Welcome to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Overview

Welcome to the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) STEM department. Below you will find contact information for our STEM Team. Please reach out if you have questions, comments, or concerns about all things STEM.

Utah’s Vision of STEM Education: Advancing a Statewide STEM Community

Utah State Board of Education STEM Report 2021

Educator Endorsements

Utah Elementary STEM Endorsement Overview
Google Docs

Application Effective July 1, 2021

Elementary STEM Endorsement
Elementary STEM Endorsement Requirement Options
Utah State Board of Education Educator Licensing

Application Retiring June 30, 2023

Elementary STEM Endorsement (Retiring)
Utah State Board of Education Educator Licensing

STEM Institute

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) will be offering a new session of the STEM Institute in 2021. An announcement will be posted to this page and sent to the STEM Listserv when details are finalized. 

What is New for this Coming Institute: Developing a STEM Culture

In collaboration with a team of principals, teachers, district specialists, and the STEM Action Center, USBE specialists have developed a new focus for the institute! This reimagined institute will address developing a STEM culture for your context through systemness by including district and site administration, coaches, and classroom educators. Through the five days of this professional learning opportunity, each school or district team will work to design a STEM vision for their education community as well as develop an action plan to help them achieve this vision. Institute attendees participate in sessions where teams work together as a team and in job alike breakouts sessions that address job specific topics. This will allow time for all to collaborate as teams and with fellow colleagues. Another new feature for this coming institute, the sessions will be completely online, which will allow for teams to work together at their location without having to travel. Also, consulting coaches will be available to support individual teams and provide support for individual needs.

This institute is a game changer! By working together as a team and getting feedback and buy-in from the rest of the stakeholders in your context, your educational community can be an effective STEM culture!

Highlights from 2019-2020 Institute

The STEM 2019-2020 Institute was a huge success with John Hughes and Tami Bird leading the way as site Administrative Lead Facilitators.

Session One

Session One Presentation
Google Docs

  • Doug Paulson from the Minnesota Department of Education inspired participants during his guest interactive presentation: A Vision for STEM Education.
Sessions Two, Three, and Four

Session Two Presentation | Session Three Presentation | Session Four Presentation 
Google Docs

  • Focused on effective tier one instruction for mathematics, science, and technology, respectively.
Session Five

Session Five Presentation
Google Docs

  • Culminated the whole experience by delving into engineering design, equity, and planning for the future of STEM in individual contexts.
Resource

STEM4: The Power of Collaboration for Change

Grants

STEM Endorsement Incentive Program (EIP)

The STEM EIP was created in July of 2019 to incentivize educators across the state to achieve endorsements in the STEM subjects. The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) will be using these funds to provide reimbursement for applicable STEM endorsement coursework for both elementary and secondary educators. For more information, please refer to the STEM Endorsement Incentive Program Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Google Docs.

Please contact Isaaac Pitcher at isaac.pitcher@schools.utah.gov if you have questions about the STEM EIP Program

Informal Science Education Enhancement (iSEE)

Informal Science Education Enhancement (iSEE) is a collaborative partnership between Clark Planetarium, Discovery Gateway, The Leonardo, The Living Planet Aquarium, Red Butte Garden, Natural History Museum of Utah, HawkWatch International, Thanksgiving Point, and the Utah State Board of Education.

iSEE programs serve K-12 teachers and students and are designed to spark students' natural curiosity and sense of wonder by providing exciting opportunities to experience science, practice science skills, and gain a deeper understanding of science.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)

STEM Team

Nathan Auck
STEM Coordinator
Phone: (801) 538-7664 | E-mail

Melissa Mendenhall
Elementary Science/STEM Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7547 | E-mail

Kira Sommer
Office Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7773 | E-mail

Alicia Mormann
Executive Secretary
Phone: (801) 538-7988 | E-mail