"Having a school focus on the importance of STEM and community partnerships has helped me realize how excited community members are to become involved and how impactful this is on our students.  We were in a bubble before, but now when we plan projects, we consider who from the community can make this better!"

Kelly Lashley, Pre-Algebra and English Teacher

Developing a good culture by forming meaningful relationships with community partners is critical to our STEM mission at North Posey Junior High School. We have identified several different community partners to aid in our STEM success. These partners include, but are not limited to, Clem, Dassel & Co., JL Farm Equipment Co., Inc., The Evansville Courier & Press, Pearson Inc., Deaconess Clinic, SABIC, USI Department of Science Education, Fifth Third Bank, and Toyota. These partners participate in multiple ways, both formal and informal.  This participation includes providing survey feedback that we discuss and use to help us shape our STEM initiative.

We believe that all students should have the opportunity to explore careers and career options before deciding on one to focus on. More than 50% of our units of study have career exploration and information incorporated within them that focus on STEM-related fields. This is also accomplished through all 8th-grade students attending the Job Spark field trip every year where they get to participate in different technologies for careers such as becoming a NICU nurse, a meteorologist, or an automobile maker, among others. We also educate our students on opportunities to participate in camps such as the UE Engineering Camp and other programs that encourage STEM exploration.  Our teachers incorporate the employability skills standards into many of their classroom lessons and understand how important these skills are for our students’ futures.

We have established many community partners that are actively engaged in our STEM program at North Posey Junior High School. These partners have given us vital feedback on how to better establish STEM in our school, some have donated items (such as cardboard for creation) to aid in STEM-based projects, some have provided direct instruction through the Junior Achievement program, and yet others have offered financial support.  We maintain active communication with our STEM partners.

At North Posey Junior High School, we offer a robotics club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Academic Teams that are available to all 7th and 8th-grade students. In these clubs, students collaborate outside of classroom hours and work together to learn and experiment.  We also communicate about various camps available in the community, such as the UE Engineering Camp.

We strive to inspire and inform underrepresented students about careers in various STEM fields. All students, regardless of gender, race, disability, or poverty level, deserve an equal opportunity to meaningful STEM instruction.  We make sure that the schedule allows for all students to elect to take STEM courses, regardless of whether or not the student is in special education classes.  We also ensure that opportunities for STEM instruction and activities are not limited to students who can afford them.  We are cognizant of bringing in a variety of guest speakers to speak about their STEM-related field with whom all students can identify.  We encourage outside opportunities and groups who work to provide experiences and opportunities to explore STEM careers, especially young women.