History

Deborah Patterson was the brain trust behind the 2009-10 initiative. Through her long standing career in philanthropy and corporate funding with then Monsanto Corporation, she reached out to her vast network.

She invited them to consider channeling their corporate funding into one program, in an effort to leverage greater impact on the regional STEM pipeline.

A focus group was formed, primarily of school administrators, who all agreed the primary target audience should be teachers. Initially grades 3 through 8, and was expanded in subsequent years to include grades K-2.

In November 2011, Deb Holmes had recently retired from Kirkwood School District as Supt. of Curriculum and Instruction. She was brought on as Project Manager to develop the professional learning program.