in NGSS-aligned instructional materials. She was a member of the NGSS writing team and served as leader for the NGSS Diversity and Equity Team. She was also a member of the Steering Committee for the Understanding Language Initiative at Stanford University.
Talk Topic: STEM Education with Equity
Description: The purpose of the presentation is to capitalize on new advances in STEM disciplines that can support justice-centered decision-making and solutions to societally pressing phenomena and challenges. COVID-19 offers an unprecedented context to engage all students in societally relevant problems and design solutions to address systemic racism endemic in our society. The presentation highlights the role of STEM education to bring STEM disciplines and social justice together in creating “a new normal” for STEM education with equity. This approach responds to the new administration’s priorities that place science (COVID-19, climate, and health care) and justice (racial equity and immigration) at the core.
Barb Schwamman
Bio: Barb Schwamman has been Superintendent of Schools of the Osage Community School District since July 1, 2015. Before taking over in Osage, Barb served as PK-8 Principal at South Winneshiek from 2007-2015. Previously she taught/coached at Howard-Winneshiek(2000-2007) Hampton-Dumont (1996-2000) and Newman Catholic (1995-1996). At Osage, Barb has been instrumental in a number of STEM educational initiatives that have helped Osage become a leader in collaborative learning with the Iowa Big North Program (Osage, Charles City, New Hampton, RRMR, North Butler, Riceville, and Turkey Valley), Business Partnership Program, and a leader in PK-12 Computer Science working with Code.org and NewBoCo. Barb was a candidate for Iowa Elementary Principal of the Year in 2012. In 2018 she was awarded the Computer Science Teacher’s America National Administrator Impact Award. Mrs. Schwamman was nominee for 2020 Iowa Superintendent of Year and a finalist for 2021 Iowa Superintendent of Year and she was appointed by Iowa’s Governor Reynolds to the STEM Advisory Council in 2020.
Talk Topic: Computer Science Education, Why YOU matter!
Description: Learn why all teachers need to be teaching Computer Science as the skills of problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking and perseverance are critical to today's education and workforce. See how one small school district empowered and trained all teachers to integrate and embed Computer Science across all curriculum areas while creating a pathway for all who want to follow a passion in this field.
Dr. Jeff Weld
Bio: Jeff Weld, Ph.D. is Executive Director for the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council, a post he's occupied since its launch in 2011. Additionally, Jeff recently completed 21 months of national service as STEM Education Policy Advisor for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to lead the production of America's Strategic Plan for STEM Education, a five-year plan spanning 2019 to 2023.
Dr. Weld's 2017 book Creating a STEM Culture for Teaching and Learning (NSTA Press) informed the national plan by comprehensively examining all aspects of the U.S. STEM movement, highlighting best practices and lessons learned. His practically-accumulated and empirically backed insights on programs and policies (and pitfalls to avoid) that advance STEM education are frequently sought out by regional, state, and national organizations. In 2014, the Triangle Coalition bestowed upon Jeff the STEM Champion award, and in 2013 the University of Iowa recognized Weld with the College of Education's Yager Alumni Accomplishment Honor.
He is on extended leave from a faculty position in the Department of Biology at the University of Northern Iowa, where he was named National Collegiate Biology Teacher of The Year for four-year institutions by the NABT in 2007. Over the course of twenty years in higher education at Oklahoma State University and at UNI, Jeff secured $5 million in grant funding, published the methods textbook The Game of Science Education (Allyn & Bacon), and authored over seventy peer-reviewed research articles, essays, and book chapters on science education research and policy. His latest book on charting a national course for STEM education is due to publish in March, 2021. Through the 1990s Jeff taught secondary science in Texas, Missouri, and Iowa. Today Jeff consults and writes on STEM education, serving on several state and national boards and commissions including the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Education Foundation.
Talk Topic: Dr. Weld will provide an overview on the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council and the impact the STEM Council has had on PreK-12 educators throughout the state of Iowa.