Teachers from across St. Louis get summer boost for STEM
19Jul, 2014
The story was published July 19, 2014, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Written by reporter Jessica Bock. Photos by Robert Cohen. Click here to see original article.
The teachers pulled on blue latex gloves, a few looking apprehensively at the pig heart in front of them, ready for dissection.
For some, it felt like unfamiliar territory. In the group of elementary and middle school teachers from seven local districts, many hadn’t done that kind of science lab since college. Even so, some went right into teacher mode.
“Cut first, then scalpel,” said Lisa Nelson, a middle school teacher in East St. Louis, as she stood next to a first grade teacher from Pattonville in her group. “We’re with you … Good!”
It’s not just students who may need confidence when it comes to lessons in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. Even teachers can struggle, especially at a time when many say schools don’t have enough money specifically to support STEM instruction, particularly in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Nelson is among more than 100 teachers from the region participating in the STEM Teacher Quality Initiative, which uses corporate donations from the St. Louis region to provide teacher training free to school districts that qualify.
To read the story in its entirety visit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website.